Plot Synopsis

SISTER WIVES explores the complex daily life of a plural family, exposing the inner workings of a polygamist household and revealing the unexpectedly tight-knit and loving relationships between the wives and their husband. Kody Brown has been a husband to three wives for the last 16 years, and he's the father to their combined 13 children. These three wives have established their own roles within the group and have worked together to maintain a cohesive, loving unit. Now, Kody announces he's going to bring on a fourth wife and her three kids, and the news is met with mixed feelings. The future fourth wife and her kids must assimilate into the family while the sister wives work through insecurities and uncertainties that are inevitable to their chosen way of life. The sister wives are: Meri (first wife), married for more than 20 years, and has one daughter named Mariah; Janelle (second wife), married for more than 17 years, and has six children -- Logan, Madison, Hunter, Garrison, Gabriel and Savanah; Christine (third wife), married for more than 16 years, and has six children -- Aspyn, Mykelti, Paedon, Gwenelyn, Ysabel and Truely; Robyn (fourth wife), who has three children from another husband -- Dayton, Aurora, and Breanna. By the end of Season 1, the family had to flee Utah for fear of prosecution, choosing to settle in Las Vegas.

In Season 2, the Browns had to adapt to their new surroundings and their new setup with four separate houses, while Kody explored starting a family business and his newest wife, Robyn, announced she was pregnant.

In Seasons 3 & 4, Robyn gave birth to Solomon and offered to be a surrogate for Meri, who was not able to become pregnant after giving birth to her first child. Plus, Kody searched for a dream home so his entire family could be together, just like it was in Utah.

When Season 6 debuted, the Browns were one step closer to fulfilling their dream of being together under one roof, moving into four adjacent houses in the same neighborhood. But this dream came at a cost as they had to figure out how to afford these new homes in addition to maintaining their struggling start-up jewelry business. And as more kids prepared to leave the nest, Kody and the wives had a surprise in store that will rebuild the closeness the family once shared back in Utah. Season 6 premiered on Sunday, July 21, 2013 at 9pm ET/PT on TLC.

Season 7 of SISTER WIVES premiered on Sunday, June 8, 2014 at 9pm ET/PT on TLC. Last season ended with the Brown family hosting a Commitment Celebration to celebrate the family being back together again, where they shared a family mission statement declaring the ideals they are working towards. Now, with four mortgages and three kids already in college (with more following fast), pressure to make money is at an all-time high. In the Season 5 premiere, the Browns faced a chaotic week: they met a potential investor for their jewelry line; Mykelti brought a boyfriend home; and Meri dropped a bombshell that threatened her close relationship with one sister wife. Later in the season, SISTER WIVES catches up with the Brown kids in college and Meri's plans for the future may just surprise everyone.

SISTER WIVES returned for its eighth season with a two-hour mid-season opener from 9-11pm ET/PT on TLC on Sunday, January 4, 2015. Kody and the Sister Wives -- Meri, Janelle, Christine and Robyn - have settled into life in the cul-de-sac, but life is anything but easygoing for the family. In the next eight episodes, the family prepares for two of their daughters, Mykelti and Madison, to graduate high school bringing a flurry of mixed emotions. And, the family bands together to deal with a potentially risky surgery involving their son Dayton. Plus, the Sister Wives are also presented with new business partnership opportunities that give rise to a serious discussion about their long-term goals. They weigh the pros and cons of opening up to the possibilities that lie ahead.

On Sunday, September 13, 2015 at 9pm ET/PT, TLC premiered the ninth season of SISTER WIVES, immediately following a seven-hour marathon (Noon-7pm) of encore episodes and a brand-new, two-hour special (7-9pm). Season 6 picks up where last season left off and dives right into the aftermath of Meri's legal divorce. Kody and the sister wives -- Meri, Janelle, Christine and Robyn -- are at a crossroads in their relationship. While the divorce from Kody was supposed to be just a document shuffle, it has become nothing like what the family thought it would be. So much has changed and the whole family struggles to figure out how to move forward. In addition to the shifting family structure, the Browns begin their journey to legally adopt Robyn's children from a previous marriage. Kody also takes his youngest daughters to the beach in an attempt to bond more with them, and Robyn announces her pregnancy to the family, kicking off the countdown to her due date. The new special (7pm), "Countdown to the New Season," previews Season 6 with bonus scenes, a look back at the family's journeys and a sneak peak of what's to come. Then, in the season opener (9pm), "A Secret Marriage & Sister Wives Unseen," many new questions arise following the official divorce of Kody and Meri and a look at the most dramatic, shocking and raw Tell All moments of the series.

SISTER WIVES returned for a tenth season on Sunday, May 8, 2016 from 8-10pm ET/PT on TLC. In the new two-hour episode, "Catfishing Fallout," the sister wives are reeling from Meri's recent admission that she became involved with someone online who she thought was a man, but turned out to be a woman.

Season 11 of SISTER WIVES premiered on Sunday, November 27, 2016 from 8-10pm ET/PT on TLC, immediately following a brand-new two hour special (6-8pm) and a six-hour marathon (Noon-6pm) of encore episodes. At 6pm, TLC presents "Countdown to the New Season," a two-hour special that features a sneak peek to the new season, allowing viewers to relive the Brown family's most dramatic and shocking moments, and letting them find out if Kody and Meri's marriage is still on the fritz. Then, in the season opener (8pm), "It's Worse Than We Thought," as the Browns are busy prepping for the wedding of Janelle's daughter Madison, Mykelti (Christine's daughter) drops a bomb of her own, announcing that she wants to get engaged -- and to a guy she met just five months earlier. Christine strongly disapproves of their rushed plans, but a little compromise and the love-struck determination of the couple, win her over and lead to an emotional proposal. And while Kody tries to mend fences between Meri and Mariah, he realizes that his own relationship with his first wife is still in a shambles. The catfishing incident looms over the family as Mariah is still furious with her mother. Meri visits another victim of the same person who catfished her and gets closer to the cause of the problems between Kody and herself that allowed this to happen in the first place. The family retreats to a remote lodge, high in the mountains of Utah, to try to pull it all together. Maybe the high mountain air will bring the family to its senses... or maybe not.

TLC premiered a new season of SISTER WIVES on Sunday, January 7, 2017 from 8-10:10pm ET/PT. With ten, two-hour episodes this season, the Browns are on a roller coaster ride of family drama and joyous milestones. Just months after the first marriage among their children, a second wedding is approaching quickly. Mykelti is marrying Tony Padron and everything about this wedding is completely different from her sister Madison's. Meri is still struggling in her marriage to Kody and a visit to their therapist reveals just how much they've grown apart. Meri is also trying to patch things up with her daughter, Mariah, who recently announced that she is gay. While Meri was initially caught off guard by the news, she has a chance to redeem herself when Mariah invites her and Janelle to participate in the March for Women in Washington, D.C. along with Mariah's new girlfriend. Meanwhile, Maddie and Caleb have some major news to share: not only is Maddie expecting her first child, but the couple is also planning to move to Las Vegas and have their baby at home. Through all of the Browns' emotional ups and downs this season, viewers will be there every step of the way as the sister wives prepare for the arrival of the family's first grandchild. In the season opener, "Meri Moving?," Mykelti brings Tony's family home to meet her parents, but there's one small problem...they don't speak English! Then, Meri and Christine's mom Annie go to Utah for a potential business opportunity.

TLC premiered Season 13 of SISTER WIVES on Sunday, January 20, 2019 from 8-10pm ET/PT on TLC. The beloved Brown family returns with the sound of wedding bells for Aspyn and Mitch, but not all is bliss for the four wives. Last season, Meri and Kody struggled to keep the heat in their marriage, and things are about to cool down even more. All mayhem breaks loose when Kody reveals the family doesn't have the money to support Meri's bed and breakfast venture. Plus, old wounds are reopened when Meri revisits her catfish experience by inviting new friend Kristie, who was a victim of the same catfish, to meet the family and better understand what they've all been through. Meanwhile, wedding fever is in full swing when Mitch pops the question and Aspyn says yes. Maddie and Caleb, who recently welcomed baby boy Axel into the world, decide it's time to move into a place of their own and Janelle has a hard time letting go. Christine is confronted with the daunting reality that her daughter Ysabel may need surgery for her scoliosis. Further adding to the chaos, Kody drops a bomb when he announces he wants to move the family out of Nevada and to a new state. In the two-hour season opener, "Meri, on Her Own...," Meri's offer on the B&B is accepted! But she doesn't have enough cash for the down payment and asks the family for help. Kody steps up, but later, he realizes he doesn't have the money and reneges, leaving Meri to come up with the money on her own.

SISTER WIVES returned for its fourteenth season on Sunday, January 5, 2020 from 9-11pm ET/PT on TLC. The 11-episode new season follows Kody, Meri, Janelle, Christine and Robyn Brown as their family confronts new challenges, old wounds and the end of an era as they embark on a new chapter of their lives. he beloved Brown family returns with the sound of wedding bells for Aspyn and Mitch, but not all is bliss for the four wives. Last season, Meri and Kody struggled to keep the heat in their marriage, and things are about to cool down even more. All mayhem breaks loose when Kody reveals the family doesn't have the money to support Meri's bed and breakfast venture. Plus, old wounds are reopened when Meri revisits her catfish experience by inviting new friend Kristie, who was a victim of the same catfish, to meet the family and better understand what they've all been through. Meanwhile, wedding fever is in full swing when Mitch pops the question and Aspyn says yes. Maddie and Caleb, who recently welcomed baby boy Axel into the world, decide it's time to move into a place of their own and Janelle has a hard time letting go. Christine is confronted with the daunting reality that her daughter Ysabel may need surgery for her scoliosis. Further adding to the chaos, Kody drops a bomb when he announces he wants to move the family out of Nevada and to a new state.

Season 15 of SISTER WIVES premiered on Sunday, February 14, 2021 at 10pm ET/PT on TLC. Last season, Kody Brown, his four wives -- Meri, Janelle, Christine and Robyn -- and their families relocated to Flagstaff, Arizona where they hoped to start an exciting new chapter of their lives. Little did they know that settling down in temporary homes before breaking ground on the land they purchased would be harder than they thought. This season, we see the Browns continuing to work through their new lifestyle of living apart from one another and the stressful decisions they must make about their future home. Like the rest of the world, COVID-19 puts an extra strain on the family and the Browns' big gatherings and large parties that brought the family together are now a thing of the past.

SISTER WIVES returned for its sixteenth season on Sunday, November 21, 2021 at 10pm ET/PT on on TLC. Kody talks to each of his wives about Christine's desire to move to Utah and gets a resounding no from each of them. When he tries to talk Christine out of it, she can't even have a conversation with him and walks out in tears. A difference of opinions about COVID protocols creates tension between Janelle's family and Kody and Robyn. Despite the fact that Meri has no romantic relationship with Kody, she seems to be doing better and managing the drama within the family well. As the family prepares to start building on their property, they are splitting apart at the seams over the upcoming holidays. Both Janelle and Christine's families refuse to follow Kody's COVID rules. Is the family not getting back together, even for the holidays? With tensions boiling over, more than one wife is questioning the future.

On Sunday, September 11, 2022 at 10pm ET/PT, TLC premiered the seventeenth season of SISTER WIVES. In Season 17, Christine leaves Kody and changes the dynamic of this polygamist family forever. Last year, Christine kicked Kody out of her home, which was one of the hardest things she has ever done. But now, formally putting an end to their marriage turns out to be even harder. And when she has to tell her sister wives and her children, nobody takes it well. She is determined to move to Utah to be with her older children but when Kody tries to stop her, Christine calls him out for favoring one wife and her children, over all the others. The stresses multiply as people begin to take sides. And on top of it all, COVID is still a major issue for the Brown family, as first, Janelle and her children test positive and later, Kody, Robyn and their kids face their own struggles during the pandemic. When Christine's daughter Mykelti gives birth, she invites some of the sister wives to be part of it, but not others and her choices are surprising. Then, without talking to Kody, Janelle buys a giant RV and moves onto their undeveloped Coyote Pass property as she is desperate to get construction started on their homes. This season will see the family divided like never before, leaving one thing for certain: the Browns will never be the same.

Season 18 of SISTER WIVES debuted on Sunday, August 20, 2023 at 10pm ET/PT on TLC. In the new season, Kody is still grappling with the fallout from his divorce with Christine, and he is struggling in many of his other relationships. Christine, however, is learning to love who she is on her own by planning trips and celebrations along the way. Robyn is the only wife secure in her marriage yet devastated that her original dream of a big, happy polygamist family is falling apart. Meri is steadily coming to realize that Kody isn't going to have the change of heart she has been waiting for and makes a life-changing decision. Lastly, Kody has been spending less and less time at Janelle's house, and, after an explosive fight, she kicks him out. Through their transparency and vulnerability, the Browns shed light on the hardships their family is struggling to overcome.
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
The 19th season of SISTER WIVES premiered on Sunday, September 14, 2024 at 10pm ET/PT on TLC. Kody, Meri, Janelle, Christine, and Robyn continue to share a genuine glimpse into the complexities of their relationships, moving forward as best as they can for themselves and one another. There has been much change over the past few years, where all the Browns are facing new pathways forward. Meri takes her recent decision to leave Kody one step further by appealing to their former church for an official "release" (their version of a divorce). Janelle doesn't need a divorce and is just moving on, which for her means moving away from Flagstaff. Christine has found her soulmate, David. In less than a year, they go on their first date, move in together, and then marry at a beautiful wedding surrounded by family and friends in Moab, Utah. While three of Kody's wives have left, his fourth wife Robyn remains legally married to him. Now that the Browns have left polygamy behind, Robyn and Kody face challenges together as a monogamous couple and how to adapt to a lifestyle they never planned on living.