Emily Maynard Johnson Says Her ‘Life and Soul’ Changed After Fiancé Ricky’s Shocking Death: ‘Paralyzed at Age 18 Forever’

Emily Maynard Johnson is remembering her late fiancé Ricky Hendrick on the 20th anniversary of his death.

The former Bachelorette, 38, shared an emotional Instagram post on Thursday, Oct. 24 alongside a black and white photo of her smiling and wrapping her arm around Hendrick.

“20 years. How did this even happen? It’s so strange to have a specific marker in time that completely changed my life and soul forever,” she wrote.

Hendrick — who was a NASCAR driver — died in a plane crash in 2004 shortly before Maynard Johnson found out that she was pregnant with their daughter, who she later named Ricki, at age 18. 

“I look at pictures and don’t even recognize that girl anymore, no matter how much I wish I could,” she shared. “In one hand I feel like I’ve changed so much and then in the other, that I’ve been paralyzed at age 18 forever.” 

“I have so many things I can’t wait to tell him. I can’t wait for him to meet my Tyler,” she said, referring to her husband Tyler Johnson. “I know they’ll love each other and that Ricky is so grateful for how well he has taken care of his girls. Thank you, God, for letting me be a part of his life and for allowing me the gift of being loved by him.”

The former reality star’s mother, Susie, also reflected on the loss of Hendrick and the former couple’s love story in the comment section.

“He was her first love, and she was his last, a beautiful love story that lives thru their daughter and all who got to be part of their lives,” Susie wrote. “My heart is with you both on this day of remembrance and tribute to a beautiful soul taken too soon❤️”

Ricki also reposted her mother’s tribute on social media, adding, “The man, the myth, the legend,” with a white heart.

“Everyone misses you, Dad,” she continued.

Years after Hendrick’s death, Maynard Johnson got engaged to Brad Womack on season 15 of The Bachelor in 2011, and Jef Holm popped the question on her season of The Bachelorette the following year before she ultimately found lasting love with Johnson.

Maynard Johnson and Johnson tied the knot in 2014, and along with her now 19-year-old daughter Ricki, are parents to Jennings, 9, Gibson, 8, Gatlin, 7,  Nola Belle, 4, and Jones, 2. 

Back in 2018, the television personality revealed that Johnson and Hendrick share the same birthday, April 2, in a sweet message posted on Instagram.