Duck Dynasty star Sadie Robertson has been making quite a name for herself on a different show this season, surging to the top tier on Dancing With the Stars.
The 17-year-old high school student has had plenty of support from father Willie, uncles Jase and Jep, and newly-engaged brother John Luke Robertson.
Last week, a duck call-inspired samba earned Sadie and pro partner Mark Ballas a nearly perfect score of 37 out of 40, putting her near the lead on Season 19.
The routine, like everything in her life, was centered around family and faith.
Sadie says her life has been turned upside down since Duck Dynasty debuted on A&E, and while it’s given her a lot of new opportunities, it has its drawbacks.
"I was 14 and didn’t realize how big it was going to be," she said of the last few years. "But there’s definitely been some bad things about being in the public eye."
"Everybody knows who you are [and] they’re looking for you to mess up," she said. "My grandpa said some things that upset some people and the press came after him."
In that sense, family patriarch Phil Robertson casts a wide shadow.
"My family would not be where we are without our faith. That’s what’s carried us this whole way. We put our faith in God and we like to share that with everybody."
Sadie revealed that after Phil Robertson’s comments about homosexuality to GQ magazine in December, the whole family considered quitting the show for good.
They ultimately didn’t, as Phil was reinstated and two new seasons have since aired (you can watch Duck Dynasty online to see all the 2014 installments).
Sadie says that family comes before fame, and always will.
"The thing is, no matter what he would have said, we should have stuck by him, because he’s my grandpa," Sadie said, acknowledging, "Yeah, he’s very opinionated."
Still, "he’s my family, and family sticks together."