Janelle Brown says staying married to Kody was a burden, reveals new boyfriend
Janelle Brown tells TLC she felt staying married to Kody Brown was a burden, cites his strict parenting, and reveals a new boyfriend after recent loss.
Janelle Brown said on Sister Wives that staying married to Kody Brown became a burden, citing his strict rules for their children. The admission, made as she announces a new boyfriend, highlights ongoing tensions within the polygamous family.
On the October 11 episode of TLC’s Sister Wives, Janelle Brown, 57, described her 30‑year marriage to Kody Brown as a "burden." She said the relationship never had a solid identity and that the couple focused almost entirely on the family, leaving little room for their own partnership.
Janelle explained that she became apathetic toward the marriage, admitting, "I just didn’t care," and that Kody’s increasing strictness with their children during the coronavirus pandemic pushed her to a breaking point. She recalled a "lightbulb moment" when Kody began enforcing rigid rules for the children’s visits, which she said felt like an unbearable load.
"It was a burden to stay married," Janelle said.
What we know
- Janelle and Kody married in a spiritual ceremony in 1993.
- The couple welcomed six children: sons Logan (32), Hunter (29), the late Garrison (who died in March 2024 at age 25), Gabriel (25), and daughters Maddie (30) and Savanah (21).
- Their marriage ended in December 2022, just before what would have been their 30‑year anniversary in January 2023.
- Janelle said Kody’s hard‑line approach toward the children, especially during the pandemic, contributed to her decision to leave.
- She described dating as "so much work" and expressed reluctance to re‑enter a similarly demanding relationship.
- In August, Janelle announced she is seeing a new boyfriend named Pete.
- Other members of the Brown family have also moved on: Christine Brown married David Woolley in October 2023, Meri Brown is dating, and Kody remains married to Robyn Brown, who joined the family in 2014.
Janelle’s comments come amid a series of family changes. Her son Garrison’s death in March 2024 added a layer of grief to the already complex dynamics. While Kody and Robyn are no longer featured on the show, they remain legally married, and the family’s public narrative continues to evolve.
During the interview, Janelle also reflected on the couple’s lack of personal focus, noting, "He and I were always very much thinking about the family. We thought about the whole." She said the marriage was treated as a given, with little effort to nurture the couple’s bond.
Sources
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