She may be Kody Brown’s fourth wife, but few can deny that Sister Wives star Robyn Brown is the Brown family patriarch’s favorite.
The 44-year-old mother of five officially joined the family in 2010 and her entry into the family was documented in the pilot episode of the family’s TLC reality series.
Prior to his marriage to Robyn, Kody had first tied the knot with Meri Brown in 1990, followed by Janelle Brown in 1993, and Christine Brown in 1994.
The polygamist, who is now the father of 18 children, legally married Robyn in 2014 in an effort to adopt her three children from a previous marriage.
After Christine announced her split from Kody in 2021, Janelle shared that she and Kody were separated in early 2023 and Meri confirmed that she and Kody had “permanently terminated” their marriage. Robyn remains the only wife in an active relationship with Kody.
Look back at their love story:
June 1999
Robyn, a member of the polygamist faith, married her first husband, David Preston Jessop. Coincidentally, David is reportedly the first cousin of Christine Brown and the third cousin of Kody.
Robyn and David had three children together and Robyn said that she planned to have sister wives, but that their marriage didn’t last long enough for them to welcome a second wife.
“What started off as unstable disintegrated into something destructive,” Robyn wrote in the family’s book, Becoming Sister Wives, of her first marriage.
In the years since, it has been speculated that Robyn was a victim of domestic abuse in her first marriage.
In January 2023, Kody and Christine’s son, Paedon Brown, alleged that Robyn was in an “extremely abusive relationship” with her ex-husband, David.
They welcomed children Dayton Jessop, Aurora Jessop, and Breanna Jessop together.
2009
After two years of separation, Robyn’s divorce from David was finalized.
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December 2009
At the age of 30, Robyn saw Kody at her cousin, Reba’s, church.
“I’m not exaggerating when I say I felt as though I’d been shot through with a bolt of lightning,” Robyn wrote of the encounter, saying she was “stunned” and “embarrassed” by her response.
Having just gone through her divorce, Robyn was wary of entering into anything, but developed a close friendship with Meri.
“Both Meri and I were convinced that Robyn had a wonderful spirit — kind and profound,” Kody wrote. “Even our brief conversation with her stirred our souls. We wanted to get to know her better. I felt an undeniable connection to this woman I had just met, as did Meri. This connection was so deep and spiritual that it kept us up all night.”
Robyn insisted upon a longer courtship than any of Kody’s other wives, courting him for six months before marriage.
May 2010
On May 22, 2010, Robyn and Kody were spiritually married with their large family present for the special occasion.
September 2010
Sister Wives premiered on TLC featuring Kody and his first three wives. In the pilot episode, Kody shares with his kids that he’s planning to ask Robyn and her three children to join their family. It marks his first new courtship in 16 years.
Viewers got to meet Robyn at the end of the episode, when Kody shared that they were four months into their courtship. Robyn is seen giggling with her future husband and describing him as her “soulmate.”
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October 2011
Kody and Robyn welcomed their first child together, son Solomon Brown.
December 2014
In an effort to adopt Robyn’s children from her past marriage, Kody legally divorced Meri and married Robyn. This move put a strain on Kody and Meri’s relationship and several months later, her catfishing scandal was revealed.
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January 2016
Kody and Robyn welcomed their daughter, Ariella Brown, marking Kody’s final child of 18.
March 2020
The COVID pandemic hit, causing the Brown family and the rest of the world to adjust. Kody became very strict with his wives, saying that if they traveled or planned to see anyone outside of their family unit that he would not see them. He was then accused of favoring Robyn during this time.
November 2021
Christine publicly announced her split from Kody after months of privately struggling. In season 17 of Sister Wives, she specifically cited his favoritism of Robyn as a reason behind her decision.
January 2023
Janelle announced that she and Kody had separated after nearly 30 years of being spiritually married. Later that month, Meri also confirmed that she and Kody had “permanently terminated” their marriage after years of estrangement.
In the show’s One-on-One special, Robyn and Kody discussed the possibility of having a monogamous relationship.
Of bringing in new wives to the family, Robyn said that her husband “basically said no” to the idea. She noted that she is interested in bringing new wives in, but admitted, “I’m scared of it because of how badly this has gone. I really, really struggle with it because it feels like, ‘Oh well, those didn’t work so onto the new!’ That’s hard for me. That’s really, really hard for me. It feels disrespectful.”
Saying that the idea of being in a monogamous relationship with Kody is “messing with my identity,” Robyn added that she had never intended to be the last wife standing.
“It’s not the future I wanted. I want that house with us on the porch in the rocking chairs with our grandkids and our kids around us — the grandparent ranch,” Robyn said. “That’s what I want. And I don’t know how to let it go.”
April 2023
Kody and Christine’s daughter, Gwendlyn Brown, said that her estranged stepmother no longer sees herself as a part of the Brown family.
Reflecting on Robyn’s tearful claims that she’s always dreamed of having the extended polygamist family together, Gwendlyn called the idea “so lovely and so cute,” but added, “I’m not sure that Robyn can be reunited with it… With Robyn, she’s made it very clear that she no longer sees herself as part of the family. I’m not sure if she’ll allow that to happen with her kids.”
July 2023
The trailer for Sister Wives’ season 18 premiered with a tearful Robyn weeping over the loss of her dreams of a plural family.
“I wanted to sit on a porch with my sister wives, with my kids and my grandkids,” she said crying, repeating her regular sentiment of her vision for the Brown family’s future.
Kody’s estranged older children were also seen discussing their fractured family, with Kody and Janelle’s son, Garrison Brown, saying, “You know what, Robyn? Have him.”
Season 18 of Sister Wives premieres Sunday, Aug. 20 at 10 p.m. ET on TLC.
