Sister Wives: Christine & Janelle's Friendship Strained as Kids Flock to North Carolina

The Brown family drama isn't slowing down! Christine Brown and Janelle Brown's once-unbreakable bond is facing new challenges as distance and evolving careers pull them apart, while several of their children are making big moves to North Carolina.

TL;DR

• Christine and Janelle's friendship is cooling off due to separate states and independent business ventures, with Christine admitting to feeling competitive.
• Christine's son, Paedon, and daughter, Mykelti, are both relocating to North Carolina, largely to be closer to Janelle and her family.
• Paedon's move is deeply rooted in his grief over his "best friend" Garrison Brown's tragic passing.

A Shifting Sister Wives Dynamic: Distance and Independence Take Their Toll

It's no secret that the "Sister Wives" family has been through monumental changes lately, especially with Christine Brown and Janelle Brown both ending their plural marriages to Kody Brown. For a while, these two seemed like an unshakeable duo, leaning on each other for support after leaving Kody and even working together on business ventures. Christine herself noted, "We used to do everything together and we raised our kids together." They were each other's rocks!

However, recent episodes (specifically the October 19th installment of Sister Wives) have revealed a new, more distant reality for Christine and Janelle. Christine, now happily married to David Woolley, lives in Utah, while Janelle has settled in North Carolina to be closer to her daughter Maddie Brown and her family. This geographical divide, coupled with their individual pursuits, has led to their friendship becoming noticeably strained.

"Janelle and I work a business together and there's been a lot of changes within the last couple of months," Christine shared. She explained that they used to run their Plexus supplements business "more together," but that's no longer the case. Christine wants to be "more in charge of my business now," focusing on her rental properties, while Janelle is branching off into "her farm" – Taeda Farms, which she started with Maddie and her husband, Caleb. This shift towards independent work "signified one more step away from each other," Christine confessed, adding that she even believes she "hurt" Janelle's feelings and sometimes feels like she's "in a competition" with her.

The North Carolina Migration: Kids Seeking Solace and New Beginnings

While Christine and Janelle navigate their evolving friendship, an interesting pattern is emerging among their children: North Carolina seems to be the new place to be! In recent episodes, we've seen not one, but two of Christine's adult children – Paedon and Mykelti – announce their plans to move to the Tarheel State, much to Christine's emotional dismay.

Paedon's Heartfelt Move to Heal from Loss

Christine's 27-year-old son, Paedon Brown, dropped the news that he's relocating to North Carolina, a decision Christine called "actually rubbish." In a confessional, she expressed the natural heartache of a mother seeing her children move away. "Why? Why does he need to move as well? It's hard that my kids don't want to live close to me, yeah, absolutely. What is it about North Carolina that has people moving there? It's insane."

But Paedon's reasons are deeply personal and incredibly poignant. He revealed that his move is largely driven by his profound grief over the death of his "best friend," Garrison Brown (Janelle and Kody's son), who tragically died by suicide in March 2024 at just 25 years old. Paedon shared how he and Garrison were like "frick and frack" when they were younger, even joining the military together in 2019. The two were an inseparable unit.

"I mean, Janelle's lost a son, and I lost a best friend. And I really want to be close to her," Paedon told his mom. He also expressed a desire to be closer to Maddie and her children. "I just lost a huge chunk of me, and it's not here. I'm trying to find something that isn't here." This heartfelt explanation sheds light on the emotional void he's trying to fill, seeking comfort and connection with family members who also shared a deep bond with Garrison.

"I mean, Janelle's lost a son, and I lost a best friend. And I really want to be close to her. I really want to be close to Maddie's kids, I really want to be close to Maddie. I just lost a huge chunk of me, and it's not here. I'm trying to find something that isn't here."

— Paedon Brown, explaining his move to North Carolina

While Christine admits it's hard to see her son move, she trusts Janelle's influence on Paedon. However, she also confessed to feeling like a "crappy mom" because her children aren't choosing to live near her, sometimes even wondering if "Janelle's a better mom" because they're flocking to her side of the family.

Mykelti's Quest for Family Unity and New Opportunities

Paedon isn't the only one heading to North Carolina. Christine's daughter, Mykelti Brown (29), along with her husband Tony Padron and their children, also made the cross-country move to Charlotte. Their reasons are a blend of family connection and professional growth.

Mykelti wants her children to grow up around their cousins, making the proximity to Maddie's family a significant draw. Tony also found Charlotte to be an ideal location for his burgeoning chess career, with the city even being dubbed the "chess capital" in some circles. Beyond these practical reasons, Christine revealed a more emotional one: Mykelti was "exhausted" from her efforts to try and hold the fractured Brown family together. The move represents a fresh start, both emotionally and practically, for Mykelti, Tony, and their three kids.

Fan Reactions: The Hypocrisy Debate Around Christine's Feelings

Christine's strong reactions to her children moving away have sparked a considerable online debate among "Sister Wives" fans. Many viewers have been "appalled by Christine's attitude," accusing her of being "controlling and unsupportive," and even pointing out what they see as hypocrisy. Fans recall how Christine herself moved her children across the country multiple times during her marriage to Kody, often in pursuit of family unity, which sometimes left her kids "upset and miserable."

Comments from fans suggest sentiments like, "Losing her kids and grandkids to distance but also to Janelle. She seems to have really enjoyed feeling ‘better than’ Janelle for the past few years." Another fan noted, "Christine dragged the kids all over the map to chase Kody’s bs – & they were upset and miserable – the shoe feels not so good on the other foot." Some viewers, however, interpret Christine's disapproval as fear and sadness rather than resentment, acknowledging that "losing her daughter and grandchildren to distance could be emotionally challenging." There's also speculation that Mykelti moving closer to Janelle adds another layer of complexity, given the intricate history between the former sister wives.

Kody's Shadow and the Children's Allegiances

The backdrop to these family shifts is the ongoing estrangement between Kody Brown and many of his adult children. Christine split from Kody in November 2021, citing his treatment of their children as a major factor. She recounted years of assuring her kids that their dad loved them, only for them to eventually stop believing her. Kody, in turn, has sometimes blamed Christine for influencing their children against him.

Paedon has been open about his strained relationship with Kody, revealing that his "last actual physical conversation" with his father was at Garrison's funeral. This dynamic further highlights why children like Paedon and Mykelti might seek closer ties with other family members, like Janelle and Maddie, who offer a more stable and supportive environment in the wake of the family's fragmentation.

What's Next for Christine, Janelle, and the Brown Family?

As Season 20 of Sister Wives continues, it's clear that the Brown family is in a constant state of flux. Christine and Janelle are navigating uncharted territory, transitioning from a shared plural marriage and close friendship to independent lives in different states. While they express a desire to "support each other," the competitive undertones and the demands of their individual businesses and families are creating a noticeable "emotional gap."

The exodus of Christine's children to North Carolina, driven by grief, family connection, and new opportunities, adds another layer of emotional complexity. It highlights how the younger generation is forging their own paths, sometimes making decisions that are difficult for their parents to accept, but ultimately seeking their own forms of happiness and healing.

The show continues to air Sundays at 10 p.m. ET on TLC, and it's safe to say fans will be watching closely to see how these evolving relationships and geographical distances ultimately reshape the bonds within the Brown family.

Frequently Asked Questions About the Sister Wives' Current Dynamics

Are Christine Brown and Janelle Brown still close friends?

Christine Brown has stated that she and Janelle Brown are no longer as close as they once were. They "haven't talked a lot for a while" due to living in separate states (Utah for Christine, North Carolina for Janelle) and focusing on independent business ventures. Christine also mentioned feeling competitive with Janelle regarding their work.

Why are Christine's children moving to North Carolina?

Christine's son, Paedon Brown, is moving to North Carolina to be closer to Janelle Brown, his sister Maddie, and her family, largely to cope with his grief over the death of his best friend, Garrison Brown. Christine's daughter, Mykelti Brown, moved to North Carolina with her family for her husband Tony Padron's chess career, to be closer to Maddie's family, and because she was "exhausted" trying to keep the fractured family together.

What businesses do Christine and Janelle run?

Christine and Janelle previously worked together selling Plexus supplements. Currently, Christine is focusing on running her rental properties and wants to be "more in charge of her business." Janelle has branched off to focus on Taeda Farms, a business she started with her daughter Maddie and son-in-law Caleb.

When did Christine and Janelle leave Kody Brown?

Christine Brown was the first to leave Kody, announcing her split in November 2021. Janelle Brown followed, ending her relationship with Kody in December 2022.

Sources

• TooFab Staff. (October 20, 2025). Sister Wives' Christine Brown Opens Up About 'Changes' In Friendship With Janelle. TooFab.
• Moore, J. (October 16, 2025). Christine Brown's Son Paedon Moving Out of Arizona to Live Closer to Janelle Brown After Garrison's Death. PEOPLE.
• Chukwuemeka, C. (October 16, 2025). ‘Sister Wives’ Shock: Christine Brown’s Behavior Divides Fans Online. Soap Opera Spy.
• Entertainment Desk. (October 20, 2025). Why Sister Wives Christine and Janelle are no longer close. Entertainment Desk.
• Saha, R. (October 20, 2025). "We’re doing things more separate now": Sister Wives star Christine on growing apart from Janelle. Primetimer.
• Kazimierska, M. (October 19, 2025). ‘Sister Wives’ Star Has Heartwarming Reason Why He’s Moving out of Utah. TLCEntertainmentNow.com.
• Bamidele, A. (October 16, 2025). 'Sister Wives' Christine Brown Laments Her Kids Not Living Close To Her: 'It's Actually Rubbish'. The Blast.
• Chelsea. (October 16, 2025). Christine Brown Reacts to Son Paedon Moving to North Carolina to Be Closer to Janelle Brown: “I Feel Like a Crappy Mom”. The Ashley's Reality Roundup.
• Geo News Digital Desk. (October 20, 2025). Why 'Sister Wives' Christine and Janelle are no longer close. Geo News.