Does Jill Duggar Talk to Her Family? Details on Strained Relationship Amid Amazon Doc, Memoir

Counting On alum Jill Dillard (née Duggar) and her husband, Derick Dillard, have been open about their strained relationship with her parents, Jim Bob and Michelle Duggar, since she made the decision to leave reality TV in 2017. Now, more than seven years later, the couple released a memoir and starred in Amazon Prime’s docuseries about the Duggars and fans are curious if Jill still talks to her family.

When Did Jill First Hint at Estrangement From the Duggars?

The 19 Kids & Counting alum opened up during an October 2020 YouTube Q&A after fans asked if there’s been “some distancing with family” since leaving the show. 

“Yes, there’s been some distancing there,” Jill shared. “We’re not on the best terms with some of my family. We’ve had some disagreements and stuff, but we’re working towards healing definitely and restoration. We’re having to kind of just take some time and heal and just doing what’s best for our family right now.”

She continued, “We are praying and trusting God that like the timeline is his and what that looks like and everything. So we definitely appreciate your prayers, and we don’t want to go into detail too much.”

That same month, the Arkansas native opened up to People about the family’s strained relationship, saying, “I never expected this to happen or for it to get to this point.”

“I’m realizing I can’t put a timeline on healing. I love my family and they love me. I really just have to follow God’s lead and take it one day at a time,” she added. 

In a subsequent YouTube video shared by the couple in March 2021, Jill elaborated on the “distance,” revealing that she had not visited her parents’ home in “ at least two years.”

“In this season of life, we have to prioritize our mental [and] emotional health and all that. Our threshold — as we like to call it — is just a little bit lower in this season of life for us,” she said. “We have a lot going on in our own life, plus COVID just makes it a lot harder right now with trying to keep our circle smaller and everything.” 

While she said that they’d “like for it to not stay that way but that’s where we are right now,” she alluded to there being “restrictions” in place but did not go into detail.

Does Jill Talk to Her Family Today?

Despite the strained relationship, Jill and her husband are on amicable terms with the large brood as they were spotted attending the Duggar’s 2023 Christmas celebrations, which were held at Jim Bob and Michelle’s Arkansas compound. Before the Christmas holiday, Jill had reunited with her mom and all eight of her sisters in April 2023.

“The older everyone gets, the busier life gets— which means it’s always extra special when we manage to get all 9 of us sisters + mom together again in the same place at the same time!” Jessa Seewald (née Duggar) shared via Instagram at the time. “Last week was golden.”

Jill opened up about her relationships with her siblings during a January 2024 episode of “The Unplanned Podcast,” admitting things between them were not how they “used to be.”

“It’s still one of those situations where you kind of have to, like, know like, ‘What am I up for emotionally?’” she explained. “Cause a lot of times Derick and I will debrief afterwards. Like, ‘OK, like how did this go?’ And I would be lying if I would say it’s completely like it used to be or there aren’t any triggers or it doesn’t bring up any trauma at all. Like, there are those moments.”

Do Jill and Jessa Still Talk?

It’s not clear where Jill currently stands with Jessa. There have not been any public interactions between the sisters since the reunion with their other sisters and mom in April. Likewise, Jessa has not publicly shared her thoughts on Jill’s book announcement in May 2023 or the Amazon Prime Video docuseries Shiny Happy People: Duggar Family Secrets, which was released in June 2023.

In July 2022, however, Jessa did clap back at claims that she did not attend Jill’s baby shower. Fans noticed that Jill took photos with many family members, which were later shared by cousin Amy King (née Duggar), but none of the photos Amy shared featured Jessa.

“Please let’s not assume there’s a negative motive behind everything we do and do not do,” Jessa responded to a fan on the Instagram post. “These rumors make me angry, and I’m here to put a stop to it. The narrative these kinds of comments put forward is a false one. Simply not true.”

Jessa continued on to say that many family members were “out of town” during the party. She reassured fans that she and Jill spend “plenty of time together even if there aren’t photos circulating on the internet to prove it.”

Do Jill and Jinger Still Talk?

As for Jill and Jinger Vuolo (née Duggar), it seems the sisters are keeping in touch these days. Jinger was in attendance at the April reunion. Additionally, in June 2023, Jinger fired back at claims that she snubbed Jill’s book and the docuseries. 

Jinger publicly showed her support for Jill’s book, uploading a YouTube video for the occasion in September 2023.

“Jill’s a brave girl. And I think that her coming out and telling her story … I’m so glad that she’s found her voice and I love and support her,” Jinger said while appearing on the Tamron Hall Show that same month. “I know that is the hardest thing to do.”

What Is Jill Duggar’s Book About?

“Derick and I would like to announce that we have written a book, COUNTING THE COST, which details our painful journey as part of the reality-show-filming Duggar family,” the mother of three shared via Instagram on May 31, 2023. “As the picture on the cover conveys, the book is meant to reflect a story that has been difficult, yet hopeful.”

Her announcement continued, “The challenges we have faced, including lack of respect for boundaries, greed, manipulation, and betrayal, are not that much different than what many people in our audience have faced.”

“However, 15+ years of reality television, undergirded by secrecy and lies, is tantamount to pouring gasoline on the fire of our struggle,” she added. “Though we would have never chosen this path, and it has cost us dearly, we want to use our voice to show others that there is hope beyond the pain.”

The memoir, which hit shelves in September 2023, discussed at length some of the mental and physical abuse she experienced as a member of the IBLP. They also detailed what led to the end of their relationship with TLC in 2017 and how they felt “taken advantage of” by Jim Bob.

One family member whom Jill remains close with is her cousin, Amy King. The two both appear in Shiny Happy People.

“What an inspiring couple you and Derick are! I love how God is opening doors for y’all!” Amy commented under Jill’s book announcement. “Cuz, you are so brave and strong and your voice will be heard loud and clear! It might not be the path you would have chosen… but through all the darkness and heartache God is going to get the glory! I couldn’t be more proud of you!”