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Image Credit: Puddle Monkey Prods/Figure 8/Kobal/Shutterstock

Janelle and Kody Brown star on the TLC series Sister Wives with Kodys three other partners.
They were spiritually wed in 1993 and share 6 children together.
In 2022, Janelle and Kody revealed their separation after more than 30 years together.

Janelle was Kodys 2nd partner, and although they were only ever spiritually wed, they developed quite a life together. News of Janelle and Kodys split first broke on season 17 of Sister Wives at the end of 2022. Through Meri, Janelle likewise developed a close relationship with Kody.
“My mommy was stressed I was getting sucked into some polygamous cult, but she ended up meeting Kodys dad, and they ended up falling in love and getting married prior to Kody and I started courting,” Janelle explained in 2013.
Just one year into Kody and Janelles spiritual marital relationship, he included another partner to the mix in 1994 when he married Christine.

Two years earlier, Kody Brown had four partners, but in the years given that, several of his relationships have fallen apart. Christine Brown was the very first to leave Kody, followed by Janelle Brown and then Meri Brown, leaving him with just the woman who he is lawfully wed to, Robyn Brown. Kodys relationships with Janelle, Meri and Christine were all more than 30 years long, and their deaths have been recorded on current seasons of Sister Wives..
Janelle was Kodys second other half, and although they were only ever spiritually wed, they built rather a life together. Kody and Janelle share 6 children: Madison, Logan, Gabriel, Garrison, Savanah and Hunter. Kodys strained relationships with the kids, especially Gabe and Garrison, belongs to what resulted in his falling out with Janelle.
News of Janelle and Kodys split initially broke on season 17 of Sister Wives at the end of 2022. Ahead of the programs 18th season in Aug. 2023, Janelle opened up more about the separation and how shes been moving on. Look back on the sets relationship and discover out why Janelle left Kody here.
How Did Janelle & & Kody Brown Meet?
Kody and Janelle initially fulfilled in 1989, which she initially shared in her program bio for Sister Wives. “He may not remember it,” she admitted. “When he walked into the space, I took a look at him and had that feeling of remembering something I had actually forgotten. It was a singular experience.”.
Kody and Janelle Brown on Sister Wives. (Puddle Monkey Prods/Figure 8/Kobal/Shutterstock).
In 1990, Janelle was a guest at Meris wedding event to Kody (the 2 were lawfully wed at the event). Through Meri, Janelle also established a close relationship with Kody.
Prior to things became romantic, however, the 2 were just friends, and it caused an even stranger household connection. Janelles mama, Sheryl Brown, actually wound up marrying Kodys daddy, William Brown. They were together up until William died in 2013. “My mom was stressed I was getting drawn into some polygamous cult, however she ended up conference Kodys daddy, and they ended up falling in love and getting married prior to Kody and I began courting,” Janelle discussed in 2013.
Ultimately, Kody and Janelles relationship did turn romantic, too, and he asked her to formally join his family. Given that he was already lawfully wed to Meri, he and Janelle ended up being spiritually married in January 1993.
Kody & & Janelle Browns Marriage.
Simply one year into Kody and Janelles spiritual marriage, he included another spouse to the mix in 1994 when he wed Christine. However, that did not stop Kody and Janelle from starting to begin a household. The pairs first son, Logan, was born in May 1994, followed by a child, Maddie, in November 1995. A boy, Hunter, followed in Feb. 1997, together with Garrison in Oct. 1998, Gabriel in Jan. 2001 and Savanah in 2004.
In 2010, right around when Sister Wives started production, Kody wanted to include a fourth spouse, Robyn, to the family. In order to embrace Robyns 3 kids from her past relationship, Kody divorced Meri (they remained spiritually wed) and lawfully wed Robyn. With the 3 embraced children, Kody has 18 kids in total throughout his four marital relationships. He also has numerous grandchildren, with 3 of them through his and Janelles child, Madison.
Throughout Kody and Janelles marital relationship, theyve resided in numerous locations. When the household initially appeared on Sister Wives, they were living in Utah, but ultimately transferred to Las Vegas in 2011. They then picked up and relocated to Flagstaff, Arizona in 2018. In Arizona, they bought a big piece of property called Coyote Pass, which they were intending on separating into 5 parts so each family member might develop their own homes on the compound. Recent seasons of Sister Wives have actually depicted the familys continuous debate about how to fairly divide the land.
In 2021, Janelle decided to vacate her rental house in Arizona and live on the Coyote Pass compound in a recreational vehicle. Given that the Brown family had yet to choose how they wanted to start building, she pertained to the conclusion that the RV would be the most cost-effective method to live, as the family continued to put money into the land that they werent even utilizing.
” I acted boldly and took an experience,” Janelle revealed in a June 2021 Instagram post. As Janelles only small kid, Savanah was living with her in the RV.
Why Janelle Left Kody.
Around the time of Janelle moving into the RV, her relationship with Kody began to take a turn. Janelle and Christine insisted they were following all of the CDC standards, however Kody was not pleased to hear that they were taking a trip to see other household members out of state in 2020 and 2021.
Kody with his 4 other halves. (Puddle Monkey Prods/Figure 8/Kobal/Shutterstock).
Janelle and Kodys kids, Gabriel and Garrison, were ending up being vocally annoyed with the choices that their dad was making throughout COVID. Janelle was left in the middle, feeling like she needed to choose in between her kids and her hubby. In 2020, she chose to invest Thanksgiving with her kids, and not with Kody, as he felt that the young boys werent following his COVID guidelines carefully enough.
Around this time, Janelle started contemplating whether she wished to remain in a marriage with Kody anymore. “My children are almost grown and theres not a necessity any longer to stay,” she confessed on the Jan. 16, 2022 episode of Sister Wives. “It was a terrific way to raise children, however with Kody and I right now, our relationship is quite strained. It d be really simple to leave.”.
At the end of 2020, all of the family members consented to quarantine to Kodys liking so they could invest Christmas together. Janelle entered into 2021 with a more favorable outlook, but by the time the vacation season approached again, their concerns resurfaced. On the Dec. 4, 2022 episode of Sister Wives, they both began to reassess things.
” Maybe this isnt a great fit,” Kody admitted. “Maybe this doesnt work.” Janelle included, “The last few years, Ive started to question if were compatible anymore. Maybe this doesnt work anymore for me.” Still, Janelle was prepared to do “whatever [she] might” to make it work, because she didnt desire to be someone who simply “surrendered” on a marital relationship.
Nevertheless, stress continued ahead of Christmas 2021 in the middle of Kodys stretched relationship with Gabe and Garrison. They still had actually not recovered from the arguments over COVID. Kody accused Janelle of “belittling” his COVID guidelines, and declared that was the reason that Gabe and Garrison went on to do the very same.
Is Janelle Still With Kody?
In Dec. 2022, Kody and Janelle validated their split in a clip for a Sister Wives tell-all special, which had really been filmed months earlier. They both announced that they were “separated” from each other. Janelle stated, “Its not like [anymore] Its responsibility, its dedication, its faith that informs you to work it out and stick it out.”.
Janelle blamed Kody for not putting in the effort to make the relationship work. She wanted him to put energy into repairing his relationship with their children “rather of having his guidelines and hanging out with the other half [Robyn] where he was respected and obeyed.” By the time the two officially separated, Janelle said she wasnt “sad” anymore.
In her Aug. 2023 interview with PEOPLE, she opened about the moment she understood she was all set to leave Kody after their distinctions during COVID. “He began to be away more and I thought, Wow, I might do this,” she exposed. “I could be on my own. I simply thought, Wow, all right, I think this is what were going to do. Were going to be apart.”.
Regardless of all the lows and highs, Kody and Janelle have never used the word “divorce” when it concerns the status of their marriage. “Because we were never ever legally married, I cant say Im divorced,” Janelle admitted in her PEOPLE interview. “When I discuss it to outside individuals, I say, Im no longer with my partner.”.
Janelle isnt prepared to move on with anyone else. “I would actually think about plural marriage since I do love the freedom and self-reliance that it offered me. I do not even know what a monogamous relationship would be like.
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