The Untold Love Story of Moonshiner Steven Ray Tickle: From Fugitive to Forever with Carol

Pittsylvania County, Virginia – September 19, 2025 – Steven Ray Tickle, better known to Moonshiners fans as simply “Tickle,” has long been a standout figure on Discovery Channel’s hit docudrama, captivating audiences with his wild antics and outlaw spirit. While his moonshining escapades—crafting illicit liquor in the backwoods of Appalachia—have made him a reality TV icon, it’s his off-screen love story with his wife, Carol Ann Tickle, that reads like a script straight out of a romantic comedy. Their journey, which began in the early 2010s when Carol, a seasoned bounty hunter, was tasked with tracking down the fugitive Tickle, is a tale of unlikely attraction, persistence, and a moonshine-themed wedding that sealed their bond. As Moonshiners continues its 14th season, airing Wednesdays at 8 p.m. ET, this untold love story reveals a softer side to the rough-and-tumble moonshiner, proving that even outlaws can find their forever.

The story of Tickle and Carol’s romance began under circumstances few could predict. In the early 2010s, Tickle, then a free-spirited distiller with a penchant for trouble, found himself on the wrong side of the law after failing to appear for a court date following his release on bail. Enter Carol Ann, a formidable bail bondswoman and owner of Bad Girlz Bail Bonds LLC, whose job was to bring him back to justice. As Tickle tells it, Carol was ostensibly hunting another fugitive, but her focus seemed to zero in on him. “She hunted me down six years ago,” he shared in a 2019 interview with Discovery, a twinkle in his eye. “She says she was after someone else, but it appeared the only place she was putting any work in was me.” What began as a professional pursuit quickly sparked a mutual attraction, defying the odds of their cat-and-mouse dynamic.

Their courtship wasn’t immediate. Tickle, known for his larger-than-life personality and moonshine-fueled adventures, initially resisted Carol’s charms. “She pursued me for six years until I relented and went out with her,” he admitted in a behind-the-scenes feature for Moonshiners. Carol, a multi-talented realtor from Chuckey, Tennessee, who had relocated to Danville, Virginia, brought her own strength to the relationship. A mother of four and grandmother of three, with a son serving in the U.S. Air Force, she balanced her high-stakes career with a grounded family life. Her tenacity, both as a bounty hunter and in wooing Tickle, proved to be the perfect match for his rebellious spirit. By 2019, their bond had deepened, culminating in a wedding that captured the essence of their shared world: a moonshine-themed celebration held on October 19, 2019, in Pittsylvania County.

The wedding was a spectacle befitting a Moonshiners star. Held with copper accents and wooden fixtures, the event reflected the rustic aesthetic of a moonshine still, complete with shimmering bronze dresses for the bridesmaids. Fellow cast members like Tim Smith, Henry and Kenny Law, and former moonshining partner Howie were in attendance, toasting the couple with plenty of their signature liquor. “The only thing I had to have was Carol,” Tickle told Discovery, recalling the moment he stood at the altar, making vows before God. Carol, who single-handedly planned the event while simultaneously closing on their first home together, added her own memory: a special solo dance she performed for Tickle during the garter toss. The celebration, featured in a Moonshiners episode, resonated with fans, who flooded social media with comments like, “Now that’s a love story!”

Tickle’s life before Carol was marked by turbulence. A resident of rural Pittsylvania County, he juggled moonshining with a career as a union carpenter, notably contributing to Clyde’s Restaurant near Washington, D.C.’s Verizon Center. His brushes with the law, however, were frequent. In 2013, he was arrested for public intoxication in a Virginia convenience store parking lot, paying a modest $25 fine. A more serious charge came in 2015 when he was found with a sawed-off shotgun during a traffic stop, resulting in a three-year suspended sentence in 2016. Another probation violation landed him a five-month jail stint later that year. Through it all, Carol’s presence became a stabilizing force. “She completes me,” Tickle said in a 2022 Discovery Q&A. “I struggled for years, in and out of jail. She gives me a reason to act right.”

Their marriage has thrived, with the couple celebrating over five years together by 2025. Updates shared in a 2022 interview revealed a partnership filled with joy, from traveling together to embarking on new ventures like buying restaurants. Carol, who also works as a realtor at Treck Realty, has embraced her role as stepmother to Tickle’s teenage daughter, Daisy, from a previous relationship. Their blended family, including Carol’s four grown children, was present at the wedding, symbolizing their united front. The couple’s latest projects include a cookbook, The Tickle’s Table, and Carol’s bounty-hunting memoir series, Cat the Bounty Huntress, both available on Amazon. These endeavors reflect their shared entrepreneurial spirit, moving beyond the moonshine stills to build a lasting legacy.

Moonshiners fans have embraced Tickle and Carol’s story, with posts on X calling it “the ultimate outlaw romance.” The show, which dramatizes the illegal production of moonshine, has faced scrutiny from authorities who claim its arrest-avoiding chases are staged, but Tickle’s real-life journey from fugitive to family man is undeniably authentic. His legal troubles, though serious, never involved direct moonshining charges, as catching a distiller requires catching them in the act—a challenge given the show’s delayed airing. This loophole, combined with Carol’s expertise in navigating the legal system, has kept Tickle one step ahead.

As Moonshiners continues to explore Appalachian traditions, Tickle’s love story with Carol adds a heartfelt layer to his rogue persona. From a fugitive dodging a determined bounty hunter to a devoted husband standing proudly by her side, his transformation is as potent as the shine he brews. For fans, it’s a reminder that even in the shadowy world of moonshining, love can light the way to a brighter future.