Moonshiners: What Happened To The Former Cast?

Right from the start, the premise of the show "Moonshiners" is a little dubious at best. After all, making moonshine in a backyard is still illegal, and showing a group of people making it is kind of like making a show called "Train Robbery," and then showing masked bandits boarding trains and sticking 'em up. Law enforcement in the area where the show is filmed have seemingly confirmed that there's actually nothing illegal happening, otherwise they would, well, arrest people.

That's not to say that some of the cast haven't been legit distillers, because they are — and some, buoyed by the fame that the show brought, have gone on to make a living as a completely legitimate moonshiner. Others have gone on to less alcohol-centric careers, and yes, sadly, some former familiar faces are no longer with us. Let's talk about the cast members that we no longer see on "Moonshiners," find out what they're up to now, and maybe even talk about what to look for on the next trip to the liquor store for some real, down-home, backwoods-style moonshine ... from the professionals.

"Moonshiners" might be about moonshine, but it was the new blood that brought something different to the show. Lance Waldroup worked alongside his father, Jeff, and left in 2019, but that wasn't before bringing things like absinthe to the moonshiners' repertoire. Unfortunately, he passed away not long after leaving the show.

The news broke via TMZ, which reported that on February 25, 2021, his mother called 911 after finding him unconscious in his room. His death was never treated as suspicious, and the official cause of death was ultimately listed as congestive heart failure, with cardiomyopathy and obesity playing contributing factors.

According to official reports, Waldroup had been going through treatment for opioid addiction. He had also apparently struggled with mental health issues, stemming from the loss of his siblings. According to a GoFundMe set up for the family, both died of complications from cystic fibrosis: Lyndsey passed away when she was 11, and Lamar passed away when he was 20. It was also revealed that his mother's diagnosis of multiple sclerosis was what led to his departure from "Moonshiners," as stated on the GoFundMe page: "He did not want to leave her side and waited on her hand and foot."

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Anyone looking to name a master distiller for their historical fiction novel based around the moonshine industry isn't going to go wrong with the name Jim Tom, and fans of the show know there's some real-life inspiration for that. There is, after all, no amount of schooling that can replace experience and lessons from the old-timers when it comes to moonshine, and Jim Tom Hedrick shared his liquor-making expertise on more than a few episodes of "Moonshiners." When he passed away in 2023, it was clear that the show and the industry had lost a valued member.

Sugarlands Shine Distillery issued a statement saying (in part, via Variety): "Jim Tom dedicated much of his life to the art of moonshining, becoming a legend in Appalachia along the way. ... his colorful personality endeared Jim Tom to the heart of millions." Meanwhile, Sugarlands founder Ned Vickers credited him with being "instrumental in shaping the authenticity of Sugarlands."

Deadline confirms that after Hedrick left the show, it was to team up with Sugarland officially. He kept in touch with some of the "Moonshiners" stars, though, who posted thoughts, prayers, and updates about his health after he was diagnosed with kidney cancer. He was 82 years old when he passed away.

Marvin "Popcorn" Sutton helped to introduce viewers to moonshining, and he was the real deal. He was so real, in fact, that he was arrested in 2008 for trying to sell 1,000 gallons of illegal shine to an undercover cop, along with being in possession of a cache of stills, supplies, and guns. He was convicted, sentenced to 18 months in jail, and died by suicide four days before he was due to turn himself in and start serving his sentence.

That wasn't entirely the end of his story, though. He was married to his fourth wife at the time of his death, and she told the Associated Press (via NBC News), "He couldn't go to prison. His mind would just not accept it ... So credit the federal government for my husband being dead, I really do." His daughter, Skye, echoed those sentiments, telling Knox News that along with the prison sentence, he had also received a recent cancer diagnosis. "Nobody was going to tell him what to do," she said. "He did it his way. He always lived a death-before-dishonor kind of life."

Not long before his death, Sutton took steps to make sure his famous shine wasn't lost: He entered into a partnership with a distiller named Jamey Grosser. Sutton's wife, meanwhile, has kept his legacy alive with branded merch, explaining to The New York Times, "He would like the attention, but he would swear he didn't." His daughter has written a book about him, "Daddy Moonshine: The Story of Marvin 'Popcorn' Sutton."

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Chuck Miller appeared on "Moonshiners" until 2021, but he definitely hasn't gotten out of the business. Listed as a distiller rather than a moonshiner, Miller continues to be the master distiller at Belmont Farms Distillery, which brands itself as the home of America's first legal moonshine. It's also the home of "Moonshiners" favorite Tim Smith, as it's where Smith's legal moonshine, Climax, is largely produced. 

Miller has been doing what he's doing for a long time, telling the Culpeper Star-Exponent that he and his wife established their legal distillery back in 1988, after the airline he was employed by went out of business. Basing his distillery around a 1930s-era recipe, he's kept it going and kept it in the family.

Miller remains hands-on at the Virginia distillery, with visitors often able to meet him in person. The distillery's active social media keeps fans abreast of their frequent events — which sometimes include appearances by other "Moonshiners" cast members. In 2020, Belmont Farm joined the list of distilleries that turned to producing hand sanitizer during the COVID pandemic, which they continue to sell — along with their golden gin, apple whiskey, chai spiced rum, kettle vodka, and, of course, moonshine.

J.T. Smith is the son of "Moonshiners" fan favorite Tim Smith, so it's not entirely surprising that he's following in his father's footsteps. After appearing in a series of episodes between 2011 and 2019, he partnered with Belmont Farm Distillery to create his own product, JT Rye. According to the official description, it's a rye whiskey made with a whopping 95% rye. (In order to be considered rye whiskey, it technically only needs to contain at least 51% rye.) He adds that, as with many moonshiners, it's about much more than just the product: "I learned the craft of distilling whiskey from my father, who learned from his father. I'm honored to carry on a family tradition."

And yes, the whiskey and the show are connected. While viewers might not be able to sample most of the products that run through the still on "Moonshiners," JT Rye is one of them: He created the basis for the product while on the show. 

He's also following in his father's footsteps as a volunteer, too: He's a first responder with the Climax Fire Department, and a look at his social media shows that he's also active in promoting giveaways and fundraisers to benefit the department.

Moonshining isn't just about the liquor, it's about the history, too — and no other "Moonshiners" cast members pay homage to the family traditions of backwoods distilling like father-daughter duo Patti Bryan and David Parker. After appearing on around 30 episodes and leaving the show, it's safe to say that Bryan is the one who continued to make her mark in moonshine history.

While there isn't too much information on what Parker has been up to, there are occasional updates posted on their joint Facebook page, Louisiana Moonshiners. Those include sharing personal updates, like that of the passing of Parker's mother in 2021, and the 49th anniversary he shared with his wife that same year.

Bryan, meanwhile, has established several partnerships to sell her shine. Patti's Peach Pie Moonshine is available through the South Mountain Distilling Co., and Patti's Wild Mayhaw Moonshine was made and distributed through Sugarlands. Bryan had started that particular partnership while she and her father were still on the show, stressing to the Natchitoches Times that, yes, the recipe was 100% theirs, and that they saw the opportunity to — with the drink's pink color and lower alcohol content — appeal specifically to female viewers.

Chuck Battison showed up in 12 episodes of "Moonshiners," usually alongside Josh and at least once in some archival footage. What's he been up to since? That's kind of complicated, as part of that seems to be that he's lashed out at the show. After being featured in the 2016/2017 season, he took to his Facebook page with some harsh words. 

People had been asking him why he left the show, and he wrote (in part) that he had never actually talked to anyone from Discovery about being on the show, and continued [sic]: "I'm not a Back Stabbers I'm Loyal to my Friends and stand by their side [no] matter what ... those liars druma Queens manipulators bad people who break up friendships for money I say kiss my A**."

In the meantime, it seems as though he's been keeping busy not only in the moonshine community, but in his community in the larger sense, too. On his other Facebook page, he's shared messages from organizations (like the Boyd's Kinsman Home) thanking him for his help at fundraisers, and photos of his appearances and autograph signings at places like the Southern Distilling Company. He's also been appearing in places like the Beattyville Bourbon and Moonshine Fest, where organizers lauded him for his giving spirit and devotion to lending a hand to nonprofits in need.