Danielle Colby, a core member of the popular reality series American Pickers, has announced the show is coming to an end after an impressive 27 seasons. The revelation came via an Instagram post marking her 50th birthday on Wednesday, where she described facing "big transitions."
End of an Era for Antique Hunters
Colby shared the significant news while reflecting on her birthday and her work on a museum project in Iowa. She stated plainly, "I just found out that American Pickers is done." The series, which first aired in 2010, was created by Mike Wolfe and originally featured Colby alongside the late Frank Fritz.
Fritz, who left the programme in 2021 due to health issues, sadly passed away in September 2024 at the age of 60, following a stroke the previous year. For 15 years, the show followed its hosts as they travelled across the United States, seeking out rare collectibles and antiques to resell or add to their personal collections.
Colby's Personal Crossroads and Future Plans
The end of the series presents a major personal and financial shift for Colby. She described being at an "epic crossroads" and acknowledged that without the financial support of American Pickers, the path forward will be challenging. "It kind of takes me right back to where I started when American Pickers started," she said.
Prior to finding fame on the show, Colby was involved in burlesque performance and other freelance work, as she was not initially being paid for her role on Pickers. She now faces building her ventures again from the ground up.
Colby has promised her followers she will document this new chapter. "I'm gonna take you with [me] on this journey," she said, adding she plans to continue filming her work as a "former reality TV star, just trying to find her f***ing way in the world."
Focus Shifts to Iowa Museum Venture
The primary focus of Colby's next steps will be her business, the Ecdysiast Arts Museum, located in her hometown of Davenport, Iowa. While she has a plan in motion, the key question remains: "How do I make money with the museum? That's the question ... wish me luck."
Over its long run, American Pickers became a staple of the History Channel's programming, airing at 9/8c. Colby herself appeared in a remarkable 368 episodes throughout the show's 15-year tenure. The conclusion of the series marks the end of a significant chapter in reality television history.
