"The divorce was final on March 1, and [I] went out to be on Survivor on March 10," Whelchel told People about the split. "Going out to Survivor was helpful for me, to divert my attention and not just dwell on the loss...It was painful to realize that it wasn't going to work out."

Whelchel, 49, and her pastor ex, Steve Cauble, 61, have three grown kids together—and they all gathered to watch the Survivor season premiere last night, she said.

Happily, Whelchel's Tandang tribe was totally safe!