Kody Brown and His Only Remaining Wife Robyn Are Leaving Sister Wives After 16 Years

by · Thought Catalog
HIGHFIVE/Bauer-Griffin / GC Images via Getty Images

TV + Movies

By Chrissy Stockton

Updated 8 minutes ago, September 15, 2026

In a twist that upends the show’s entire premise, Season 21 of Sister Wives will move forward without Kody Brown and Robyn Brown — leaving a family drama without the man who once defined it. His three former wives, Christine Brown Woolley, Janelle Brown and Meri Brown, will remain on the TLC series.

The full Sister Wives cast — Robyn, Meri, Kody, Christine, and Janelle Brown — poses together on the red carpet at MGM Grand in Las Vegas for the April 2012 opening of Mike Tyson’s one-man show. Photo by Ethan Miller / Getty Images.

TLC confirmed the couple’s departure in the trailer released Monday, September 14. Kody and Robyn didn’t address their exit in the preview, but his ex-wives did. Christine said, “I don’t know what it means. I have no idea.” Janelle said she was “flabbergasted,” while Meri said the news surprised her.

Seated before a TLC-branded LED backdrop, Meri, Janelle, Kody, Christine, and Robyn Brown take part in the Sister Wives panel at the 2010 Summer TCA press tour in Beverly Hills. Photo by Frederick M. Brown / Getty Images.

The exit caps years of upheaval within the family. Christine ended her 25-year spiritual marriage to Kody in 2021 and married David Woolley in 2023. Janelle left after nearly 30 years, and Meri later ended her relationship with Kody as well. Meri and Janelle have since requested spiritual releases from their church.

Robyn, meanwhile, entered the family as Kody’s fourth wife and became his legal wife in 2014 after he divorced Meri. Kody adopted Robyn’s three children from a previous marriage, and the couple later welcomed Solomon and Ariella.

Kody Brown and Robyn Brown walk together along a Los Angeles sidewalk on September 9, 2025, months after announcing the end of their run on Sister Wives. Photo by HIGHFIVE/Bauer-Griffin / GC Images via Getty Images.

The previous season ended with Kody describing his conversations with his ex-wives as an “apology tour.” David urged him to begin with his 18 adult children, several of whom have publicly discussed cutting contact with him.

Neither Kody nor Robyn have commented on leaving the show.

Janelle’s new boyfriend, Pete, will appear in the upcoming season. Sister Wives returns Sunday, October 4, at 10 p.m. ET on TLC.

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