"Estranged for many, many years”— Sister Wives star Janelle discusses Kody and Meri’s relationship

Sister Wives star Janelle Brown recently opened up about the strained relationship between Kody Brown and Meri Brown during an interview on the Reality Life with Kate Casey podcast.

In the November 5, 2024, episode, Janelle shared:

“They had been estranged for many, many years.”

She highlighted the deteriorating relationship between Meri and her ex-husband, stating that Meri had distanced herself from the family over the years.

As fans have followed the Sister Wives journey for over a decade, the unraveling of Kody’s marriages has been a significant focus. With Christine Brown leaving in 2021, followed by Janelle in 2022, and finally Meri in 2023, Kody’s once-united family has fallen apart, leaving Robyn Brown as the only remaining wife.

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Sister Wives: Janelle discusses Meri’s growing distance from the family

During the podcast, Janelle discussed Meri’s increasing separation from the family over the years. She explained that while Meri had always been somewhat distant, the gap widened after Meri became an empty nester when her son, Leon Brown, moved out.

This development left Meri with time to explore interests outside the family, further contributing to her disconnection. Although Meri shared a closer bond with Robyn Brown, Kody’s last remaining wife, her relationship with the rest of the family, including Janelle, remained strained.

Janelle emphasized that Meri’s relationship with Kody was essentially over long before they made their official split public. The estrangement between Kody and Meri was not a sudden event but rather a long-standing issue that was kept somewhat private until recent years.

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Janelle’s reflection on her brief marriage to Meri’s brother

Aside from her comments on Meri’s relationship, Janelle also spoke candidly about her past marriage to Meri’s brother, Adam Barber. During the podcast, she revealed that she doesn’t consider her brief marriage to Barber as a real one, calling it a “starter union.”

The two were married for a short two years before divorcing in 1990. Janelle humorously reflected on how she and Barber only lived together for about six months during their brief marriage.

Interestingly, Janelle’s relationship with Meri and Kody Brown continued even after her divorce from Meri’s brother. This connection ultimately drew her into the polygamist faith and led to her eventual marriage to Kody Brown. Janelle described her early connection with Kody and Meri as a friendship that evolved into something more.

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Sister Wives season 19 episode 9: What to expect?

As Sister Wives season 19 continues to unfold, fans are eagerly awaiting the next episode. Titled Baptism By Fire, episode 9 will be released on November 10, 2024, at 10 pm ET/7 pm PT on TLC.

This episode is expected to be filled with drama, particularly as it will mark the first meeting between Kody Brown and Christine’s boyfriend, David Woolley.

The episode’s synopsis reads:

"Janelle warns Meri on trusting Kody about the Coyote Pass property; despite only dating a few months, Christine and David go house shopping; the family gathers for Gwendolyn's bridal shower; Kody awkwardly meets David."

Fans can also expect to see Gwendolyn’s bridal shower, which will bring Kody and Robyn face-to-face with Christine and David for the first time in a long while.

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Sister Wives Season 19 airs Sundays at 10 pm EDT on TLC.