'Sister Wives'_ Janelle Brown & Christine Brown Weigh In On Kody Brown & Robyn B
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00:00 Season 18, I cannot believe it.
00:03 What do you think it is about this show
00:05 that people just continue to want more?
00:08 - Dude, I hope it's because we're super up,
00:09 I mean, we really are.
00:10 For better or for worse, what you see is what you get.
00:13 Like, it's really us.
00:14 - Yeah, it really is true.
00:15 I think because we've been true to ourselves for so long.
00:18 And then I also think the partnership that we found
00:20 with the crew, with TLC, I think we all have an understanding
00:24 that what we wanna be is just us.
00:27 - Yes. - And that's it.
00:28 I love that. - I think just 'cause we're real.
00:29 You guys are totally real.
00:31 - We are real, we try to be real.
00:32 Really try to be real.
00:34 - Has it been hard after all these years
00:36 to maintain that authenticity?
00:38 - No, 'cause it's authenticity.
00:39 Right, and what I think is great too
00:41 is we've changed so much through the years.
00:44 And I still love who we used to be as well.
00:48 And I wouldn't change. - I do wish I could fix
00:49 my eyeliner. - I know, and I don't know,
00:50 my lip goes up like that. - In the early season.
00:53 - I know, I don't know.
00:55 But who I was, and it was just adorable
00:57 to watch us back then.
00:58 But I still love it.
01:00 I still love what it was back then too.
01:03 We've just been real.
01:04 - Let's talk about some of the shockers this season.
01:07 A lot goes down.
01:09 Christine, congratulations.
01:11 You are married. - Thank you.
01:12 - Let's see that ring. - I'm married.
01:14 - I love it.
01:15 It was a dream come true wedding.
01:16 Janelle was there, of course.
01:18 And all of our kids, and it was--
01:19 - It was really beautiful.
01:21 - It was the perfect day.
01:22 Everything that you want, it was just chill,
01:26 and easy, and romantic, and beautiful.
01:28 And I felt, and I love my dress.
01:30 God, I love my dress. - You looked beautiful.
01:32 - Thank you, I felt beautiful.
01:34 I felt beautiful, and just loved, and it was perfect.
01:38 - After your split from Cody,
01:39 did you ever imagine you would be married again?
01:42 - You know, I hoped.
01:43 I hoped that I would find someone.
01:45 I never expected a soulmate, or true love, really like that,
01:50 just 'cause I just didn't know what it was like.
01:53 And when I met David, I remember the moment
01:57 specifically where I knew that I fell in love with him.
02:00 And it was just, we'd only known each other
02:01 for such a short time.
02:02 And he pulled my chair over next to him,
02:04 and he put his arm around me, and I cuddled into him,
02:08 and I put my head on his chest, and our heartbeats synced up.
02:12 I felt it, and I took a breath.
02:14 And it was like the first breath of my life.
02:17 And instantly, my soul was connected.
02:20 - That's awesome, I know.
02:21 - My soul was connected that second.
02:24 And two weeks later, you'll see on my phone,
02:26 I'm looking for wedding dresses.
02:28 I knew, I knew. - Oh my God.
02:30 - Yeah, I knew right then.
02:32 I'm like, oh, this is what it's like.
02:35 I had no idea I would find that and this.
02:40 No idea.
02:42 It's amazing.
02:45 - So was the wedding filmed for the show?
02:46 Are we going to see it?
02:47 - Yes, you will. - Okay, okay.
02:49 - You're gonna love it.
02:50 I'm excited to invite everybody to it.
02:52 - Okay, speaking of invites,
02:53 were Cody, Robin, and Mary invited?
02:56 - No, Janelle was invited.
02:58 I'm super close to Janelle,
02:59 and I will be for the rest of our lives.
03:01 So she'll be, I told David on date two.
03:03 By the way, I was a polygamist,
03:05 and I was a third wife, and there's Janelle.
03:07 She was a second wife,
03:08 and she and I are going to be with each other
03:09 for the rest of our lives.
03:10 So you're just going to have to accept
03:11 that she's going to come along with everything we do.
03:13 - I'm a package dealer, and I was really grateful.
03:14 I was really grateful that she said that.
03:16 - Yeah, she's definitely part of it.
03:18 - I love that.
03:18 So I assume Cody and your new husband have not met.
03:20 - They have met.
03:21 - Oh, they have met.
03:22 - Yeah, you'll see that on the show, actually.
03:24 The next season, David's part of it,
03:26 and you'll see them meet.
03:28 And you know what?
03:29 They're going to be cordial, and gosh, I was nervous.
03:31 I was so nervous.
03:33 I was so nervous for no reason.
03:34 You know, we're all just going to be cordial
03:36 with each other, and they met.
03:38 And it was interesting watching both of them,
03:41 and seeing, you know, Cody, and I used to be married to him,
03:44 and then I wasn't married to David at the time,
03:46 but knew I was going to marry David and be with him.
03:48 I was like, you know, it's good.
03:50 My past is good.
03:52 My future is better.
03:53 - But my past is good, too.
03:55 - When you first told David that you were a polygamist,
03:57 what was his reaction?
03:58 - Okay, so he knew a bit about the show already,
04:02 but he didn't tell me.
04:03 He let me just go on and on and on and on.
04:05 So he had sisters that actually had lived polygamy.
04:09 He actually had, but his parents knew my grandpa.
04:12 It was all very connected and strange.
04:13 - There's been all this really strange overlap
04:15 in their lives.
04:16 When she told me, I was like, no way.
04:17 - That's so crazy.
04:18 - It's crazy.
04:19 And so they'd interconnected enough,
04:21 so he knew about polygamy, which was great,
04:23 'cause other guys that I went out with didn't.
04:26 So most of the time, I just kind of ignored
04:27 that part of my life.
04:28 But anyway, it was a good thing that he knew
04:30 and he understood and he was fine.
04:33 And I'm like, you know about polygamy in life?
04:34 Like, yeah.
04:35 And I'm like, you understand not doing it again.
04:36 And he's like, yeah, no, neither am I.
04:38 (laughing)
04:39 It's great, I'm not gonna do that.
04:40 It's way too complicated.
04:41 - Okay, we got that out of the way.
04:42 - Oh yeah, that was second date information.
04:44 As soon as I told him everything,
04:45 like, by the way, we're not doing this.
04:46 - Yeah.
04:47 - Like, this night.
04:48 - Janelle, what do you think the biggest difference
04:49 between David and Cody is?
04:51 - You know, David is just,
04:54 you can feel that he's got this huge heart.
04:57 Like, my kids loved him immediately.
04:59 And the longer we hang out with him,
05:01 we're like, yeah, David's really cool.
05:02 The more you hang out with him, the cooler he is.
05:04 Like, I don't know, he's just,
05:06 he hasn't met a stranger.
05:07 Like, he starts randomly talking to a woman
05:10 in the store today.
05:11 We went in to get some chocolate or whatever.
05:13 You know what I mean?
05:14 Like, he's just, when you know, when you meet him,
05:17 you're automatically invited into the circle
05:19 and you're gonna go do the things with him and all that.
05:22 - That's great.
05:23 I love that.
05:24 Another shocker this season, Janelle.
05:26 (laughing)
05:28 From Cody.
05:29 - Yeah, I never thought, you know, I just,
05:32 I never thought that would happen,
05:33 but it just was a natural evolution,
05:36 I think, that was happening.
05:37 - When I left, do you think you'd be leaving after?
05:41 - Look, Cody and I were definitely in a place
05:45 where our relationship had cooled way down.
05:47 Like, we were really doing that whole mid-age,
05:49 middle-age thing.
05:50 And then I think when he started to have a lot of problems
05:53 with my children, it was the first time I'm like,
05:55 wow, I can, maybe I could do this, you know, on my own.
05:59 And we were pretty apathetic.
06:02 So when we had the big fight, which is the biggest fight
06:04 I think we've probably ever had,
06:06 it just, it was over after he left.
06:09 I'm like, I felt relief.
06:11 So I'm like, okay, I guess.
06:12 - And that's a signal, right?
06:13 If you felt relief.
06:14 - I did, I was so shocked.
06:16 I thought I would be so devastated or whatever,
06:18 but, and there was kind of this,
06:20 it took me a couple hours to get over the fireworks,
06:23 you know, but it really was just kind of relief.
06:25 And I'm like, okay, I guess this is what we're doing.
06:29 - You know, she never even gave me all the details
06:30 of that fight, never, until I saw it.
06:33 And I'm like, what?
06:35 And I called her, I'm like, excuse me,
06:37 we've been hanging out for six months since this happened.
06:40 What in the world?
06:41 And she goes, well, I told you it was over.
06:43 I'm like, girl, girl, I didn't know those details.
06:46 She was like, batty, right?
06:48 - Yeah, it was crazy.
06:49 It was crazy.
06:50 But here we are and you're single, right?
06:53 Okay, how does it feel?
06:55 - I find I really am enjoying my freedom.
07:00 Like I always had a lot of independence,
07:01 but now I do what I want, go where I want.
07:04 Christine's like, do you want to go here?
07:05 I'm like, okay, I'll be there.
07:07 - Her friend's like, do you want to go to Hawaii this weekend?
07:08 She's like, yeah.
07:10 - She's amazingly independent.
07:12 - Amazing.
07:13 - I'm really enjoying it.
07:14 And my children are so much like the center of my world.
07:17 So I can now go with them and be everywhere and all that.
07:21 - Are you interested in dating
07:22 or you're just really enjoying this moment of independence?
07:24 - No, yeah, I'm really not.
07:26 Maybe someday, but no,
07:28 I'm really enjoying what I'm doing right now.
07:30 - Okay, were you inspired by Christine's journey?
07:34 Were you kind of like, she looks really happy.
07:38 I wouldn't think so.
07:38 - Yeah, I see her and I'm like, oh, that's really fun.
07:40 And they're like, oh no, I don't want it for me.
07:42 Like I really enjoy watching.
07:44 I watched David and her and I'm like, wow,
07:45 that's really pretty amazing.
07:46 I think it's a couple of goals.
07:47 You aspire to that, right?
07:49 Someday maybe, but I'm not like, oh wow,
07:52 I really need to go get on the dating websites or something.
07:54 No, no, that's not.
07:55 - Okay, taking a break.
07:56 - Fiercely independent, fiercely.
07:58 - That's great.
08:00 When is the last time you guys have seen Cody?
08:03 Do you keep in touch?
08:04 - Was it, it must have been Gwendolyn's wedding party.
08:09 - Probably Gwen's wedding party.
08:11 - Yeah, Gwen's wedding party, I imagine.
08:12 We were all there in the same space.
08:13 - So that was summer?
08:15 - Uh-huh, it was, right?
08:16 I think that was the last time.
08:17 He'd recently came to Salt Lake.
08:20 He hung out a little bit.
08:21 He was there for a couple hours and hung out with Trulie
08:23 and Aspen and McKelty and Isabel.
08:26 Yeah, so, but I didn't see him.
08:27 Like I take Trulie over to McKelty's house
08:30 and he picks her up there and then they hang out.
08:32 You just do what you have to do.
08:34 When you have kids together, you realize
08:36 you're gonna be in the same space for the rest of your life.
08:38 You just will be.
08:39 And so it's nervous making before,
08:43 but then when you're there, you're like,
08:45 oh, okay, this is okay.
08:48 - Right, of course.
08:48 - And then it's okay.
08:49 People do this all the time.
08:51 This is what people do.
08:52 Divorced couples have to be in each other's space
08:55 and you just learn how to do it.
08:57 And it's just another chapter.
08:59 - So now that you both are no longer with Cody,
09:03 have you, would you ever, being a polygamist,
09:07 is that right, polygamist?
09:08 Relationship, polygamist relationship again,
09:09 do you believe in it?
09:11 - Look, I'm not seeking it.
09:14 I still have my beliefs and I don't know how to reconcile.
09:17 I'm not looking for one.
09:18 I'm not, I don't anticipate that I'll ever be in one.
09:21 I don't even anticipate I'll ever get married again,
09:22 but I don't know.
09:24 I still have a very strong religious belief,
09:26 but I don't have to reconcile that with my real life.
09:28 So at this point, I'm sort of just waiting for God
09:31 to organically provide me something or I don't know,
09:34 but I'm not looking, not looking.
09:37 And I think it would actually at this stage of my life
09:39 be a lot harder, I think, maybe easier, don't know.
09:42 - No.
09:44 Full stop, no.
09:47 What if one of your kids came to you and said,
09:50 this is a situation I'm in
09:53 and it's a polygamist relationship,
09:54 what would your thoughts be?
09:56 - I think I would be, I would definitely be supportive,
10:01 but I would be sure as heck talking to them a lot
10:03 about understanding who you were, setting boundaries,
10:06 asking for the things that you needed,
10:07 like all those things that it took me 25 years to learn
10:09 or 20 years to learn probably.
10:11 - It's like with all of the choices that our kids make,
10:14 it's kind of like, all right, you're gonna do that.
10:16 That seems like, all right, have you thought about this?
10:19 Have you thought about this?
10:20 Have you thought about this?
10:21 But I'd be so shocked and surprised.
10:23 They've all said, my kids have all said
10:24 that they have no intention.
10:25 - Yeah, my kids are like, no.
10:26 - I saw that it was so hard.
10:27 - Right. - No, hard for both.
10:29 It's documented how hard it was.
10:30 - Exactly, yeah, hard for the moms and hard for him
10:33 and like, no.
10:35 And our children now, the ones that are married,
10:36 like they have these amazing soulmates.
10:38 Like it's, they're awesome to watch, like all of them.
10:42 I'm like, wow, okay, that's good.
10:44 That's a happy thing.
10:45 - There's just no room in their relationships
10:46 for anybody else, honestly,
10:47 'cause they really found their person.
10:49 - Right.
10:50 What is Cody's relationship like with the kids?
10:53 - We wish it could be better.
10:54 I'll support it as much as I can,
10:57 'cause I would love him to have a great relationship
10:59 with all of his kids.
11:01 So like when we find out he's coming into town,
11:03 usually it's day before and we already have plans,
11:06 but we break 'em and we make sure
11:08 that Truly gets to see her dad.
11:10 And so I'll do everything that I can
11:12 to make sure it happens,
11:13 'cause I think it's super important
11:14 for them to have a good relationship
11:15 and hopefully it gets better.
11:17 I hope so. - Right.
11:18 We saw him recently say that he won't reconcile with them
11:21 if they don't accept Robin.
11:24 - I know.
11:25 I think things can change maybe,
11:27 but he's been pretty clear about that.
11:30 Like the acceptance of Robin seems to be--
11:31 - I think it was more like,
11:33 I'll be a father to those that will let me be a father.
11:35 And I think that brings a lot of baggage along with it.
11:37 My children are kinda like,
11:38 "I don't know what that means."
11:39 But you can, it's a two-way street here.
11:44 - Right, of course.
11:45 What are your thoughts on Robin,
11:48 her devastated kind of reaction
11:52 to all the marriages breaking up?
11:54 (laughing)
11:59 Sorry.
12:01 - I hope for the best for them.
12:03 I hope that they continue to move forward with their lives.
12:06 I think she intellectually would like a plural marriage,
12:11 but I'm not sure she really wants,
12:14 but I can't speak for her, I have no idea.
12:16 I mean, Christine's a little bit more cynical than I am.
12:18 I'm like, you know, it is what it is.
12:20 This happens all the time.
12:22 You know, a man will meet somebody,
12:24 and I think from the very beginning
12:25 they had more of an affinity.
12:27 - They did, he found his soulmate.
12:28 - I just think it was one of those things
12:30 maybe they never intended, it just worked out that way.
12:33 And for me, no harm, no foul.
12:35 I'm happy with the life I have now.
12:37 I'm happy with the life that we have with our kids.
12:40 Like, it's still very much,
12:41 it still feels very much like a family to me.
12:43 - I think Robin and Cody can have each other.
12:45 I think they're great together.
12:46 I think they're a really good couple.
12:49 And they can have each other for the rest of their lives.
12:50 I think it's awesome.
12:51 And I really do wish them the best, honestly.
12:54 - Okay.
12:55 - Yeah, it's like, I wish them the best,
12:56 just to be completely honest.
12:58 - Are they currently in a monogamous relationship?
13:01 Do we know?
13:01 - Okay, this is what I'm gonna tell you.
13:03 I remember standing where I was standing
13:04 when I realized I was in love with David,
13:06 and realizing, oh, this is how Cody and Robin
13:10 feel about each other.
13:12 I never wanna be separated from David.
13:14 I really don't want to.
13:15 I wanna be by him all the time, day in, day out.
13:18 I don't want to leave him ever.
13:21 And so it would be devastating to have to go
13:23 to somebody else's house and play family, you know?
13:26 So I understand, however--
13:27 - I think we all started with that ideal.
13:29 We really did, and we worked very hard to bring that about.
13:31 - I think we were like that.
13:33 - Yeah, and to make the kids feel like
13:35 they're brothers and sisters, which we have accomplished.
13:37 - I know.
13:37 - Janelle and I have accomplished it.
13:38 Our kids are brothers and sisters, for sure.
13:40 - That's great.
13:40 - So I think we all tried, and really, truly,
13:43 we did try hard, and I think we were successful
13:45 for a long time.
13:47 But you know, people get older, they change.
13:49 People change.
13:50 - Yeah.
13:51 - I mean, you do.
13:52 And then you always think you're in a weather,
13:53 the changes, but sometimes you don't.
13:56 - Totally.
13:57 Another shocker was Mary finally leaves Cody.
13:59 - Yep.
14:00 - Big deal.
14:01 So where does Mary currently stand
14:03 in her relationship with Cody?
14:05 - You know, all I know is that they separated,
14:08 and that it's over.
14:09 And I'm super proud of her.
14:10 - And she's actually said those words,
14:11 and I'm actually really pleased,
14:13 because Mary is so loyal, loyal to a fault.
14:16 Like, she's a stand by you till I die kind of person,
14:21 even if it's miserable for me.
14:22 She's so loyal.
14:23 - I know.
14:24 - So I'm glad to see her finally say,
14:25 "Look, I can't do this anymore."
14:27 And for Cody, freaking finally forever to say,
14:29 "Okay, I can't do this anymore."
14:31 - Right.
14:32 - No more like, "Well, maybe."
14:33 - Right.
14:34 - No, I don't know.
14:35 Like, I'm just glad they finally just made the cut.
14:37 - It was right for her, do you think?
14:39 - Yeah.
14:39 - Do you guys keep in touch?
14:40 - No.
14:41 - No.
14:42 - No.
14:43 - All I know is what I've heard,
14:44 like from secondhand and things like that.
14:45 - And what I've watched in the show.
14:46 - Yes, it's true.
14:47 That's how we keep up with her.
14:49 - Of course.
14:50 So going through all this turmoil,
14:51 I can already see it between you two,
14:53 but has it strengthened your sister-like bond?
14:56 - Yeah, Janelle and I, I think, are closer now.
14:58 - I think so, yeah.
14:59 - I mean, we've been through our ups and downs,
15:00 and there were certainly times we were closer,
15:02 but now, definitely.
15:03 We went on a trip together right after I left.
15:05 We went to Disneyland together with Savannah
15:07 and Truly, just our youngest.
15:09 And the four of us went on the trip,
15:10 and I think during that trip,
15:11 that is what cemented us even further.
15:13 'Cause no longer was it a connection for any other,
15:18 rather than we just wanted to hang out with each other.
15:20 And then being there for our kids and their kids,
15:23 and we have grandkids together,
15:25 and we're just gonna continue raising our kids together.
15:27 - I do feel, and I told her, I said,
15:29 and we've both agreed, I've shared so much of my,
15:31 I've shared 30 years of my life with her.
15:33 So she knows a lot of those things.
15:35 She knows a lot of those things
15:36 that my own sister hasn't experienced with me.
15:38 So there's a lot of history, plus we have the kids.
15:41 My kids are like, "Well, Mom,
15:42 "we're gonna just do whatever Christine's gonna do."
15:44 I'm like, "Okay," you know what I mean?
15:46 - It's great, it's great.
15:47 - That's so great.
15:48 - We're just connected.
15:49 It's awesome.
15:49 - So what's the best part about this independence era
15:52 that you both are in now?
15:53 - Oh, my life is romantic and fulfilled and adventurous.
15:59 And everything I always hoped it would be
16:02 is what it is now.
16:03 And it seems like possibilities all the time.
16:07 Oh, I love it, it's exciting.
16:08 - I like the word possibilities, yeah.
16:10 And finally doing some of the things
16:11 I've always wanted to do,
16:12 bringing to fruition some of the things,
16:14 some of the dreams I've always had.
16:16 - Yeah.
16:17 - Independently though, however.
16:18 - Yes, yes.
16:19 (laughing)
16:20 Do you have any regrets?
16:20 Do you guys have any regrets?
16:21 - No, no regrets.
16:23 And thank goodness I don't have to do it all over again
16:25 'cause people are like, "Would you do it all over again?"
16:26 I'm like, "Well, first of all, it's impossible."
16:28 Yeah, absolutely impossible.
16:30 But I'm grateful for the entire journey and all of it.
16:33 - I would never go back and not do it.
16:35 - Oh, good thing we don't have to though.
16:36 - No, but I mean, I guess that's a really awkward way
16:38 of phrasing it.
16:39 I'm really glad that we did it.
16:40 - Yes.
16:41 - And I would not say it was worthless or pointless
16:45 or that was the wrong decision.
16:46 - No.
16:47 - 'Cause we have this amazing thing, right?
16:48 - We do.
16:49 I like who I am, I like who you are, I like us.
16:50 - I like our kids, I like all of our lives.
16:52 - Yes, I know.
16:53 - Wouldn't change it.
16:54 - That's amazing.
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