Sister Wivesrecently aired what was likely it’smost heartbreaking episode to date. In the June 30, 2025, episode, viewers watched as the Brown family learned 25-year-old Garrison – the son ofKodyandJanelle Brown– had died by suicide.Garrison’s death happened over a year prior,in March 2024. While his passing made headlines at the time, this is thefirst timeSister Wivesaddressed the tragedyon-screen.
Due to the show’s delayed production schedule, fans knew the moment was coming. But nothing could’ve prepared them for the rawness of the scene. Rather than dramatizing events,TLC let the silence speak for itself,cutting to black afterMeri took a devastating call from Kodywhile filming. What came next was a candid look athow the fractured family coped with the loss, whichSister Wiveswill likely continue to explore throughout the season.
The Moment the Family Found Out
The episode started like any other, with Meri in the confessional booth. She was about to discuss something unrelated – her birthday – butbecame visibly distracted when her phone kept ringing. Meri acknowledged it was Kody but chose to ignore it to keep filming.
When a producer asked Meri if she wanted to pause to take the call, she shrugged off the suggestion, replying, “Nope, he can text me if he needs me.”
However, Meri’s tone changed when she got atext from Kody saying it’s an emergency. She finally picked, and her face dropped. The screen then faded to black, with white lettering delivering the sad news, “On June 14, 2025, Kody and Janelle’s son Garrison passed away.” Meri immediately paused filming to drive toKody and Robyn’s house, where she was met by more family members.
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Kody Brown’s comments reveal more than he realizes.
Later, in a confessional, Meri admitted to being in disbelief upon hearing the news from Kody. “He told me the words that I’ll never forget. He goes, ‘Garrison took his life.’ And it was just like this weird, weird, surreal moment that like —No, not one of our kids. No, they’re not going to do that. You know?” she recalled.
There was nothing scripted about the scene. It was deeply emotional, which is what made it so powerful and devastating. It was also a reminder thatSister Wivesismore than just a reality show about plural marriage.It’s about arealfamily, and in its current season, it’s a deep dive into loss and grief.
The Fallout and the Family’s Grief
The rest of the episode mainly unfolded in confessionals, where the family tried to make sense of what happened.Janelle revealed she’d been texting Garrison throughout the day, saying there was nothing “unusual” in their conversation, though she knew he’d been struggling.
But when her son stopped responding around 8:30 p.m., she started to worry. She reached out to his brothers,LoganandHunter, asking them to check in on him. Later that night, one of the other brothers,Gabriel, called Janelle, after going to Garrison’s house, only to find him deceased.
Kody had a strained relationship with Garrisondue to fallout fromthe family’s pandemic tensions.He admitted on-camera he’s riddled with guilt, and questioned if he could’ve done something to prevent Garrison’s death.
“I didn’t get a chance to really make things right,” Kody admitted.
He continued, “All the frustration I had… all of a sudden, that’s so unimportant. I’m just sad about what would have been […] It makes me feel connected to him to do the what ifs,” Kody confessed, visibly broken. Whether or not viewers sympathize with Kody, it’s clear that his grief is real – and so is his regret.
Garrison’s Mental Health Struggles
Perhaps the most sobering moment of the episode came when the family started to unpack the factors that may have led to Garrison’s suicide. Janelle notedhe struggled with anxiety and depression for years,andalcohol eventually became his way of coping. However, his drinking worsened during COVID. Though the family offered “all the love, all the support, all the resources,” Janelle said something about that night was different.
This isn’t the first timeSister Wiveshas touched on mental health, but this episode forced the family – and, by extension, its viewers – to confront it head-on. Janelle said Gabriel had already been in therapy before Garrison’s death:“The death set him back,but he’s doing okay.”
In one candid confession, Janelle captures thesurrealism of the family’s grief, saying, “I know that he’s dead, but I forget that he’s dead. And then I’m like, oh – I remember.” It’s clear theBrown family will never be the sameagain – and by airing their pain so openly,Sister Wivesdelivered one of its most honest, important,andtragic episodesof all time.
