Sister Wives star Janelle Brown continues to rise above the drama as she rebuilds her life. Janelle has always had a straightforward personality, and that is especially true following her split from her ex-husband, Kody Brown.
Kody and Janelle were in a polygamous marriage that also included Meri Brown, Christine Brown, and Robyn Brown. Janelle, Meri, and Christine all broke up with Kody in recent years, leaving him in a monogamous marriage with Robyn.
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Although the family has been divided by fighting and resentment, Janelle maintains her dignity.
Janelle was Kody’s second wife and the mother of six children. Janelle and Kody’s marriage began to fall apart after Kody’s estrangement from their sons, Garrison Brown and Gabriel Brown.
Kody was quick to dismiss his sons and showed no interest in making amends. He also allowed his other children to become casualties of his pettiness. Kody’s stubbornness forced Janelle to choose between her husband and her sons, and Janelle knew her loyalty would always be with her children.
Janelle Has Always Enjoyed Her Independence
She Was Proud To Be A Working Mom
Janelle appreciated the freedom her polygamous lifestyle provided. Kody rotated his schedule between his wives, leaving Janelle on her own most of the time. Janelle enjoyed having more time to herself than a traditional marriage would allow.
She also maintained a full-time job, which set her apart from Kody’s other wives. Christine took on the childcare for Janelle’s kids while Janelle worked to support the family financially. The sister wives seemed happy with their unique arrangement.
While Janelle loved her children, she found purpose in her work outside the house and valued the independence it gave her.
Janelle exhibited impressive strength by learning to manage utilities and the elements, proving she could support herself without Kody’s help.
As their children grew older, the Browns no longer lived communally. Following their move to Flagstaff, Arizona, the family lived in four homes spread across the town.
Janelle embraced having her own space and enjoyed gardening and the outdoors. When she was forced to move out of her rental house, Janelle made the unusual choice to move into an RV on the family’s vacant lot.
Janelle exhibited impressive strength by learning to manage utilities and the elements, proving she could support herself without Kody’s help.
Janelle Was Pondering Her Future In Season 18
Her Marriage Was In A Fragile Place
When winter weather made living in the RV unfeasible, Janelle moved into a small apartment with her youngest daughter, Savanah Brown. This apartment marked a turning point in her marriage to Kody.
He visited the apartment and realized Janelle didn’t intend for him to live there with her. Kody had essentially abandoned Janelle, ignoring her children and spending all his time at Robyn’s house.
Yet he acted hurt by Janelle’s independence. After years of being left to fend for herself, Janelle grew comfortable with her agency and no longer needed to include Kody in her decisions.
Sister Wives season 18 documented a brutal fight between Janelle and Kody about their plans for the holidays. They didn’t speak for weeks following their screaming match, and Kody didn’t even reach out to Janelle or their children on Christmas.
In Janelle’s mind, this effectively ended her relationship with Kody. She was living as a single mom, and it didn’t phase her to separate from him. Janelle pondered the future of her marriage throughout the season.
Although Kody wanted to keep his family together, his efforts were not enough, and Janelle decided she enjoyed their separation.
Janelle Prepares To Face Kody In The Season 19 Trailer
She Is Repairing Her Past Financial Mistakes
Janelle previously admitted she had not financially prepared for life as a single woman. She was in an unstable financial position after leaving her marriage.
Despite working tirelessly to support the family, Janelle had few assets of her own. Everything else was tied to Kody, including her share of the family’s undeveloped land, Coyote Pass. However, Janelle did not allow her past mistakes to hold her back.
Janelle shows amazing courage by facing Kody and forcing him to take accountability.
In the Sister Wives season 19 trailer released by TLC, Janelle proves she is willing to stand up to Kody. She threatens to hire a lawyer to resolve the dispute over Coyote Pass, citing Kody’s refusal to speak to her.
Janelle may have suffered through years of mistreatment by Kody, but now that she has left him, she is making sure to claim what is rightfully hers. Janelle shows amazing courage by facing Kody and forcing him to take accountability.
Heartbreak Forced Janelle To Find Her Strength
Janelle Is Resilient Despite Unimaginable Circumstances
Janelle’s divorce from Kody is not the only heartbreak she’s enduring. Kody and Janelle’s son, Garrison, sadly passed away in early 2024.
It’s unclear how the aftermath of Garrison’s passing will be handled in Sister Wives season 19, but it will surely impact Janelle’s journey. Janelle has suffered a terrible loss, but she moved forward through her grief. She finds comfort in the close bond she had with Garrison, and she remains a source of strength for her other children.
Janelle is now left to pick up the pieces of her life. She is single for the first time in decades, and she is helping her children through their grief.
Fortunately, Janelle’s strength is indestructible. She returns to Sister Wives with a determination to build a new life for herself, and she will not let Kody or anybody else stop her.
