Kody BrownandMeri Brown, from TLC’sSister Wives, experienced a surprising shift in their relationship following their 2023 divorce. It wasn’t even their first divorce. Legally divorced in 2014 to allow Kody to marry Robyn Brown, they remained spiritually married until Meri sought a church “release” in 2022, after 32 years of marriage. Post-divorce, they had moments of unexpected warmth, notably when Kody helped Meri move to Utah and broke down in tears. This emotional exchange, shown during a November 2024 episode, confused Meri.
Despite their past, marked by estrangement and Meri’s 2015 catfishing scandal, Kody and Meri’s newfound civility reflects mutual respect rather than romance. Kody’s grief during theSister Wivesseason 19move, and Meri’s defense of him over the years indicate a complex bond. While living apart, their shared history and occasional interactions show a post-divorce relationship that, while distant, is more amicable than expected. Meri noted in a December 2024 interview that interactions with Kody are “fine” when necessary, though not friendly, suggesting a pragmatic closeness. Read on to learn more about their complicated relationship and where they stand now.
Kody & Meri Complicated History
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Kody and Meri got married in April 1990, beginning aspiritual union as the first of Kody’s four wivesin their polygamist family. Meri, then only 19 years old, and Kody, 22, shared a strong bond, rooted in their shared faith in the Apostolic United Brethren church. They welcomed daughter Mariah Brown (now Leon Brown) in 1995, but Meri’s fertility struggles strained their relationship. Kody later married Janelle Brown in 1993, Christine Brown in 1994, and Robyn Brown in 2010. By 2014, Meri legally divorced Kody to allow his adoption of Robyn’s children, though they remained spiritually married.
The couple faced challenges, includingMeri’s 2015 catfishing scandal, which deepened their emotional distance, leading to years of estrangement. By 2022, Meri sought a church “release,” finalizing their spiritual divorce. Despite this,Sister Wivesseason 19 showed moments of unexpected connection between the two, like Kody’s emotional support during Meri’s move to Utah. Their history, marked by love, conflict, and polygamy’s complexities, evolved into a pragmatic post-divorce dynamic.
Meri’s independence in Utah, running her bed-and-breakfast, and Kody’s life with Robyn in Arizona reflect separate paths, but their shared past will always link them together.
“Favorite Ex-Wife”
The Term Bothers Kody’s Other Exes
DuringSister Wivesseason 19, it was revealed thatKody often refers to Meri as his “favorite ex-wife,”a term that irked his other exes, Janelle and Christine. The comment surfaced during an emotional moment when Kody helped Meri move to Utah, reflecting on their 32-year marriage. During a confessional, Janelle expressed frustration, feeling the label diminished her own history with Kody. Christine, now happily remarried to David Woolley, dismissed it asKody’s attempt to “rewrite history”.
Where Does Kody Stand With His Other Ex-Wives?
They Have Both Moved On
While Kody’s relationship with Meri is in a good place, his relationships with Janelle and Christine remain strained post-Sister Wivesseason 19. Janelle is estranged, living in North Carolina while avoiding contact with Kody and Robyn. Shecalled Kody a “failure” in plural marriageduring the June 2025 tell-all, reflecting resentment. Christine, who left in 2021, has no direct contact with her ex-husband.Janelle and Christine are closeto each other, and they’re focused on living their new lives.
53
1990
2022
1
55
1993
6 (1 deceased)
52
1994
2021
6
45
2010
–
5 (3 from previous marriage)
Sister Wivesseason 19 airs Sunday nights at 10 p.m. ET/PT on TLC.
