Before gaining fame in Sister Wives season 19, David Woolley faced a heartbreaking tragedy that nearly shattered his family. David made his reality TV debut after striking up a romance with Christine Brown, a 52-year-old who had previously been the third wife of Kody Brown, the show’s polygamist patriarch. Dissatisfied with her life with Kody, Christine decided to leave her plural marriage in 2021 after 27 years. Embracing a new chapter, she ventured into online dating and quickly crossed paths with David, who initially suspected she might be a catfish. To his surprise, Christine was real, sparking an instant connection between the two.
Their love blossomed rapidly, with viewers glimpsing their journey throughout Sister Wives season 19. Within just a month of dating, they began exploring potential wedding venues and took the significant step of moving in together a year later. The couple exchanged vows in 2023, celebrating their union surrounded by family and friends. While David cherishes his relationship with Christine, it’s worth noting that he had been married previously.
David Woolley’s Previous Marriage
A 20-Year Union with a Large Family
David lived a different life prior to his appearances on Sister Wives. He was married to Margaret Lucille Sulin Woolley for over two decades, during which they welcomed eight children and ten grandchildren into the world. Although he never practiced polygamy himself, being part of a large family was familiar to him, especially since two of his sisters embarked on polygamous marriages.
A Heart-Wrenching Loss
Reflections on a Loss from 14 Years Ago
Fourteen years ago, David endured an unimaginable tragedy when his first wife struggled with severe depression. He revealed to InTouch that she was discovered deceased in a hotel room, alongside alcohol and pills. Despite leaving a note for David and their children, the gesture brought little solace. In an instant, he became a single father of eight children. During a recent episode, David emotionally recounted the impact of this loss.
“My wife, my kids’ mother, she took her life,”David shared during a confessional moment in this season of Sister Wives. “One of the hardest things I’ve ever had to do was tell my children that their mother wasn’t coming home.” Guilt plagued him, as he felt he had failed his children. “It’s been, what? 14 years, and I still get emotional,”he admitted while expressing the constant struggle against self-blame for not recognizing the signs of her distress.
David’s tragic past has shaped his approach to his relationship with Christine. He was quickly drawn to her zest for life, as it mirrored the very essence of living fully that he valued. This shared understanding of loss deepened their bond, particularly in relation to Christine’s experience with her son Garrison Brown, who passed away at 25. David, understanding the pain of losing a loved one to depression, supported Christine in planting a tree in Garrison’s memory in their yard, ensuring that he remains ever-present in their lives.
A New Chapter in Love
The Attraction to Christine’s Vibrant Spirit
| Wife | Age | Married | Divorced | Children |
| Meri Brown | 54 | 1990 | 2022 | 1 |
| Janelle Brown | 55 | 1993 | 2022 | 6 (1 deceased) |
| Christine Brown | 52 | 1994 | 2021 | 6 |
| Robyn Brown | 45 | 2010 | — | 5 (3 from previous marriage) |
Catch new episodes of Sister Wives on Sundays at 10 p.m. EDT on TLC.
Source: InTouch