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“Sister Wives” Season 19 premiered on Sept. 15, picking up on Kody Brown's family life from last season's end.
The TLC series paid tribute to Garrison Brown, one of Kody and Janelle Brown's six children who died earlier this year.
Before the premiere begins, a series of three quote cards play on a black background, setting a serious mood for the episode.
The card reads, “This season of 'Sister Wives' began filming in late 2022. On March 5, 2024, Kody and Janelle's son, Garrison, passed away. He was deeply loved and will be greatly missed.”
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 appeared to have died by suicide.
“Janelle and I are deeply saddened to announce the passing of our beautiful son, 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 we are left stunned. We ask that you please respect our privacy and join us in remembering him,” both Kody and Janelle Brown posted.
Since then, several family members have paid tribute to Garrison Brown.
Two weeks after Garrison Brown's death, one of his sisters, Maddie Brown Brush, who was featured 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 bring awareness. It wasn't bullying. It wasn't a lack of love for Garrison. It was mental health,” she said in an Instagram video.
Janelle Brown has opened up to “Sister Wives” fans and followers about her grief journey. On March 8, just days after Garrison Brown’s death, Janelle Brown shared a family photo of herself with her six children, their significant others and her grandchildren.
“Last Christmas I had all of my kids together. It was amazing as it's hard to coordinate time like that with everyone's busy lives. Now I'm so grateful we had the photos taken,” she wrote.
TLC has confirmed that Season 19 of “Sister Wives” will explore the death of Garrison Brown.
In the Season 19 premiere, Kody Brown deals with the fallout from his separation from his first wife, Meri Brown, and third wife, Christine Brown. His two remaining wives, Janelle and Robyn Brown, also struggle. Janelle and Kody Brown have since separated.
He also spoke of his separation from some of his children.
Previous seasons of “Sister Wives” featured Garrison and his strained relationship with his brother, Gabe Brown, which appeared to worsen due to the Brown patriarch’s strict COVID-19 protocols.
During the “Sister Wives: One on One” special, set to air in January 2023, Kody Brown apologized to his sons for the way he handled 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.