Duck Dynasty’s Uncle Si Robertson is preparing for lung surgery after a year-and-a-half of health issues. The 74-year-old appears ecstatic about the procedure and claims he’ll soon be talking everyone’s ears off again.

During various episodes of the Duck Call Room podcast, Si Robertson has admitted that smoking is partially to blame for his bad lung and breathing difficulties.

He also has COPD, which made an early 2021 COVID-19 diagnosis very worrisome. He later confessed that he didn’t think he’d make it through COVID, with family and podcast co-hosts noting that he didn’t do everything he could to aid himself.

In an episode called “Uncle Si’s COVID-19 Story,” the four guys remember Si being unwilling to go to the hospital first and then refusing to take his medication after being released home some days later. He eventually gave in and began to improve. In May of 2022, he explained why he needed lung surgery.

During Ep. 146 of the Duck Call Room, Si says that when he breathes in, both lungs work fine. When he exhales, one lung is underperforming, so he’s having surgery to install a device that allows the bad lung to exhale the air it needs to.

Surgery is imminent.

“There are a few more things we need to accomplish,” he says, “but it looks like I’m approved for lung surgery.” “Then I’ll be able to talk your ears off with even more stories, all guaranteed to be 95 percent true.”

On February 11, 2021, Si announced he was ready to return to the podcast.