'Sister Wives' shakeup! Kody Brown and wife Robyn leave show after 16 years

Liza Esquibias, USA TODAYMon, September 14, 2026 at 11:01 AM UTC

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"Sister Wives" is back, but the exit of two family members leaves the upcoming season looking different than ever before.

Kody and Robyn Brown will not be returning to the hit TLC show for the first time since its debut 16 years ago. In the Season 21 trailer, which dropped Monday, Sept. 14, the bombshell news sends shockwaves through the family as Meri Brown, Janelle Brown and Christine Brown Woolley navigate new chapters in their lives.

"There has been a lot that has happened," Janelle says, noting she "was flabbergasted" to learn of her ex-husband and former sister wife's departure. Meri, who was the first to marry Kody, admits she was also "surprised."

"I don't know how to process it all, I'm just going to be honest," Christine adds. "I don't know what it means. I have no idea."

The series has seen the polygamist family go through major relationship shifts in recent years, with Christine being the first to leave the marriage in November 2021, followed by Janelle in December 2022. One month later, Meri confirmed she and Kody had split as well, leaving Robyn as the only remaining wife.

In the preview, Janelle says "there was always that underlying tension" among the women, whose rocky dynamics and separate lives have caused them to drift apart. This season, Meri reunites with Janelle and Christine as they attempt to mend fences.

"This is going to be awkward," Meri admits, before the three decide to burn all the jewelry Kody had given them in a bonding moment. "When we were all sister wives still, this was us at our best," Christine says.

Family drama over shared Arizona property

Janelle later opens up about the controversial dealings over a plot of land the family owned in Arizona, which Kody and Robyn claimed Janelle was trying to cut Meri out of when it was being sold. "I'm like, 'Why are you believing Kody?'" Janelle asks.

When Christine and Meri prepare to meet up on-on-one, they both express nervousness after previously ending their friendship and not speaking.

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"It's hard when you burn a bridge to go back over and cross it again," Christine says as Meri wonders, "If this conversation doesn't go well between Christine and I, how do we move forward?"

Relationships bloom and crumble for Christine, Meri and Janelle

Christine is dealing with strain in her relationship with husband David Woolley, whom she married in October 2023. Noting have "only known each other for not even four years," the two attend couples therapy to dissect their struggles.

"When you're with me, you're Christine Woolly. But it's that other side, she becomes Christine Brown," David explains. "I'm coming to the point where it's either me or them."

In Janelle's love life, she seeks out a matchmaker hoping to find someone entirely different from her past relationship. She jokes, "If I see someone who's a little bit too much of a pretty boy, I'm not doing that again." She seemingly finds success, introducing a man named Peter who she says "is so nice" and has "no red flags."

Meri says she is searching for similar: "My goal is to find where I'm going to be for the rest of my life and check out different men while I'm at it."

'Sister Wives' to honor Janelle and Kody Brown's late son Garrison

From "difficult conversations" to "emotional milestones," Season 21 will also pay homage to Garrison Brown, the son of Janelle and Kody, died by suicide in 2024 at the age of 25. According to the official logline, the family returns to Arizona "to honor Garrison's memory at a memorial held at an animal shelter, creating a space for reflection, remembrance, and healing."

They later bring "a long-discussed mini family reunion" to reality, "bringing family members together and highlighting both the enduring bonds and ongoing complexities that continue to shape the Brown family."

"Filled with heartfelt moments, unexpected developments, and deeply personal journeys, this season of 'Sister Wives' follows Christine, Janelle, and Meri as they navigate love, loss, family, and the possibilities that come with starting over," the logline reads.

"Sister Wives" Season 21 premieres Sunday, Oct. 4 at 10 p.m. ET on TLC.

This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: 'Sister Wives' shakeup! Kody Brown and wife Robyn leave show after 16 years

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