For Michael Bristow and his family, what began as a casual idea turned into a once-in-a-lifetime experience on national television.
Bristow, his mother, Susan Simmons, and siblings Matt Bristow, Kristen Millay, and Kaylyn Bristow recently traveled to Atlanta to film an episode of Family Feud — fulfilling a longtime dream inspired by their mother’s love for the show.
“My mom is a big fan,” Bristow said. “She grew up watching it, and years ago, my youngest sister Caitlyn used to sit and watch it with her. One day, Caitlyn looked into how to apply, saw you just needed five people, and said, ‘Well, that’s us.’”
The family began the application process in October 2023, not expecting much. But within weeks, they received an email requesting a Zoom interview with the show’s producers.
“We were shocked,” Bristow said. “We all gathered at mom’s house, went through a mock game, and had to show energy like you see on the show — cheering each other on with ‘Good answer!’ and all that. It was actually pretty fun.”
After the interview, the Bristows were told they’d be placed in a queue and might not hear anything for up to three years. But in March, they got the surprise of a lifetime: they’d been selected.
The family flew out of Louisville and arrived in Atlanta, where they were treated to a full day at the studio.
“They flew us down, put us up in a hotel — the whole production team was incredibly kind,” Bristow said. “We spent about 10 hours in the studio. It was long, but so worth it.”
Though contestants don’t interact with host Steve Harvey off-camera, Bristow said his presence made an impact.
“We only saw Steve during the show, but he’s hilarious,” he said. “He cracks jokes during breaks and has the whole crowd laughing all day. He really knows how to keep things light and fun.”
The team representing Owensboro included Susan Simmons, a teacher at Burns Middle School; Bristow, a local school bus driver; Matt Bristow; Kristen Millay of Hancock County; and Kaylyn Bristow.
The family made the most of the experience, spending their free time in Atlanta playing putt-putt, visiting an escape room, and simply enjoying each other’s company.
“With all our schedules, we rarely get time like that together,” Bristow said. “They even took our phones during filming, so it was just us — no distractions. That might’ve been the best part.”
Ten guests were allowed into the studio audience, including longtime family friends and relatives that Simmons had connected with through an ancestry test years ago. That included a cousin she had only recently discovered who lived near Atlanta.
Bristow said the episode is expected to air in February 2026, with a confirmation email and photos coming closer to December. Until then, the family is sworn to secrecy on how they fared.
“We were told just being selected is a huge win,” Bristow said. “Thousands apply, but only a tiny fraction make it. Even if we didn’t win anything, the experience itself — getting to be together, being on set — that was priceless.”
When asked if the experience made their mom’s day, Bristow didn’t hesitate.“Oh yeah,” he said with a laugh. “She’s the biggest Family Feud fan I know. It was all for her. And we were proud to represent Owensboro on national television. It felt really special to bring a little piece of home to a show that so many people across the country watch.”
