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Sister Wives’ Janelle Brown Shares Personal Update on Anniversary of Son Garrison’s Death
Janelle Brown is sharing details about Garrison Brown’s demons.
The May 4 episode of Sister Wives chronicled the heartbreaking passing of Janelle and Kody Brown’s son Garrison, who died by suicide in March 2024 at the age of 25. During the episode, Janelle—mom to five other kids with ex Kody—detailed Garrison’s alcohol struggles in recent years.
“I don't know what happened,” she told the cameras during a confessional. “He was never a drinking kid. He didn't like it, didn't like the taste of it. And he started to drink during COVID and something happened in this last year and it really just got him.”
But despite Garrison’s loved ones offering him support, Janelle said he continued to struggle.
As she explained, “We had offered him all the love, all the support, all the help, all the resources. It wasn't that he didn't have those things. I don't know what happened that night he did that. Because he's had other nights like this where he would drink and then pass out and he would go kind of radio silent, but he'd be back in the morning. I don't know what happened this time.”
Later, Janelle confided in her sister Carrie about Garrison’s struggles.
“He had anxiety and depression and then he started drinking as a way to sort of soothe that, you know what I mean?” she told Carrie over the phone. “And then just became the animal he couldn't get a hold of. So there's, we did everything we could. And I know that. I know that.”
Instagram/Janelle Brown
The 55-year-old also detailed navigating her grief in the immediate days and weeks following her son’s passing.
“It's minute by minute, hour by hour, day by day,” she said in a confessional. “Sometimes, you know, I know that he's dead, but I forget that he's dead. And then I'm like, oh, I remember.”
Though the episode marks the first time fans will see Janelle and Kody, as well as the entire Sister Wives family, discuss Garrison’s death on camera, Garrison’s loved ones have been candid about his passing in the time since.
Among the messages they want fans to hear: The importance of mental health.
Instagram/Janelle Brown
"Mental health is so important and I don't think we talk about it enough and I don't think we do enough to bring awareness," Garrison’s sister Madison Brush said in a March 18 Instagram video, just weeks after her brother died. "It wasn't bullying, it wasn't a lack of love that Garrison had, it was mental health, and I am going to continue talking about mental health and self care until I am blue in the face."
She also addressed the role social media can play in affecting users’ mental health.
"Social media is not real—it's a highlight reel and that was something that Garrison and I talked a lot about," Madison continued. "I know my other siblings and my mom have expressed this—that Garrison used to feel like he wasn't doing enough because he was comparing himself to things on social media and I don't think that it's real and we need to remember that."
To learn more about Garrison and his family, keep reading.
Logan Taylor Brown
Born May 21, 1994, Logan is the oldest son of Kody Brown and Janelle Brown. He is also the eldest child of 18 in Kody's entire brood.
After graduating with a master's degree in business administration from the University of Nevada in 2020, he married Michelle Petty two years later.
Aspyn Kristin Thompson (née Brown)
Aspyn is the oldest child of Kody and Christine Brown. She was born on March 14, 1995.
Also a University of Nevada alum, Aspyn tied the knot with Mitch Thompson in 2018. She announced her pregnancy in April 2025.
Leon "Leo" Brown
Born on July 29, 1995, Leon is the only child of Kody and Meri Brown.
In 2020, Leon came out as transgender, sharing that they were previously "socialized as a girl."
"I was pretty young & unfortunately i grew up in a context that was incredibly gendered & restrictive," Leon—who also goes by "Leo"—wrote on Instagram. "and here’s the thing, i’m finally ready to share my favorite self with the world. and that self is incredibly genderqueer, trans, and unapologetic."
Leon married Audrey Kiss in 2020 at a Colorado courthouse wedding.
Mykelti Ann Padron (née Brown)
The second of Kody and Christine's children, Mykelti was born on June 9, 1996.
She married Antonio "Tony" Padron in 2016 in a wedding ceremony documented on Sister Wives. The couple are parents to daughter Avalon and twin sons Archer and Ace.
Madison Rose Brush (née Brown)
Janelle gave birth to Madison—her second child with Kody—on Nov. 3, 1995.
After studying at Utah State University, Madison married Caleb Brush in 2016. The pair share kids Axel, Evangalynn and Josephine.
Hunter Elias Brown
Janelle and Kody welcomed Hunter—their third child together—on Feb. 9, 1997.
Hunter graduated from the United States Air Force Academy in 2020, before studying nursing at Johns Hopkins University.
Paedon Rex Brown
Christine gave birth to her and Kody's third child together on Aug. 7, 1998.
Robert Garrison Brown
Born Oct. 31, 1998, Garrison was Kody and Janelle's third youngest child together. He died by suicide on March 5, 2024 at age 25.
David "Dayton" Preston Brown
Dayton is the oldest child of Kody's fourth wife Robyn Brown from her past marriage with Preston Jessop. He was adopted into the family in 2015, five years after Robyn spiritually married Kody.
In 2014, Kody legally divorced his first wife Meri so he could marry Robyn and officially adopt Dayton as his son.
Gabriel Winn Brown
Nicknamed Gabe, the fifth child of Kody and Janelle was born on Oct. 11, 2001.
Gwendlyn Genielle Queiroz (née Brown)
Kody and Christine welcomed their fourth child on Oct. 15, 2001.
Gwendlyn tied the knot with Beatriz Queiroz in 2023.
Aurora Alice Brown
Aurora is the second oldest child of Robyn. She was legally adopted by Kody in 2015 after he married Robyn the prior year.
Ysabel Paige Brown
Kody and Christine welcomed their fifth child together on June 13, 2003.
Her struggles with scoliosis have been documented on Sister Wives.
Breanna Rose Brown
Breanna is Robyn's third child from her marriage to Preston. After Robyn married Kody, Breanna and her older siblings were legally adopted into the family.
Savanah Brown
Kody and Janelle welcomed their youngest child together on Dec. 7, 2004. The exes reunited for Savanah's high school graduation in 2023.
Truely Grace Brown
Born on April 13, 2010, Truely is the youngest child of Kody and Christine.
Solomon Kody Brown
Kody and Robyn welcomed their second youngest son on Oct. 27, 2011.
Ariella Mae Brown
Born on Jan. 10, 2016, Ariella is the youngest daughter of Kody and Robyn. She is also the youngest child of 18 in the entire Brown family.
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