Janelle Brown Stays Firm on Polygamy Despite Rocky Relationship

In an exclusive sneak peek from Sister Wives, Janelle Brown opens up about her belief in the merits of polygamy, despite her troubled relationship with Kody Brown. The 54-year-old candidly expresses her thoughts, stating, "I’ve had to really think about plural marriage. I still believe it can be lived and that there’s a purpose for it. Despite the fact that Kody and I are having problems, I do think I could live plural marriage again."

However, Janelle acknowledges that finding another polygamous family might not be easy, remarking, "I don’t know if there’s really an opportunity for me to live it again. I mean, it’s kind of a strange thing. You don’t really go around finding people who are living plural marriage."

Kody, also 54, offers a different perspective in his confessional interview. He reflects on how his feelings have changed over the years, saying, "Five years ago, I was fighting to keep it together. What has happened to me that has caused me to … feel relief when a woman’s saying, 'I’m leaving.'"

Complex Beginnings of Janelle and Kody's Marriage

Janelle and Kody's journey into plural marriage was far from typical before their 2022 separation. They had a unique history, intertwined even before their spiritual union in 1993. Janelle's late mother, Sheryl Brown, and Kody's father, William Winn Brown, were married for years until William's passing in 2013.

Kody entered into a spiritual marriage with Janelle in 1993, joining Meri Brown, who was already his legally wedded wife at the time. In 2014, Kody and Janelle decided to divorce to enable Kody to legally adopt the children of his fourth wife, Robyn Brown, from a previous relationship. Kody and Meri continued their spiritual relationship until 2022, and Kody was also married to Christine Brown from 1994 to 2021.

Troubles Emerge and Separation

The tumultuous journey of Janelle and Kody's relationship was laid bare during the Sister Wives: One-on-One special in late 2022 when Janelle revealed they had been "separated for months." Tensions reached a breaking point in a heated argument witnessed by TLC viewers earlier that year, with Janelle accusing Kody of no longer committing to his role in a plural marriage.

In the latest sneak peek from the show, Meri, Christine, and Robyn also share their views on polygamy as the family adjusts to its evolving dynamics.

Hope and Doubt for Polygamy's Future

Robyn maintains optimism, stating, "In my head, this is still something that can work. You have to have people who are interested."

Christine emphasizes the possibility of successful plural families, emphasizing the need for teamwork, saying, "There are full-functioning plural families out there; you always have to work together."

Meri, on the other hand, is less hopeful, attributing the family's issues to personalities rather than polygamy. She asserts, "I don’t think that the fact that our family has fallen apart like it has is because of polygamy. I think it’s because of personalities. I think that [Kody] regrets marrying Christine. I don’t know where he is with Janelle, but I do believe 100 percent that he regrets marrying me."

Sister Wives season 18 airs on TLC Sundays at 10 p.m. ET.