Welcome to Plathville has hooked audiences with its honest look at an unconventional family, and there is a lot to know about the Plath family's matriarch, Kim Plath. While Barry Plath may be the head of the household, Kim Plath is "the neck that turns the head," according to her eldest son Ethan. Welcome to Plathville premiered in November 2019, and it has six complete seasons behind it. The show follows Kim, Barry, and eight of their 10 (one deceased) children's life and love journeys.

Kim Plath has always been an entertainer, even way before Welcome to Plathville ever aired. The family starred in a short YouTube documentary about their traveling family band. That unique family dynamic, along with Kim's strict rules, may have been what motivated TLC to create a show about the Plaths. Even though Kim wouldn't let her own children watch TV, she agreed to star on Welcome to Plathville. Since the show premiered, Kim has largely been seen as a villain for her behavior and attitude. But where did that personality come from?

Kim' Plath's Upbringing

Kim Didn't Have An Easy Childhood

As it turns out, Kim Plath's very strict family rules are a result of her own trauma. Born in Georgia in 1972, she grew up with parents who were alcoholics. Kim herself struggled with alcohol in college and itted to drinking and driving regularly. Kim was arrested and charged with a DUI in October 2022, of which she was found guilty.

She majored in music at Florida State University, a large school known for its party culture. She also loved to dance, and on Welcome to Plathville season 2, she tried to on her ion for dance to her daughters. Other than her love of music and dancing, Kim vowed not to let her past affect her children. That's why she gave them such a sheltered life - she thought it would stop her kids from making the same mistakes that she made. Kim met her husband Barry in 1997.

Kim's Religious Ideologies

& A Family Tragedy

Kim and Barry subscribed to the Christian fundamentalist idea called Quiver Full, which advocates against using birth control - the Duggars are are well. Kim Plath suffered a great tragedy in 2008 when she accidentally hit her 17-month-old son Joshua with her car. He ed away, causing Kim to tighten her reins on her children even more.

Kim's Job

& Kim's ions

Despite her interest in performing, the 48-year-old is currently a naturopathic doctor. She uses natural therapies such as herbs and massages to help her clients, but when her daughter Amber had low hemoglobin levels, she took her to a medical doctor. Kim is not a licensed naturopath, who are allowed to have their own clinics, which is part of the reason she does her healing from home.

Besides the TLC checks, a third way Kim brings home the bacon is through Airbnb. The Plaths' former home is available to rent on Airbnb, as well as a small cabin on the property. Kim has had a fascinating life, and her experience does help explain why she is the way that she is.

Kim & Barry Divorced

Kim Has A Boyfriend, Ken Palmer

In Welcome to Plathville season 4, Kim and Barry shocked bot their kids and their TLC audience by announcing their intention to divorce. The divorce was Kim's idea. She cited that Barry was not giving her what she needed as a wife and that she no longer felt loved and appreciated the way she wanted to. Kim moved out into one of her and Barry's rental units. Their split was announced in June 2022, although they are still notofficially divorced. By Welcome to Plathville season 5, Kim was already in a new relationship with a man named Ken Palmer.

Ken is her youngest son Isaac's pilot and plane owner partner. Kim's children thought she was moving on too fast from Barry, and not setting a good example. However, Kim gave the kids no choice but to warm up to the idea of her dating again. By Welcome to Plathville season 6, Ken was a big part of Kim and Barry's younger children's lives. Kim opted not to move in with Ken, and instead, she bought a small houseboat in Florida, closer to Ken. Kim and Ken are still together and Ken and Barry met at a Plath family gathering in season 6.

The future of Welcome to Plathville after season 6 could focus more on the love life of the adult Plath family . The narrative of the show has been headed in that direction anyways. Moreover, now that Kim and Barry have become a whole lot less fundamentalist and rigid due their personal feelings changing, it will be interesting to see how the pair move forward into the next chapters of their lives.

Welcome to Plathville seasons 1-6 are available to stream on Discovery+.

Source: TLC/YouTube