Janelle Brown is embracing a new chapter in her life as she approaches 56, putting the challenges of her past behind her. The Sister Wives star, who was previously married to polygamist Kody Brown, has been navigating a significant transition since their separation in 2022. Kody’s journey into polygamy began in 1993 with Janelle, followed by marriages to Christine and Robyn, culminating in a family of four wives and 18 children.
Since the show’s debut in 2010, the Browns originally shared a communal home in Utah, designed by fellow polygamists to accommodate their unique lifestyle. Each wife enjoyed her space while Kody could interact with all his children daily. However, everything transformed when the family relocated to four separate homes, leading to the breakdown of relationships. By the time season 19 aired, Janelle had joined the ranks of Kody’s ex-wives.
Transitioning from Polygamy to Independence
A Preference for Plural Marriage
While other wives struggled with the dynamics of a shared marriage, Janelle found comfort in polygamy. She valued the independence it provided, enjoying her freedom from Kody’s constant presence, which many other wives found challenging. However, her primary concern was Kody’s shifting attention away from their children as he focused more on the younger kids he had with Robyn, creating friction in the family.
Janelle and Kody had six children: Logan, Maddie, Hunter, Garrison, Gabriel, and Savanah. While they shared a tight bond during their youths, this connection was strained as Kody favored his younger children. The rift widened when the COVID-19 pandemic made Kody’s strict health protocols divide the family further. The final straw came when Kody excluded Janelle’s children from his life altogether due to their inability to adhere to his guidelines, prompting her to leave their marriage after nearly three decades.
Relocating to North Carolina
Launching a Flower Business
As many mothers can attest, maintaining a sense of self can be difficult when raising children, and Janelle faced this challenge. Throughout her time in a plural family, she dedicated herself to nurturing her children, and with their adulthood came a need for her to rediscover her identity. Following her divorce from Kody, she evaluated her life and determined it was time for a fresh start.
With her ties to Arizona loosened, Janelle saw an opportunity to explore her passion for gardening. She purchased land in North Carolina, mainly to be closer to her daughter, Maddie, and her family, with plans to start a flower farming business.
Setbacks in Pursuing Her Dream Life
Navigating Government Regulations
Excitement filled Janelle as she embarked on her new home and business venture, but she recently encountered a hurdle. In a candid Instagram post, she revealed the frustrations of dealing with bureaucratic delays in obtaining necessary permits for her flower business. Janelle shared a video of herself working in her daughter’s backyard garden, highlighting the delay as she waits for government approval. “We’ve been waiting almost 9 months,” she lamented, emphasizing her eagerness to cultivate her garden.
Selling Her Coyote Pass Property
A Profitable Sale
Previously, Janelle held a stake in a plot of land in Arizona known as Coyote Pass. This land was intended for the construction of individual homes for each wife but remained undeveloped due to the family’s dissolution. In a poignant moment in season 19, Kody reflected on the land, lamenting the unfulfilled dreams of their once united family.
That Coyote Pass property was recently sold for a hefty $1.5 million, a significant profit over the $820,000 purchase price in 2018. The profits will be distributed among Janelle, Meri, and Robyn, while Christine, having sold her share to Kody earlier, will not partake in the proceeds. There is hope that Janelle’s new land investment in North Carolina will yield more positive results than her previous endeavors.
| Wife | Age | Married | Divorced | Children |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Meri Brown | 54 | 1990 | 2022 | 1 |
| Janelle Brown | 56 | 1993 | 2022 | 6 (1 deceased) |
| Christine Brown | 53 | 1994 | 2021 | 6 |
| Robyn Brown | 46 | 2010 | — | 5 (3 from previous marriage) |
Catch new episodes of Sister Wives every Sunday at 10 p.m. EDT on TLC.
Sources: Janelle Brown/Instagram, The Sun