Kody Brown’s Poor Relationships With His Kids Explained (Which Of His Children Does Kody See The Most?)

Sister Wives star Kody Brown has had a contentious relationship with many of his older children, but who does he still have a relationship with? By the time Kody was done growing his plural family, he had four wives and 18 children. Though he enjoyed close relationships with all of his children while they were growing up, the relationships have since fallen apart. With so many wives and children, there was never enough of Kody to go around. Over the years, many of Kody’s children came to resent the fact that he wasn’t available enough to them.

When the beloved unscripted series premiered in 2010, the Browns were one big happy family. Things weren’t always perfect, but they seemed to be a close-knit bunch of happy people. By the time Sister Wives season 19 rolled around, three of Kody’s four wives had walked away from the marriage. The former polygamist found himself in a monogamous relationship with his fourth and youngest wife, Robyn Brown. Kody’s relationships with his older children, which were already strained, deteriorated even further. These days, Kody isn’t even on speaking terms with many of his adult children.

Maddie Brush

She’s Protecting Her Children

Maddie Brush, 29, is Kody’s daughter with Janelle Brown, his second wife. She made her television debut on Sister Wives in 2010. She left for college in 2015, but college didn’t work out for her. Soon after dropping out of school, Madison announced her engagement to Caleb Brush, a 34-year-old mine equipment repairman. Caleb made several appearances on Sister Wives after getting engaged to Madison. The couple were married in Bozeman, Montana, in 2016, and they have two children together. Madison does not intend to have a polygamous marriage with Caleb.

During the second episode of Sister Wives season 19, it’s revealed that Kody and Maddie don’t speak, nor does he see her children. Maddie doesn’t want her father in her children’s lives unless he can be around consistently. For his part, though Kody is sad that he has no relationship with Maddie or his grandchildren, he thinks Maddie could reach out to him too. Since neither Kody nor Maddie seem willing to make the first move, father and daughter are at an impasse.

Paedon Brown

He Never Got Along With Robyn

26-year-old Paedon Brown was only 11 years old when Sister Wives premiered in 2010, so he largely grew up on television. Paedon is Kody’s only son with his third wife, Christine Brown, 52, with whom he has six children in total. Much of the conflict between Kody and Paedon can probably be explained by the fact that the two men are a lot alike.

Things got worse between Kody and Paedon after Christine left Kody in 2021, and the two are still not on good terms.

Though they’ve butted heads over several issues over the years, the troubles between father and son were often about Paedon’s contentious relationship with Kody’s fourth wife, Robyn. Paedon didn’t always get along with Robyn and her children. Paedon struggled to get along with Robyn’s now 20-year-old daughter, Breanna Brown, who was also only 11 when her mother married Kody. Things got worse between Kody and Paedon after Christine left Kody in 2021, and the two are still not on good terms.

Garrison Brown

Kody’s Most Tragic Family Feud

In March 2024, 25-year-old Garrison Brown passed away, devastating the Brown family. Garrison, Kody’s son with his second wife, Janelle, wasn’t on speaking terms with his father at the time of his death. The two had a falling out when the COVID-19 pandemic separated the Brown family and exposed the existing cracks within the Sister Wives clan.

“You know what, Robyn? Have him. We’re all grown adults who don’t need a father figure anymore”.

When Kody didn’t think his older kids were taking the virus seriously enough, he stopped seeing them. For the first time, the Brown family spent multiple holidays apart from each other, and it was the beginning of the end for them. At one point, long before his death, Garrison said, “You know what, Robyn? Have him. We’re all grown adults who don’t need a father figure anymore“.

Gabriel Brown

He Resents His Father

Like with Garrison, the tension between Kody and 22-year-old Gabriel Brown came to a head during COVID-19, but their problems started long before. Gabriel was also Janelle’s son, and, during Sister Wives season 17, Janelle provided insight into the conflict. “For my boys, there’s so much more going on than just this fight over whose COVID rules should be followed,” she explained. “They have for a long time perceived that Kody’s focus, you know, his time, everything, was spent, the majority at Robyn’s house, even when we lived in Vegas.” Gabriel and Kody don’t speak these days.

Which Brown Children Are On Kody’s Side?

Just The “Core Family”

Sister Wives season 19 found Kody living with Robyn and their five children, which they referred to as their “core family“. Other than his children with Robyn, he doesn’t have much of a relationship with most of his other children. The only adult child who maintains a relationship with her father is 28-year-old Mykelti Brown. Unlike her other siblings, Mykelti was welcoming to Robyn when she joined the family. She continues to be one of the few bridges between Kody and the rest of his children.

Sister Wives season 19 airs Sundays at 10 p.m. ET/PT on TLC.