Kody Brown’s Wives May Not Be Sisters, But Some ‘Sister Wives’ Stars Are Actually Related

While none of Kody Brown‘s wives are sisters, some of the Sister Wives stars are actually related. In fact, a few of the people who are technically family are also married to each other, Radar Online reported. 

According to the outlet, Kody and former wife Christine Brown aren’t just spouses. Radar cited an Ancestry.com tree that shows the two share William Moore Allred and Orissa Angela Bates as relatives, making them distant cousins. 

While the exes are reportedly relatives, the polygamous patriarch and ex-wife Janelle Brown share daughter Madison Brush (née Brown). Maddie married a man named Caleb Brush in 2016.

Caleb is Maddie’s aunt’s brother, the brother of Kody’s sister-in-law, Erica Brush Brown. The pair welcomed their first child together in May 2017. Daughter Evangalynn joined brother Axel in August 2019. Maddie announced in July 2022 that she was pregnant and expecting the couple’s third child.

Prior to joining the plural family, Janelle was married to Adam Clark Barber, the brother of sister wife Meri Brown, the outlet reported in October 2015. Janelle’s former TLC bio read, “I met Kody in the fall of 1989, even though he may not remember it. When he walked into the room I looked at him and had that feeling of remembering something I had forgotten. It was a singular experience.” 

Kody and Janelle spiritually wed in 1993 before welcoming six children together: Logan Brown in May 1994, daughter Madison Brown in November 1995, son Hunter Brown in 1997, son Garrison Brown in October 1998, son Gabriel Brown in 2001 and daughter Savanah Brown in December 2004.

Kody is only legally married to one of his four wives, Robyn Brown, whom he wed in 2014 after divorcing first wife Meri in order to adopt Robyn’s children from her previous relationship. His unions with Meri, Janelle and Christine were not recognized by the law since their weddings were religious ceremonies.

In November 2021, Christine announced her split from the businessman after more than 25 years of marriage. 

“After more than 25 years together, Kody and I have grown apart and I have made the difficult decision to leave,” Christine shared at the time. “We will continue to be a strong presence in each other’s lives as we parent our beautiful children and support our wonderful family. At this time, we ask for your grace and kindness as we navigate through this stage within our family. With Love, Christine Brown.”  

One year later, in December 2022, In Touch broke the news that Janelle left her husband after nearly 30 years together. 

“Janelle is a strong independent woman and realized she can do it on her own,” a source exclusively told In Touch, adding that the Sister Wives star “outgrew him.” 

And that’s not all! Radar also reported back in October 2015 that Janelle was previously married to Adam Clark Barber — the brother of Meri, Kody’s first wife. That means Janelle and Meri were sisters-in-law before they became sister wives. Janelle actually fell in love with her first husband’s brother-in-law while she was still married to that first husband. Her old TLC bio used to read, “I met Kody in the fall of 1989, even though he may not remember it. When he walked into the room I looked at him and had that feeling of remembering something I had forgotten. It was a singular experience.” Kody and Janelle were not “spiritually married” until 1993.

Kody is only legally married to one of his four wives, Robyn. Kody was formerly legally married to Meri, his first wife, but they legally divorced in 2014. He then married Robyn so that he could legally adopt her three children from a previous marriage. His unions with Meri, Janelle and Christine are not recognized by the law since their weddings were religious ceremonies.

We can’t even imagine how complicated it must be to do a family tree for the Brown family. Those branches must get pretty twisted!

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