A Guide to Their Former Marriages and 18 Children – ryan

A lot has changed since TLC’s hit series Sister Wives introduced fans to Kody Brown and his plural family for the first time in 2010.

Now that the reality show is in its 19th season, with its midseason premiering on April 20, there have been a lot of ups and downs for Kody, his four wives and 18 children.

When the series premiered in 2010, Kody was legally married to his first wife, Meri Brown, and “spiritually married” to his two other wives, Janelle Brown and Christine Brown. However, viewers were quickly introduced to Kody’s fourth wife, Robyn Brown, whom he spiritually married in 2010 and later legally married in 2014 after first divorcing Meri.

The group faced obstacles — including a shocking catfishing scandal involving Meri in 2016 and a move from Las Vegas to Flagstaff, Ariz. in 2018 — that were captured by TLC cameras, but there were plenty of moments of joy as well as their children grew up and started families of their own.

In November 2021, Kody and Christine announced their split after more than 25 years of marriage. A little over a year later, Kody and Janelle officially confirmed they were separated in December 2022. And just a few days after the news of Kody and Janelle’s news, PEOPLE confirmed that Kody’s 32-year marriage with his first wife Meri was also over.

From where his four marriages stand today to his 18 children, here’s everything to know about Kody Brown and his plural family.

Kody and Meri Brown

After growing up in a polygamous family of her own (she’s one of 25 siblings), Meri first met Kody in 1989 and married him the following year. Though Meri was Kody’s only legal wife for many years, the pair divorced in 2014 so that he could legally marry his new wife, Robyn, while he and Meri remained spiritually married.

At the time, the Browns said in a statement that they had chosen to “legally restructure” their family and that the decision was made as a unit. However, the choice was still an emotional one for Meri, as she explained in a 2015 Sister Wives Tell All special.

In 2016, Meri become embroiled in a catfishing scandal after she entered into an online relationship with a person she thought was another man, but was later revealed to be a woman. Though Kody and Meri started therapy to deal with the emotional fallout from the situation, their relationship became more platonic than romantic in the aftermath.

In April 2021, Meri explained on Sister Wives that she and Kody were “celebrating our non-anniversary, ’cause we’re not a couple, but we’re in a family.” The pair’s relationship seemingly hit a breaking point in December 2022, and Meri announced that her marriage to Kody was over.

In January 2024, Meri introduced fans to her boyfriend, Amos, whom she had been dating since October 2023. Just over a month after Meri shared her new relationship with the world, she announced that they had gone their separate ways in an Instagram post, admitting that “a life long relationship isn’t in the cards” for her and Amos.

Kody and Meri Brown’s Kid

Leon Brown, 29

After five years of marriage, the pair welcomed their child, Leon Brown, in July 1995. Meri would later suffer a miscarriage in 2008. She spoke candidly about the loss on Instagram more than a decade later.

“I don’t know for sure that my baby was even a boy, but my gut tells me it was. He’d be 15 now, and I often wonder what life would be like with him here,” Meri wrote on Instagram.

Although she was raised in polygamy and was part of a plural marriage herself, Meri tried to create a different culture for Leon, who came out as transgender and queer in June 2022.

In July 2022, Meri celebrated Leon turning 27 with a touching tribute on Instagram. “Happiest of birthdays to my miracle, my always amazing, Leo the Lion,” she wrote, in part.

“Know you are forever loved by me @leointhemountains,” she continued, “and I am honored and blessed to be your mom! I love you!!”

Leon quietly married their partner, Audrey Kriss, in October 2022.

Kody and Janelle Brown

Three years after Kody and Meri wed, their family officially became plural when Kody “spiritually married” Janelle. Kody and Janelle went on to welcome six children together: sons Logan, Hunter, Garrison and Gabriel as well as daughters Madison and Savanah.

Kody and Janelle’s relationship made headlines in 2021 after she revealed she was living in an RV parked on the Browns’ Coyote Pass property in Flagstaff, Ariz. She later explained that she was having doubts about whether plural marriage was still for her.

Though Meri said she felt “betrayed” by Christine’s decision to leave the family, Janelle was “supportive from the get-go,” as Christine told PEOPLE in August 2022.

“Janelle and I have stayed close through the whole thing,” she explained. “She’s wonderful.”

Janelle’s reaction to Christine’s departure from the plural family was perhaps foreshadowing her own decision to leave, which Kody confirmed in December 2022.

“I am separated from Janelle,” he said in a sneak peek for Sister Wives: One on One. “And I’m divorced from Christine (Brown).”

Just one day after her split from Kody was announced, Janelle shared an optimistic note on Instagram, writing that she’s looking forward to health and happiness in the new year. “I’m ready for you 2023!” she captioned a video chronicling her progress on her “health journey.”

In 2024, Janelle relocated to Raleigh, N.C., with her daughter Madison and her family to open Taeda Farms.

Kody and Janelle Brown‘s Kids

Logan Brown, 30

Janelle and Kody welcomed their first child, son Logan, on May 21, 1994. After growing up in Utah, he moved with his family to Nevada, where he enrolled in the University of Nevada, Las Vegas and obtained a bachelor’s degree in kinesiology and exercise science.

He currently works as the director of strategic operations at TravelWealth, according to his LinkedIn.

In September 2017, Logan announced his engagement to his girlfriend of three years, ​Michelle Petty. The couple said “I do” in October 2022 in Arizona.

Madison Brush, 29

The couple’s second child and first daughter, Madison — who goes by Maddie — was born on Nov. 3, 1995. Maddie attended Utah State University after high school, but later dropped out after getting engaged to her boyfriend Caleb Brush, whom she married in June 2016.

The pair welcomed their first child, son Axel James, in May 2017, followed by their daughter Evangalynn Kodi, whom they welcomed in August 2019. Before Evangalynn was born, she was diagnosed with oligodactyly, a congenital anomaly defined as the presence of fewer than five fingers on a hand. When she was born, she was also missing a thumb and a toe, and one leg was missing a fibula. She also had a bowed tibia (shinbone) and two of her fingers were fused together.

Evangalynn was later diagnosed with fibular aplasia, tibial campomelia and oligosyndactyly (FATCO) syndrome, an extremely rare genetic disorder that affects bone formation in utero. In August 2020, Maddie shared that Evangalynn had her foot amputated but had returned home from the hospital and was “recovering beautifully.”

On Feb. 10, 2023, Maddie gave birth to her second daughter. The next day, the reality star posted a photo of the newborn in a pink onesie. “Welcome to the world Josephine Lee Brush!💚” she wrote on Instagram.

The couple’s fourth child, a baby girl named Emilia Estelle, arrived in March 2025. Just before adding another baby to the family, Maddie and Caleb made the move to N.C. to open Taeda Farms with Janelle.

Hunter Brown, 28

Two years after welcoming Maddie, Janelle gave birth to her and Kody’s third child, son Hunter, on Feb. 9, 1997.

After growing up in his plural family, Hunter enrolled at the United States Air Force Academy, graduating in April 2020. He later moved to Baltimore to attend nursing school, announcing he had obtained his master’s degree from the Johns Hopkins School of Nursing in May 2022.

In July 2022, Janelle revealed that Hunter had returned to Arizona to live near his family.

“This mommas heart is bursting ❤️,” Janelle captioned a selfie of the two. “My son Hunter is ‘local-ish’ for the first time in 7 years.”

Garrison Brown

Janelle and Kody’s fourth child, son Garrison, was born on April 10, 1998.

Garrison died by suicide in March 2024. He was 25.

“Kody and I are deeply saddened to announce the loss of our beautiful boy Robert Garrison Brown. He was a bright spot in the lives of all who knew him,” Janelle wrote in a statement on Instagram. “Our loss will leave such a big hole in our lives, that it takes our breath away.”

Gabriel Brown, 23

The pair welcomed their fifth child, son Gabriel, who goes by Gabe, on Oct. 11, 2001.

In a December 2022 episode of Sister Wives, Gabe got emotional during a confessional as he recalled when Kody forgot his birthday during a phone call they had in October.

“I shouldn’t have done this but I did anyway — I didn’t remind him that it was my birthday because I wanted to see if he remembered. And he didn’t,” Gabe said before breaking down in tears.

“A couple hours after that he tried to call me back and tell me happy birthday and make up for it. And that’s the last time I ever talked to my dad,” he added.

For her part, Janelle celebrated her youngest son’s 21st birthday with a sweet Instagram post.

“My Gabe is 21! Where does the time go!” she captioned the post.

Savanah Brown, 20

Janelle and Kody’s sixth and youngest kid, Savanah, was born on Dec. 7, 2004.

She is very close with her mom, and Janelle regularly shares photos on Instagram of the two during their mother-daughter excursions. Savanah also regularly spends time with her larger blended family, including her half-sister Truely, the daughter of Kody and Christine.

Kody and Christine Brown

Kody met Christine in 1990, though the pair didn’t go on their first date until Valentine’s Day in 1994. The following month, they entered a spiritual marriage and Christine became the third wife to join their polygamous family.

After their union, Kody and Christine welcomed six children of their own: daughters Aspyn, Mykelti, Gwendlyn, Ysabel, Truely and son Paedon. Christine became the first of Kody’s wives to leave the plural family in November 2021, a decision she later revealed was partially the result of Kody’s relationship with their children.

During a December 2022 appearance on the Reality Life with Kate Casey podcast, Christine explained that their kids were disappointed with Kody for years after he allegedly failed to spend meaningful time with them.

While Christine and Kody’s split initially appeared amicable, with Christine saying in a statement that the former couple “will continue to be a strong presence in each other’s lives,” Kody later revealed in an episode of Sister Wives that his feelings differed.

Christine, however, appears to be focused on the future. On Feb. 7, 2023, over a year since her split from Kody, she revealed that she was “exclusively” dating someone, later revealed to be Utah grandfather, David Woolley. “He’s wonderful and romantic and so kind, and everything I’ve been looking for,” Christine said in her Instagram Story.

The following month, the mother of six revealed that she and Woolley were engaged. “David treats me like a queen and tells me I’m beautiful everyday,” Christine told PEOPLE. “I’ve never been in love like this before and the world seems like a brighter place with him in it.”

The reality star added that he’s “incredible” with her youngest daughter, Truley. Christine married Woolley in October 2023.

Just before their wedding, she told PEOPLE that, despite her split from the family, she doesn’t regret the life she and her former sister wives built with Kody.

“Just because I left, it doesn’t mean we failed,” Christine said, adding, “Our goal was to raise incredible children, and we did. It was a success for us.”

Kody and Christine Brown‘s Kids

Aspyn Brown, 30

Christine and Kody welcomed their first daughter, Aspyn, on March 14, 1995. Like her half-brother Logan, Aspyn later attended the University of Nevada, Las Vegas.

After announcing her engagement to boyfriend Mitch Thompson in January 2018, the pair tied the knot that June in front of 120 guests.

As a nod to Thompson’s Scottish heritage, his mother made hats for Aspyn’s mom Christine as well as her three sister wives, Meri, Janelle and Robyn.

In March 2023, Christine helped celebrate her oldest’s 28th birthday by dressing up for high tea. Mitch, Ysabel and Mykelti also joined the festivities at The Grand American Hotel in Salt Lake City, Utah.

The proud mom posted photos and a video from the outing, including a photo of the group smiling at their table. “Had a lovely time during High Tea to celebrate Aspyn’s birthday,” Christine wrote in the caption. “She’s such an amazing strong and independent woman. I’m so proud of everything she’s accomplished. I love sharing in her life moments.”

Mykelti Brown, 28

Christine gave birth to her and Kody’s second daughter, Mykelti, on June 9, 1996. She became the third Brown child to enroll at the University of Nevada, Las Vegas, following her half-brother Logan and her sister Aspyn.

In 2016, Mykelti married Antonio Padron in front of 400 guests — including all 23 members of her blended family. Mykelti and Padron welcomed their first child, daughter Avalon Asa, in April 2021, making Christine a grandmother for the first time.

In November 2022, the couple expanded their family again with the addition of their twin sons, Archer Banks and Ace McCord.

In January 2023, Mykelti weighed in on the Sister Wives drama, sharing her opinion on the end of her father’s marriage with Meri.

Paedon Brown, 26

Christine and Kody’s third child and only son together, Paedon, was born on Aug. 7, 1998. After high school, he joined the National Guard, as Christine announced on Instagram in 2019.

Like his half-brothers Garrison and Gabe, Paedon seemingly disagreed with his father Kody’s strict rules during the COVID-19 pandemic. In February 2022, he posted a TikTok that appeared to throw shade at Kody’s wife Robyn.

In the video, he wore a shirt that said “What. Does. The Nanny. Do?” seemingly referencing an earlier comment from his mom Christine, who questioned why Robyn was able to hire a nanny during the pandemic when Kody’s protocols prevented the family from seeing each other frequently.

Gwendlyn Brown, 23

Christine welcomed her fourth child, daughter Gwendlyn, on Oct. 15, 2001.

In December 2022, she announced her engagement to her girlfriend of almost nine months, Beatriz Queiroz. The couple wed in July 2023 during an intimate ceremony in Flagstaff, Ariz.

In an episode of Sister Wives, Christine shared that after Meri’s child Leon came out as transgender, she realized that Gwendlyn identified as LGBTQ+.

“When (Leon) told us (they were) gay. Immediately I thought oh so is Gwendlyn. I knew immediately,” Christine said. “We’ve had just great conversations about it.”

Gwendlyn spoke about her relationship with her father in a YouTube video posted on Dec. 31, 2022.

“It’s very flip-floppy for me. In person, my dad’s sweet to me now,” she said. “We had our differences in the past, but we’re getting better and since we’re not around each other as much, we can’t be angry with each other as much.”

Ysabel Brown, 22

Christine and Kody’s fifth child, daughter Ysabel, was born on March 7, 2003. In September 2020, she underwent major surgery to correct her scoliosis, which Christine later revealed was the final straw that made her leave her marriage after Kody declined to join them for the operation.

“I think his priorities are a little screwed up,” Ysabel told the Sister Wives cameras through tears of her father’s decision. “And l don’t want to disrespect him because he is my dad and I understand, I do. I do understand why he’s doing it, it’s just really frustrating and really, really hard.”

She later added, “I think I’m a little upset that he can’t go because he’s always talking about how family comes first. But when it comes down to it, I need him there, and he’s not putting his daughter above the fear that he has of the pandemic.”

Truely Brown, 15

Truely, Christine and Kody’s sixth child, was born on April 13, 2010. When she was just 3 years old, Truely was rushed to the hospital due to acute kidney failure and dehydration, and her road to recovery was documented on the TLC show.

In a later episode of Sister Wives, Kody attributed some of his tension with Christine to Truely’s health scare. “I think Christine hates me partly because Truely almost died, and she thought that I had been negligent,” he said.

In December 2022, Christine shared a proud mom moment with her followers on Instagram, explaining how Truely stood up to a bully at school who was bothering her friend. “I’m obsessed,” Christine said of her daughter’s courageous actions.

Kody and Robyn Brown

Robyn became the fourth and final wife to join the plural family after meeting Kody at church in 2009.

Though she and Kody were initially only “spiritually married,” they made their union legal in 2014 so that Kody could adopt her three children from her previous marriage — son Dayton and daughters Aurora and Breanna. They’ve also since welcomed two more children together, son Solomon and daughter Ariella.

Throughout the years, Robyn and Kody have seemingly had one of the closest relationships among the other marriages in the family, which at times led to tension in their home. Christine admitted that one of the reasons she chose to leave was because Kody had a “favorite wife.”

As of April 2025, Robyn remains the only wife still in a relationship with Kody, though she’s admitted that his issues with the other women had put a strain on their own marriage.

“Right now, I am living right through that because Kody is having issues with some of his other relationships,” Robyn said on an episode of Sister Wives in 2022. “And it is making our relationship really, really hard.”

Kody and Robyn Brown‘s Kids

Dayton Brown, 25

Robyn welcomed her first child, son David, who goes by Dayton, with her ex-husband on Jan. 16, 2000.

Robyn later spoke about giving birth to Dayton on her blog, revealing that her son “didn’t walk or really talk until he was over a year old.” She shared that when Dayton was in second grade, his teachers asked if she wanted to run some tests. “This was when I was told that Dayton has Asperger Syndrome,” wrote Robyn.

In 2018, Robyn revealed her firstborn was off to college with a sweet Instagram post.

“Dayton’s first day of college was this week! I cannot believe my baby is going to college! I am so proud of him,” she wrote in part, adding that Dayton had spent the summer traveling on solo road trips to explore the National Parks.

Aurora Brown, 22

Robyn gave birth to her second child and first daughter, Aurora, on June 4, 2002.

In 2018, Robyn shared how Aurora was all grown up in a sweet post on her Instagram. “Joy is having a kid who can drive so you can shop for Christmas online and visit without stressing about driving! Hehe!” she captioned a photo of Aurora in the driver’s seat.

In a January 2022 episode of Sister Wives, Aurora expressed her disappointment that her mom’s fellow sister wives were not abiding by Kody’s COVID-19 protocols and therefore would not be able to spend the Thanksgiving holiday with them.

Breanna Brown, 19

Robyn welcomed her third child, daughter Breanna, with her ex on July 10, 2005. Like her two older siblings, Breanna joined the larger Sister Wives family after her mom married Kody, who later adopted all three children in 2015.

“My kids now have three moms and a father who loves them and is involved with them,” Robyn said during a 2012 episode of the show. “They are adjusting and learning a lot about sharing and being in a big family. All in all, there have been growing pains, but they have enjoyed it.”

In 2018, Robyn shared on Instagram that Breanna overcame her “paralyzing stage fright” to try out for a solo in her school choir. “Every time I hear her voice I am absolutely moved. You can see her soul when she sings. I am so proud of her!” she wrote in the caption.

Solomon Brown, 13

Robyn gave birth to her and Kody’s first child together, son Solomon, on Oct. 26, 2011.

“He’s perfect and we couldn’t be happier,” Kody told PEOPLE shortly after his birth. “We are so thrilled.”

Robyn also touched on the experience of welcoming a baby into a family with sister wives and several other children.

“Having everyone come in and fall in love with him was just heartwarming,” she said. “Who doesn’t want to know that their child is loved by a whole big family? I had all these kids come in and moms falling in love with him. He has a list 21 deep of people loving him. There is not a lack of love.”

In addition to the love, Solomon has also had to deal with the small annoyances that come with living with so many siblings. In 2019, Robyn posted a photo of a note Solomon left on his door for his older half-brother Dayton.

“Solomon is mad at Dayton for beating him on a video game so he is taking a stand! Dayton is no longer allowed in his room! So there Dayton! 😏,” she captioned the funny snap.

Ariella Brown, 9

Ariella, Robyn and Kody’s second child and the youngest of the plural family, was born on Jan. 10, 2016.

Shortly after welcoming their new arrival, Robyn spoke to PEOPLE about how the newborn was fitting into the family. “‘Baby Sister’ is already opening her eyes and seems to love listening to all the voices of her big family talk around her,” she said. “It was such a beautiful moment when the family was all gathered together to meet our newest sweet addition!”

In October 2018, Robyn posted a few snaps of Ariella smiling with Kody on Instagram. “These two are peas in a pod. They pretty much ADORE one another and follow each other everywhere,” she wrote of the father-daughter pair.