Everything you need to know about Sister Wives
Sister Wives opens the door to the inner lives of the Brown family, a polygamist family comprised of husband Kody Brown, his three – later four – ‘sister’ wives, and their shared 18 children.
First launching in 2010, Sister Wives aimed to shed light on life inside of their unique set-up, with the Browns saying they hoped the show would combat societal prejudices against polygamist families.
It’s believed the show was commissioned in light of the success of HBO series Big Love, which followed a fictional polygamist family.
Find out more about Big Love here.
In the eyes of the law, Kody has one wife, with the other three ‘marrying him’ in a ‘spiritual union’ rather than a legal one. However, the family was later investigated in Utah due to their polygamy laws.
Throughout the course of the show, the family moved from Lehi, Utah, to Las Vegas, Nevada, and then Baderville, Arizona.
The series has been credited for showing the inner workings of a polygamist family set-up, with arguments including how they cater to the large family, how house chores and ‘wifely duties’ are split among the wives, and their house layout to allow for personal space and shared areas.
The show also highlighted the bond between the sister wives, and the importance of their friendship instead of a rivalry for Kody’s attentions and affections.
Who stars in Sister Wives?
Sister Wives follows the Brown family and their children and shared life. The core stars are:
Kody Brown
The patriarch of the family who is married to ex-wives Meri, Janelle, Christine, and Robyn. Through these marriages, he has 18 children and six grandchildren.
Kody was raised in the Mormon faith and is himself one of ten siblings. He is a businessman in Utah, and at one point was president of Das Hundhaus Firearms and Accessories, a company that has since closed.
Meri
Meri (formerly Meri Barber) is Kody’s first wife, having met through one of his sisters in 1989. He proposed on Christmas Eve that year, and they were legally married in April 1990.
Together, they have one child, a transgender son named Leon, who was born in 1995. He is introduced on the show as their daughter, coming out as transgender in 2022. Meri was unable to conceive any more children following a miscarriage.
They legally divorced in 2014, but remained spiritually married until January 2023, when Meri broke away from the family unit after 23 years with Kody.
Janelle
Janelle (née Schriever) was brought into the family as a friend to Meri, and she became ‘spiritually married’ to Kody in January 1993.
Together they have six biological children – sons Logan, Hunter, Robert, and Gabriel, and daughters Madison ‘Maddie’ and Savanah.
Maddie has since had three children of her own with her husband Caleb – son Axel, and daughters, Evangelynn and Josephine.
Janelle split from Kody in December 2022 after 19 years of marriage.
Tragically, their son, Garrison, died in March 2024 at the age of 25 in an apparent suicide.
Christine
Christine (née Allred) was introduced to Kody by her sister in 1990, but they didn’t become romantically attached until 1994.
Kody proposed to Christine on their first date and they were married in March that year.
Together, they have six biological children – five daughters Aspyn, Mykelti, Gwendlyn, Ysabel, and Truely; and son, Paedon.
Mykelti has since married Antonio Padron and together they have three children – Avalon, Archer, and Ace.
Christine became the first wife to leave the family fold, splitting from Kody in November 2021 after 18 years together.
Robyn
The final sister wife, Robyn, met Kody at church in 2009. She was a divorced mother of three at the time they met.
The pair were spiritually married in 2010, making her the first sister wife in the family in 16 years.
In 2014, Kody decided to divorce Meri and legally marry Robyn so he could adopt her children as his own.
They have two children together, Solomon and Ariella, as well as Robyn’s three children David, Aurora, and Breanna.
How many episodes of Sister Wives are there?
At the time of writing (August 2024), Sister Wives has run for 18 seasons totaling 209 episodes.
Season 19 is set to begin in the US in September, though it’s not yet been confirmed when it will be released in the UK.
There has currently been no news for a season 20, however, there has been long-held speculation the show could soon end due to the current status of the family, with many of their children grown up, and some of the marriages ending.
Season two also has a reunion special, hosted by Katherine Ryan.
What is the age rating of Sister Wives?
The official rating of Sister Wives in the UK, as certified by the British Board of Film Classification (BBFC), is PG for the overall series.
This means that it is largely suitable for children with some parental guidance.
Reasons for this rating include:
- No sex or nudity
- No profanity
- No use of alcohol
- Some intense, real arguments
How to watch Sister Wives on Sky
Sister Wives is a discovery+ series, but because we’re good here at Sky, you are able to get it for no extra cost.
You can access the discovery+ Entertainment plan for the duration of your qualifying Sky TV subscription (Sky Q, Sky Glass, or Sky Stream).
TNT Sports subscribers get discovery+ Premium at no extra cost.
Find out more about how you can get access to discovery+ here.
