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How the 19th season of “Sister Wives” addresses the death of Garrison Brown

This story is about suicide. If you or someone you know is in crisis, call the Suicide and Crisis Lifeline at 988. You can also call the network formerly known as the National Suicide Prevention Lifeline at: 800-273-8255Send an SMS with the text HOME to 741741 or visit SpeakingOfSuicide.com/resources for additional resources.

The 19th season of “Sister Wives” premiered on September 15 and picks up where the last season left off in Kody Brown’s family life.

The TLC series was a tribute to Garrison Brown, one of Kody and Janelle Brown's six children, who passed away earlier this year.

Before the premiere begins, three quote cards play on a black background, giving the episode a dark tone.

“Filming for this season of 'Sister Wives' began in late 2022. On March 5, 2024, Kody and Janelle's son Garrison passed away. He was very loved and will be sorely missed,” the cards say.

Kody and Janelle Brown announced the death of their son Garrison Brown in March 2024. Police in Flagstaff, Arizona, told NBC News that the 25-year-old apparently committed suicide.

“Janelle and I are deeply saddened to announce the loss of our wonderful boy, Robert Garrison Brown. He was a bright spot in the lives of all who knew him. Our loss will leave such a huge void in our lives that it takes our breath away. We ask that you please respect our privacy and join us in honoring his memory,” Kody and Janelle Brown posted.

Since then, many family members have expressed their tribute to Garrison Brown.

Two weeks after Garrison Brown's death, one of his sisters, Maddie Brown Brush, who appears in the season 19 premiere, spoke out about her brother's mental health.

“Mental health is so important and I don't think we talk about it enough and I don't think we do enough to raise awareness. It wasn't bullying. It wasn't a lack of love that Garrison felt. It was mental health,” she said in an Instagram video.

Janelle Brown has shared her grief with fans and followers of “Sister Wives.” On March 8, a few days after Garrison Brown's death, Janelle Brown shared a family photo in which she posed with her six children, their partners and her grandchildren.

“Last Christmas all my children were with me. It was amazing because it's hard to coordinate time like that when everyone is so busy. I'm so grateful now that we were able to take photos,” she wrote.

TLC has confirmed that season 19 of Sister Wives will address the death of Garrison Brown.

In the season 19 premiere, Kody Brown deals with the aftermath of his split from his first wife Meri Brown and his third wife Christine Brown. His two remaining wives Janelle and Robyn Brown are also struggling. Janelle and Kody Brown have since separated.

He also talks about the estrangement from some of his children.

Previous seasons of Sister Wives focused on his then-strained relationship with Garrison and his brother Gabe Brown, which apparently fell apart because of the Brown patriarch's strict COVID-19 protocols.

During a special episode of Sister Wives: One on One that aired in January 2023, Kody Brown apologized to his sons for their handling of COVID-19.

“Guys, I'm sorry. I was trying to protect my family. Next time I'll handle it differently and I'm sorry,” he said.

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