Summary

  • Kody Brown's plural family is in disarray as three of his four wives have left him, leaving him in a monogamous relationship with Robyn.
  • The Brown family left Utah to avoid prosecution for polygamy, moving to Nevada and then Arizona before facing challenges during the COVID-19 pandemic.
  • With Kody's 18 children, including Robyn's three from a previous marriage, the family mourns the loss of son Garrison and navigates diverse life paths.

The reality series Sister Wives, which premiered in 2010, chronicles the lives of patriarch Kody Brown, his four wives, and his 18 children. Over the show's 18 seasons, three of Kody's four wives have left him, and he finds himself in a place he never expected to be in - a monogamous marriage. When the Brown family made their television debut, Kody and his three wives lived under the same roof in a large multifamily house in Utah. Built by polygamists, the house had separate wings for each of Kody's wives, where they lived with their children.

During Sister Wives season 1, Kody married his fourth wife, Robyn Brown, and welcomed her three children from her first marriage into the family. Additionally, for fear of being prosecuted by strict Utah laws that condemn polygamy, the Browns left their shared Utah home and moved into four separate homes in Nevada, then Arizona. The arrival of the COVID-19 pandemic further divided the family, and they couldn't recover. With Sister Wives season 19 on the horizon, Kody's plural family is in tatters, and he is in a monogamous relationship with Robyn.

Related
20 Best Reality TV Shows Right Now

Reality TV is more popular than ever. With so many to choose from, here are some of the best reality TV shows to stream or watch right now.

Kody Brown

The Patriarch

Born on January 17, 1969, Kody Winn Brown was raised devoutly Mormon. His father, William Winn Brown, didn't become a polygamist until later in life. He had three wives, including Kody's mother, Genielle Tew. Eventually, Kody's father married the mother of Kody's second wife, Janelle Brown. Kody has a total of nine siblings. Kody and his first wife, Meri, decided to pursue a polygamist lifestyle early in their marriage.

Meri Brown

Kody's First Wife

Sister Wives Meri Brown with geometric background in primary colors
Custom image by César García

In 1990, Kody married a young Meri Caroline Barber. Meri was born on January 16, 1971, in Alameda, California. Her father, William James Barber, Jr., was a polygamist who had five wives, including Meri's mother, Bonnie Barber. Meri had 25 siblings. Meri loved growing up in a big family and desperately wanted to have many children herself. Sadly, she and Kody struggled to conceive and were only able to have one child together, Leon Brown.

After 32 years of marriage, 53-year-old Meri left 55-year-old Kody in 2022.

Janelle Brown

Kody's Second Wife

Sister Wives' Janelle Brown  montage of her smiling
Custom image by César García

Janelle Schriever was born on May 6, 1969. Her father, Robert Schriever, died when Janelle was only three years old. Her mother, Sheryl Usher, eventually married Kody's late father and ed away in 2020. 55-year-old Janelle has one sister. She comes from a family of devout Mormons who didn't practice polygamy. She married Kody in 1993 and left him in 2022 after 29 years of marriage. Janelle and Kody had six children together, but their son, Garrison Brown, died tragically in March 2023 at the age of 25.

Christine Brown

Kody's Third Wife

a montage of sister wives star christine brown smiling and wearing glasses
Custom image by César García

Christine Ruth Allred was born to a polygamous family on April 18, 1972, and is 52 years old. Her parents, Rex Allred and Ruthann Allred, were practicing polygamists, though it is unknown how many other wives or children her father had. Christine is polygamist royalty, as her grandfather, Rulon Allred, was the founder of their church. Christine married Kody in 1994, and the couple had six children together. After 26 years of marriage, Christine left Kody in 2021, after years of neglect.

Soon after leaving Kody, Christine met the love of her life, David Woolley and the two were married on October 7, 2023.

Robyn Brown

Kody's Fourth Wife

robyn brown from sister wives montage looking sad in side by side images
Custom image by César García

45-year-old Robyn Brown was born on October 9, 1978, and little is known about her early life. She married David Jessop in 1999, and the couple had three children together. David filed for divorce in 2007. Robyn met and began dating Kody in 2009, and they were spiritually married in 2010, during Sister Wives season 1. Robyn and Kody had two children together, and in 2014, Kody adopted Robyn's three children from her marriage to David.

Wife

Married

Divorced

Children

Meri Brown

1990

2022

1

Janelle Brown

1993

2022

6 (1 deceased)

Christine Brown

1994

2021

6

Robyn Brown

2010

--

5 (3 from previous marriage)

Kody's Children

He Was Blessed With 18

In total, Kody has 18 children, which includes Robyn's three children from her first marriage. Kody's children range in age from 6 years old to 28 years old. Several of Kody's children are married, and some even have children of their own, like Maddie Brush and Mykelti Brown. Meri had one child, Robyn had five children, Christine had six children, and Janelle had six children. Sadly, Kody and Janelle lost their son, Garrison, in 2023, and the family has been in mourning ever since.

Madison & Caleb Brush

Madison Is Janelle's Daughter

Maddie Brown Brush from Sister Wives in backyard pretty mountain view

At 27 years old, Madison Brush is Kody's fourth child. Her mother, Janelle Brown, is Kody's second wife. Madison was one of the kids on Sister Wives in 2010. In September 2015, Madison announced her engagement to 34-year-old Caleb Brush. The couple married in 2016, and their wedding was featured in an episode of Sister Wives. On May 20, 2017, their son, Axel James Brush, was born. On August 20, 2019, their daughter, Evangalynn Kodi, followed. Madison and Caleb have no intentions of pursuing polygamy.

Logan & Michelle Brown

Logan Is Janelle's Son

Logan Brown & Michelle Petty from Sister Wives

Kody's oldest son is 28-year-old Logan Brown. Logan married Michelle Petty in October 2023. Logan, Janelle's oldest child, left Sister Wives in 2014 to attend the University of Nevada, where he earned his Bachelor's in Exercise Science and his master's in Business istration. Unlike his father, Logan has no desire to have a second wife.

Mykelti & Tony Padron

Mykelti Is Christine's Daughter

Sister Wives Mykelti Brown & Tony Padron hugging each other

Mykelti is Kody's daughter with Christine. Mykelti Padron met Tony Padron in 2015 and were married in December 2016. ​​Mykelti gave birth to Avalon Asa Padron in April 2021. She and Tony welcomed twin boys, Archer Banks Padron and Ace McCord Padron, in November 2022. Mykelti and Tony have no intention of living in a plural family.

Leon & Audrey

Leon Is Meri's Transgender Son

Montage of Sister Wives’ Leon Brown & Audrey Kriss looking happy with purple background
Custom Image by Cesar Garcia

Leon Brown is Kody's eldest and only child with his first wife, Meri. Leon and Audrey Kriss got married in a private ceremony in 2022. They are both transgender, with Leon coming out in 2022 and Audrey in 2021. The couple met in college, and after dating for two years, they got engaged while attending the 2019 Women's March in Washington, DC. Leon and Audrey were married in Colorado Springs, Colorado, in October 2022.

Aspyn & Mitchell Thompson

Aspyn Is Christine's Daughter

Sister Wives Aspyn Brown & Mitchell Thompson seated side by side on a couch in an interview

At 27 years old, Aspyn Brown Thompson is Christine's oldest child. Aspyn and Mitchell Thompson grew up together and attended the same church in Utah. They eventually reconnected and were married in June 2018. Like the rest of her married siblings, Aspyn rejects polygamy as a lifestyle choice.

Kody's Children

Age

Mother

Leon Brown

28

Meri

Logan Brown

28

Janelle

Maddie Brush

27

Janelle

Aspyn Brown

27

Christine

Mykelti Brown

26

Christine

Hunter Brown

25

Janelle

Garrison Brown

25 (Deceased)

Janelle

Paedon Brown

24

Christine

Gabriel Brown

22

Janelle

Dayton Brown

22

Robyn

Gwendlyn Brown

21

Christine

Aurora Brown

20

Robyn

Ysabel Brown

19

Christine

Breanna Brown

18

Robyn

Savanah Brown

18

Janelle

Truely Brown

12

Christine

Solomon Brown

11

Robyn

Ariella Brown

6

Robyn

David Woolley

Christine's New Husband

David Woolley is 60 years old and was born on December 21, 1963. David has eight children and ten grandchildren with his former wife, Margaret Woolley. David and Margaret were married for 20 years before she ed away in 2012. David also has six step-children with his second wife, Christine. David is a successful business owner with his own drywall company.

Sister Wives seasons 1-18 can be streamed on Discovery+.

Sister Wives Latest Poster TV Show

Your Rating

Sister Wives
TV-PG
Reality TV
Drama
Release Date
September 16, 2010

WHERE TO WATCH

Streaming

Sister Wives is a TV series created for TLC that follows Kody Brown and his four wives as they raise their eighteen children and tackle the challenges associated with their massive family dynamic and the stigma that comes with their way of life.

Seasons
16
Main Genre
Reality
Filming Locations
Nevada, Utah, Arizona
Production Company
Puddle Monkey Productions, Figure 8 Films
Number of Episodes
167