Maddie Responds to Mom Janelle’s Spiritual Divorce Plan on Sister Wives

Janelle Brown’s oldest daughter, Maddie Brown, is concerned that her mom’s decision to pursue a spiritual divorce from dad Kody Brown might evoke past emotions in the upcoming episode of Sister Wives.

“I have spoken to the church leadership and requested a release based on my reasoning, and then I need to meet with them,” Janelle, 56, shares in Us Weekly’s exclusive preview of the Sunday, December 28, episode of the TLC series. “Then it’s really about going through the decision-making process after that.”

While Janelle seems hopeful about the church “releasing” her from her bond with ex-husband Kody, 56, their daughter Maddie, 30, has reservations about revisiting the past.

“My first thought is what the heck, why?” Maddie expresses to the cameras after Janelle reveals her plans to head to Salt Lake City, Utah, for a meeting with the church elders.

Maddie admits, “I hope she doesn’t go back to it. I believe plural marriage is generally quite toxic.”

Janelle reassures her daughter that although she’s “no longer part of the faith,” she “honored” her plural marriage “as a marriage covenant.” (Janelle and Kody welcomed six children — including Maddie — after spiritually marrying in 1993. Their son Garrison passed away in March 2024 at the age of 25.)

“It was a marriage to me as binding as a legal marriage. So I just want to sever all ties,” Janelle clarifies after confirming in December 2022 that she and Kody had separated after almost 30 years together.

Maddie still isn’t convinced about the plan, questioning her mom, “What happens if they say no? Where does that leave you?”

Nonetheless, Janelle is determined to leave the decision to the elders — rather than simply viewing herself as divorced like sister wife Christine Brown did when she separated from Kody in November 2021.

“I will feel like I’ve done everything I needed to do, and I’ll consider myself [divorced],” Janelle states. “If they say ‘no,’ and I must admit that’s a possibility, I don’t think it will happen. But if they do, I don’t believe God wants me to remain connected to someone who doesn’t want to be married to me and has moved on with his life, just as I have.”

She suggests that if the church denies her spiritual divorce — similar to what her former sister wife Meri Brown received after her split from Kody in January 2023 — it could lead to a “crisis of faith” for her.

Maddie remains doubtful about the situation, asking Janelle if her dad, Kody, is aware that she’s been in contact with the church. (Maddie, as one of Kody’s 18 children, has had her fair share of conflict with him since their family dynamics changed.)

“Yeah, I mentioned it to him. He didn’t seem to care. He said, ‘Well, they’re just going to tell you that you can’t marry outside of the faith or whatever,’” Janelle recounts. “I’m fine with that.”

Meanwhile, Kody admits that Janelle’s intentions haven’t really registered with him.

“Janelle might have mentioned that she was going to ask for a release. I don’t recall. It’s just not something I’m keeping track of,” he admits.

Janelle, however, asserts that she doesn’t “really care” about Kody’s or the church’s opinions regarding her future relationship.

“I’m going to marry whomever I want if I ever decide to marry again,” she proclaims. “But you know, it’s okay. I can follow my conscience on how this should unfold.”

Janelle is the last of Kody’s three ex-wives to fully close the chapter on polygamy by seeking a spiritual release. Christine, 53, married David Woolley in October 2023 after revealing that the moment she asked Kody to leave was when she considered their marriage over.

Meri, on the other hand, fought for her spiritual divorce from Kody for quite some time before the elders finally approved it. Janelle, who currently resides in North Carolina, previously stated that obtaining the spiritual release would be the final link tying her to Kody.

Kody, for his part, is focused on living monogamously with his fourth wife Robyn Brown, whom he legally wed in 2014 after a spiritual union four years prior.

Sister Wives airs on TLC Sundays at 10 p.m. ET.