On March 5, the reality television world was rocked by the news of Sister Wives star Garrison Brown, and his mother, Janelle Brown, hasn’t posted to TikTok since his tragic death. The Brown family made their television debut when the series premiered in 2010. The world was introduced to Utah man Kody Brown, his three wives, and their 12 children. Janelle was Kody’s third wife, and they had six children together, including Garrison. The show was supposed to be about a functional plural family but focused on the family’s sad dissolution.
During Sister Wives season 1, Kody married his fourth wife, Robyn Brown, whom he is often accused of favoring. With her three children from her first marriage and the two she then had with Kody, the number of Brown children swelled to 18. With less of Kody to go around, resentment simmered among his other wives and older children. The COVID-19 pandemic further divided the family, and they were never able to reunite. Though Janelle hasn’t posted to TikTok since Garrison’s death, her past posts sadly illustrate how divided the Brown family has become.
Janelle Posted A Holiday TikTok
Garrison Was There
The holidays were a big turning point for the Brown family, who had always celebrated them together, under one roof. That all changed during the COVID-19 pandemic. Kody and Robyn took the virus very seriously and enacted viral mitigation rules that were even stricter than the CDC’s. When Kody’s older children, especially Garrison and Gabriel Brown, couldn’t follow the rules, Kody stopped seeing them and, for the first time, the Browns celebrated the holidays in separate homes.
This was a watershed moment for the Brown family, from which they would never recover.
On Christmas Day in 2023, Janelle posted several Christmas photos to TikTok. The pictures include her children, alongside Christine’s, enjoying the holiday, to the tune of “It’s Beginning To Look A Lot Like Christmas” by Michael Bublé. The post earned over 32,000 likes and over 400 comments. “They look so happy & I love that it doesn’t matter the different combinations of Janelle’s or Christine’s kids,” wrote one Sister Wives fan, continuing, “they are always happy w each other.”
” My first Tik Tok […] Hello world !”
Janelle & Gabriel Filming Her First TikTok
Gabriel Needs His Mother Now More Than Ever
Janelle started posting to TikTok in December 2022, with a little help from Gabriel, with a caption that reads, “My first Tik Tok […] Hello world !” Sadly, it was Gabriel who found his brother’s body. Janelle had grown concerned after Garrison sent multiple troubling texts. When the Sister Wives season 18 star couldn’t reach him, she sent Gabriel to check on him. Gabriel found the 25-year-old National Guardsman dead from a self-inflicted gunshot wound in his Flagstaff, Arizona home.
At 22 years old, Gabriel was close in age to his now-deceased brother, so they grew up side by side. Even as adults, they lived together for a short time. After Garrison bought his Arizona home in 2021, Gabriel moved in with his brother and lived together as roommates. During COVID-19, Gabriel and Garrison grew even closer when they were shunned by their father. Not only did Gabriel lose his brother, but finding his body must have been traumatic. Janelle is worried about Gabriel and determined to be there for him.
Janelle Spent Christmas Eve At Maddie’s
Heaven
After her divorce, Janelle tried to spend as much time as possible with her children. The mother of six had sent her youngest child, Savanah Brown, to college, and found herself an empty nester. In December 2023, Janelle spent several nights leading up to Christmas at Maddie’s and posted a TikTok of herself enjoying all the Christmas Eve sounds in a house full of children. Janelle explains that Mykelti and her children are also spending the night there. Mykelti is the daughter of Christine Brown, Kody’s former third wife, Christine, which shows how close the siblings still are.
“Those little ones make everything so special .”
The posts garnered over 69,000 likes, and fans took to the comment section to send Janelle some love. “I love that for you and I’m a grandma too and I know exactly how you feel,” wrote one Sister Wives fan. “Awwww Janelle I am so happy for you,” wrote another. “This time in our lives is so special. Those little ones make everything so special.”
Through thick and thin, Janelle can count on the support of the devoted Sister Wives fan base.
Janelle’s Last TikTok
Weeks Before Garrison’s Death
Though Janelle has continued posting to Instagram, her last TikTok post came in late January 2024. Just a few weeks before Garrison’s untimely death, Janelle posted a TikTok of herself wrangling chickens at Maddie’s house. Since it was her last TikTok post, Sister Wives fans took to the comment section weeks later to offer their condolences. “I’m so sorry for your loss, there are no words that can help but you are in my thoughts,” wrote one person.
“You’re a wonderful mother, I hope you’re surrounded by love .”
Garrison’s death was devastating for Janelle, who always enjoyed a great relationship with her son. Moments after the news of Garrison’s tragic death broke, Janelle posted a loving family tribute to Garrison on Instagram that read, “Kody and I are deeply saddened to announce the loss of our beautiful boy Robert Garrison Brown. He was a bright spot in the lives of all who knew him. His loss will leave such a big hole in our lives that it takes our breath away.” Since then, Janelle has been staying out of the public eye and mourning her son privately.
