Are Ree Drummond and Hyacinth Still Friends? Inside the ‘Pioneer Woman’ Star’s Friendship

Ree Drummond introduced Food Network viewers to her friend Cyndi Kane, a.k.a Hyacinth, many years ago. The Pioneer Woman star and the cookbook author have known each other for over two decades. Are Ree and Hyacinth still friends?

Who Is Hyacinth From ‘Pioneer Woman’?

Ree opened up about her friendship with Hyacinth in a post on Instagram in May 2019.

“Hyacinth was my first friend in Pawhuska, when I was newly married (and newly pregnant, thanks to my honeymoon.) In a way, our friendship was preordained, seeing that our husbands’ parents, grandparents, AND great-grandparents had been friends before us,” the Food Network superstar penned. “Hy and I clung together quickly, and as our daughters (and later, sons) became close friends, she and I would marvel that none of us had to like each other…but our hearts just gravitated that way.”

“Hyacinth is one of the closest and most treasured friendships in my life, and I love her children like my own,” she wrote at the time. “Her daughter Meg is getting married in a week, and Alex (maid of honor!) and I threw her a party a couple of weekends ago. The first and last photos sum it all up. Love these women. (Stephen, you’re great, too. Ha!)”

The social media love was returned by Hyacinth. In June 2021, Hyacinth shared a post on Instagram featuring photos with Ree, writing, “I often get asked, ‘What’s Ree like in person?’ I tell people that she’s everything you’d think she’d be, but more: funnier, kinder, more generous, quirkier, and now SKINNY! And her sister Betsy is a boatload of laughs combined with a lovely, peaceful presence. Betsy and Ree, you two are the perfect travel companions!”

Ree also credited Hyacinth for pushing her to release her first cookbook more than a decade ago.

“Did I ever tell you that about thirteen or fourteen years ago, as the deadline for my first-ever cookbook loomed, my best friend Hyacinth began to lose actual sleep over how behind I was?” the cooking maven shared on Instagram in March 2022. “I didn’t lose sleep, mind you, for I lived (and okay, still live) in the moment and figured it’d all work out in the end. But not Hyacinth, no sir. She was (and is) a productive member of society and knew that deadlines were not just suggestions, and she could no longer bear the stress.”

“So she loaded up her then-little kids, headed out to the ranch for I think about two weeks straight, and acted as my sous chef, prep cook, dishwasher, and encourager until I’d cooked (and photographed) every freaking recipe and finished the book,” Ree added.

Everything came full circle when Ree supported Hyacinth on her own cookbook writing journey, proving how tight their bond was.

“Fast forward to today. I got to be with Hyacinth in NYC the day her own cookbook launched—a cookbook born out of her efficient, resourceful, sensible, creative, and delicious approach to home cooking,” the Oklahoma native wrote. “The strange and wonderful rhythm of life is not lost on me, and I couldn’t be happier for my friend. Her book is called ‘Save it Forward Suppers’ and it’s brilliant. Congratulations, Hy! Love, Pi.”

Are Ree Drummond and Hyacinth Still Friends?

Ree and Hyacinth are still friends. In March 2024, Ree revealed on Instagram that she was out to dinner with Hyacinth.

“Come eavesdrop on my girls’ dinner with Betsy and Hyacinth!” she wrote alongside a video of her and her pals talking to a waiter at a restaurant. “You might chuckle at the random tidbits of conversation. I believe we covered 9,437 topics, give or take two. Thank you Reona and Tyler for taking such great care of us! (Cameo appearance by Sheriff Terry. IYKYK) And omg the food was sublime.”

In October 2024, Hyacinth shared a photo of her grandkids on Instagram, writing, “Grandkids are just a boatload of joy!” Ree commented on the post, writing, “Oh my!!!!” with a red heart emoji.