In an exclusive conversation with PEOPLE, Kody Brown admits that he “could have done a lot better” by keeping his four marriages going before three of them imploded.
” src=”https://s.yimg.com/ny/api/res/1.2/Zm7TBAT5ik4rlbV7Nu7PIQ–/YXBwaWQ9aGlnaGxhbmRlcjt3PTk2MDtoPTY0MA–/https://media.zenfs.com/en/people_218/872819ed94173c43b4ea9e4248f0 359a” class=”caas -img”/>
Kody Brown is in a place he never expected to be in – and understandably has a hard time navigating it.
Within a span of 14 months, three of the Sister wives patriarch’s marriages imploded. His third wife, Christine Brown, was the first to leave in November 2021. A year later in December 2022, it was revealed that he had split from his second wife Janelle Brown. A month after that, his union with first wife Meri Brown was over in January 2023, after the couple’s relationship had been platonic and distant for years.
Related: Here’s Kody Brown With All 4 ‘Sister Wives’ After Meri Split And Christine’s Divorce
” src=”https://s.yimg.com/ny/api/res/1.2/jIi7VmiiBrVsXisj6wBGQw–/YXBwaWQ9aGlnaGxhbmRlcjt3PTk2MDtoPTY0MQ–/https://media.zenfs.com/en/people_218/b3d157f301ff0841bcfdade89 b277f96″ class=”caas -img”/>
Now Kody is in a monogamous relationship for the first time in decades with his fourth wife Robyn Brown, the only woman he was legally married to. In this week’s PEOPLE cover story, he and the women of Sister wives elaborate on the “domino effect” and share exclusively how challenging this seismic shift has been in their relationships.
“It was painful, a lot of finger pointing and blaming,” admits the TLC star, 54. “But you have to hope we still have a friendship in the future. Because we are forever linked by our children.”
Related: ‘Sister Wives’ teaser goes into the implosion of all but 1 of Kody Brown’s marriages
” src=”https://s.yimg.com/ny/api/res/1.2/jmnS.62R.VkC.TBBVc.SWg–/YXBwaWQ9aGlnaGxhbmRlcjt3PTcwNTtoPTkzMg–/https://media.zenfs.com/en/ people_218/ff606e016070fd65fc3f6553b8fc8532″ class=”caas-img”/>
But Kody – who is a father of 18 children from his four marriages – acknowledges his failures as a husband and knows he is partly responsible for the demise of his three marriages.
“I could have done much better,” he admits.
For her part, Janelle, 54, looks to the positive amidst the chaos, telling PEOPLE, “We’re all going down the new path. There are only opportunities for us.”
Related: Kody Brown surrounded by ex-wives — and Christine’s new fiancée — at daughter Gwendlyn’s wedding
” src=”https://s.yimg.com/ny/api/res/1.2/UNYhHxMZNa2Ptjdz1q9QBQ–/YXBwaWQ9aGlnaGxhbmRlcjt3PTcwNTtoPTk0MA–/https://media.zenfs.com/en/people_218/32a2f2e0fe23bc5fdcb1008e 07c46919″ ​​class=”caas -img”/>
The ramifications of the past few years will be explored in the show’s upcoming season. A season 18 teaser teased how the marital shocks have affected his relationship with 44-year-old Robyn.
“No one should get married while they’re going through a divorce,” says Robyn, who is still committed to making her marriage to Kody work.
“I never thought I wanted to leave. I know how much I love Kody,” she adds. “He’s trying his best.”
Never miss a story — sign up for PEOPLE’s free daily newsletter to stay up to date with the best PEOPLE has to offer, from juicy celebrity news to compelling human interest stories.
Season 18 of Sister wives premieres Sunday at 10 p.m. ET on TLC.
For more People news, sign up for our newsletter!
Read the original article on People.
