Has Janelle Brown Replaced Christine Brown And Her Other Sister Wives? (She Made New Girlfriends)

Sister Wives star Janelle Brown ended her 29-year spiritual marriage to polygamist Kody Brown in 2022, marking a significant turning point in her life. Her decision to leave stemmed from Kody’s emotional neglect and his strained relationships with their six children, Logan, Madison, Hunter, Garrison, Gabriel, and Savanah Brown. Janelle, who valued her independence within the polygamous structure, felt Kody’s favoritism toward his fourth wife, Robyn, and his disengagement from her family unit made the marriage untenable. This exit followed Christine Brown’s departure in 2021 and preceded Meri Brown’s in 2023, leaving Kody with only Robyn Brown.

Leaving Kody reshaped Janelle’s relationships with her former sister wives. The Sister Wives season 19 star’s bond with Christine strengthened significantly, as they supported each other through their separations, united by shared experiences and Christine’s role in raising Janelle’s children. However, physical distance has introduced challenges to their closeness. Janelle lives in North Carolina, while Christine lives in Utah. Janelle’s relationships with Meri and Robyn are complicated and distant. Separated from her sister wives, Janelle has leaned into nurturing her relationships with her girlfriends. Read on to learn more about Janelle’s social network.

Janelle And Christine Got Closer After Divorcing Kody Brown

They Led Very Different Lives

The deepened bond between Janelle and Christine is particularly striking, given their lack of closeness during their shared marriage to Kody. Their differing personalities, highlighted in Sister Wives season 19, contributed to the distance between the two women. Christine is driven by emotion, while Janelle is logical and stoic. Christine’s romantic nature contrasts with Janelle’s grounded pragmatism. Christine struggled with jealousy as Kody’s most envious wife, whereas Janelle, the least jealous, valued her independence and appreciated Kody’s absence some nights. Meanwhile, Christine often felt overlooked and neglected by his divided attention. The two women couldn’t have been more different.

A key factor in Janelle and Christine’s lack of closeness during their marriages to Kody was their contrasting lifestyles. Janelle served as a breadwinner for the Brown family, often away at work. In contrast, Christine embraced the role of stay-at-home mom, taking on the primary responsibility of raising the Brown children while the other adults worked. Supporting such a large family demanded significant financial effort, which kept Janelle occupied. Combined with their differing personalities meant the two women rarely spent time together, further limiting the Sister Wives season 19 stars’ ability to form a strong bond.

After parting ways with Kody, Janelle and Christine forged a stronger connection, celebrating the holidays together with their children. Despite now living far apart, the Sister Wives season 19 stars maintain their bond. When Janelle faced the tragic loss of her son, Garrison Brown, at age 25, Christine provided unwavering support. Janelle and Christine’s deep friendship, rooted in shared experiences and mutual care, remains resilient, undeterred by distance or time, showcasing a profound connection that continues to thrive.

Is Janelle Still Close To Meri And Robyn?

They Were Driven Apart During The COVID-19 Pandemic

While Janelle and Meri enjoy a cordial relationship, Robyn and Janelle’s relationship is distant and tense. Janelle, who left Kody in 2022, has minimal contact with Robyn, focusing instead on her independence and family. Their strained dynamic stems from Janelle’s belief that Kody and Robyn mistreated her children during the COVID-19 pandemic. Kody and his fourth wife were so strict about viral mitigation that they ended up cutting off contact with some of the older children. While Robyn held out hope that Kody and Janelle could reunite, that ship seems to have sailed.

Robyn’s inconsistent storytelling during Sister Wives season 19 exacerbated her issues with Janelle, as her shifting narratives strained family trust. Her attempts to mediate Kody’s strained relationships with his adult children often made things worse, particularly with Janelle’s and Christine’s kids. Kody’s older kids often felt Robyn’s children received preferential treatment from their father, which led to a lot of resentment. By 2025, with Meri, Janelle, and Christine having left Kody, Robyn remains his sole wife, living a monogamous life.

Janelle Has Leaned On Her Girlfriends More And More

“Tonight I’m Grateful For Friends Old And New”

When Janelle was still married to Kody, she was part of a huge clan. At his peak, Kody had four wives and 18 children, so there was never a shortage of people around. When Janelle walked away from Kody, she walked away from the plural lifestyle. Unlike her sister wives, Janelle enjoyed polygamy. She liked the lifestyle, so walking away wasn’t easy. Since branching out on her own, Janelle has had to form new social bonds with people outside of her former family. The Sister Wives season 19 star has been spending more and more time with her girlfriends.

“When you have friends who show up to a birthday trip (last month) ready to bring the laughs.”

Janelle and her girlfriends recently went on a road trip to celebrate her birthday, and she posted photos from the trip to Instagram. “When you have friends who show up to a birthday trip (last month) ready to bring the laughs,” reads Janelle’s caption. “Tonight I’m grateful for friends old and new.” The photos feature Janelle and her friends wearing branded matching hats and tee shirts, having a great time. In the old days, Janelle would have celebrated her birthday with the massive Brown family, but these days, the Sister Wives season 19 star is building her own social network.

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

Source: Janelle Brown/Instagram