# Janelle Brown reflects on the end of her marriage in ‘Sister Wives’

The October 11 episode revisits her relationship with Kody Brown and her doubts about dating, before her later announcement of a new partner.

By The Signal Edition | Entertainment / Television
Published: 2026-10-13T20:12:01.107123Z
Updated: 2026-10-13T20:12:01.107123Z
Canonical: https://www.thesignaledition.com/article/janelle-brown-reflection-1c24knd

## Summary
- Janelle discussed the strain of her marriage in the October 11 episode.
- Her comments about dating were filmed before she introduced boyfriend Pete in August.
- She and Kody ended their relationship in December 2022.

## Looking back

Janelle Brown revisited the breakdown of her relationship with Kody Brown on the October 11 episode of TLC’s ‘Sister Wives,’ describing the effort of staying married and explaining why dating again initially felt daunting. Us Weekly reported that she said the couple had concentrated on their wider family rather than developing their relationship with each other. [1](https://www.usmagazine.com/entertainment/news/sister-wives-janelle-admits-kody-marriage-was-a-burden/)

Her account was retrospective. Janelle and Kody entered a spiritual marriage in 1993 and announced their split in December 2022, shortly before what would have been their 30th anniversary. They had six children together. In the episode, she described growing indifferent toward the relationship as it approached its end, according to Us Weekly’s recap. [1](https://www.usmagazine.com/entertainment/news/sister-wives-janelle-admits-kody-marriage-was-a-burden/)

## Family tensions and a different future

Janelle said Kody’s treatment of their children was central to her decision to leave. Us Weekly placed those tensions in the context of his strict rules during the coronavirus pandemic. Her comments present her own explanation of the separation, rather than a new announcement that the marriage has ended. [1](https://www.usmagazine.com/entertainment/news/sister-wives-janelle-admits-kody-marriage-was-a-burden/)

The Ashley’s Reality Roundup reported that the episode also showed Janelle reuniting with Christine and Meri Brown before speaking privately with a relationship counselor. Asked about a future partner, she emphasized kindness and said appearance mattered less to her. She connected that preference to what she saw as Kody’s preoccupation with his looks. [2](https://www.theashleysrealityroundup.com/2026/10/12/sister-wives-star-janelle-brown-says-it-was-a-burden-to-stay-married-to-ex-husband-kody-it-was-so-much-work/)

The episode’s uncertainty about dating should be distinguished from developments since filming. Janelle introduced a boyfriend named Pete in August, The Ashley reported, and he is expected to appear later in the season. That later disclosure gives viewers a different point of reference for her earlier hesitation: the conversation captures a stage in her adjustment after the separation, rather than her current relationship status. [2](https://www.theashleysrealityroundup.com/2026/10/12/sister-wives-star-janelle-brown-says-it-was-a-burden-to-stay-married-to-ex-husband-kody-it-was-so-much-work/)

## Reporting sources
1. [Us Weekly: Sister Wives’ Janelle Admits Staying Married to Kody Was a ‘Burden’](https://www.usmagazine.com/entertainment/news/sister-wives-janelle-admits-kody-marriage-was-a-burden/) (October 11, 2026)
2. [The Ashley’s Reality Roundup: Janelle Brown says it was a burden to stay married to Kody](https://www.theashleysrealityroundup.com/2026/10/12/sister-wives-star-janelle-brown-says-it-was-a-burden-to-stay-married-to-ex-husband-kody-it-was-so-much-work/) (October 12, 2026)