The End of an Era: Kody Brown's Marriages and the Status of Sister Wives
For over a decade, TLC viewers have followed the complex relationships of the Brown family on Sister Wives. Initially, Kody Brown was legally married to Meri Brown and spiritually married to Janelle Brown and Christine Brown, later adding Robyn Brown to the mix. However, the family dynamic has drastically shifted in recent years as the wives began to leave Kody.
The Cracks Begin to Show
Hints of trouble within the plural family emerged as early as February 2021, when Kody told Us Weekly that his wives were free to leave if they were unhappy. "I feel like [my wives] need to understand that — that they can leave. If it’s not working for them, they can leave. Nobody’s going to be a prisoner here," he stated at the time.
The First Departure: Christine Brown
Christine Brown was the first to announce her departure from the family, revealing her split from Kody in November 2021. This marked a significant turning point in the series and the family's structure.
Further Separations: Janelle and Meri Brown
Following Christine's exit, Janelle Brown confirmed her separation from Kody in December 2022. Subsequently, Meri Brown announced that she and Kody had decided to "permanently terminate" their marriage in January 2023. This left Robyn Brown as Kody's only remaining wife.
Meri Brown's Perspective and New Beginnings
The deterioration of Meri and Kody's relationship was a storyline throughout several seasons. In an October 2022 episode, Meri revealed Kody had suggested she move to Utah to run her bed and breakfast after her mother's death. This idea, and the perceived lack of effort from Kody, deeply affected her. "I was here are the very beginning. I helped start this family. It was me and him and we had plans. He loved me," she said in a confessional.
"It's interesting hearing him talking about this and the parallels that [are] happening with him and Christine and me and him. It's kind of disturbing because some of the things he's frustrated about with Christine, he did with me. Oh, he wants to work on it with Christine, but not me." - Meri Brown during season 17.
After the split from Kody, Meri briefly dated a man named Amos, revealing the relationship on Instagram in January 2024. However, the relationship ended a month later.
The Current Status
With Christine, Janelle, and Meri having left the plural marriage, Robyn Brown remains Kody's sole wife. The future of the Brown family dynamic, and the Sister Wives show itself, remains to be seen.