Sister Wives: Why is Christine Brown’s daughter moving across the country?

Sister Wives
Sister Wives | Image Source: Instagram /@christine_brownsw

Sister Wives' the Brown family is still feeling the aftershocks of their big breakup, and now, those tremors are reaching the kids. In the latest episode of Sister Wives, Christine Brown revealed that her daughter Mykelti is packing up and heading from Utah to Charlotte, North Carolina, a move Christine believes has more to do with healing than geography. Mykelti’s long been the family’s unofficial peacemaker, the one trying to hold everyone together with duct tape and good intentions, but even the best mediator can only juggle so much chaos before needing a breather.

Christine, of course, knows a thing or two about fresh starts. She was the first to leave Kody back in 2021, with Janelle and Meri following suit soon after, turning one plural marriage into a very complicated family tree. Mykelti’s move might look practical on paper, Tony’s chess career, and kids closer to cousins, but Christine suspects there’s more beneath the surface. Sometimes, putting miles between yourself and the mess is the only way to breathe again.

The split has taken a toll, especially on Mykelti’s bond with her dad, and as Kody himself admits, “trash talk” and bruised trust have made family reunions more complicated than ever.

Sister Wives: Christine talks about the emotional toll of these decisions

Christine didn't hold back when discussing what she believes drove Mykelti's cross-country decision. During a confessional segment, she explained that her daughter has grown weary of efforts to restore family unity.

"I know part of the reason they're leaving is, [Mykelti] is just exhausted from trying so hard to get everybody back together again," Christine shared.

She went on to emphasize how much her daughter invested in reconciliation attempts.

"Mykelti tried so hard to get the whole family back together again. She really wanted to," Christine added.

The comments suggest years of mediation attempts have taken their toll. Christine also pointed to unresolved emotions her daughter carries about the family situation.

"There's a lot of her feelings and frustration and anger and resentment," she noted.

The flashback took Sister Wives viewers back to a critical point in the Brown family's journey, the night before Christine packed up and left Flagstaff for Utah. In the scenario, Mykelti sat between her parents, shoulders squared, voice calm, and stated what everyone else seemed too terrified to: this was one of the most difficult times their family had ever faced. You could almost sense the air tightening. Kody stood across from her, arms folded. Nonetheless, Mykelti kept his composure. She wasn't there to take sides, but to remind them that, despite the turmoil, they were a family.

The thought that Mykelti would soon be starting again in another state heightened the emotional effect of the incident. Sister Wives' Kody subsequently revealed he hadn't seen her much lately and put it on conflicting calendars, but it seemed more like emotional distance than schedule. He sought to downplay any rifts with his elder children, saying that everything was "mostly fine," but his tone suggested a different picture, one in which trust is seeping through the gaps. He believes that the culpability is not one-sided and that everyone bears some of the consequences.

What’s next for Christine’s family?

Sister Wives' the Brown family is still figuring out what “normal” looks like after so many changes. Christine has already turned the page; she married David Woolley back in October 2023, stepping into a brand-new chapter of her life. Now, Mykelti’s move to Charlotte feels like another big shift, one that marks how far the family has come since their days under one roof.

Her move shows how the next generation is carving out space for themselves, building lives beyond the plural marriage that once defined everything. Still, it's difficult not to worry about what distance will accomplish, whether it will settle things down or simply aggravate old scars.

For the time being, it appears like everyone from Sister Wives is finding their own beat, even if that means dancing to different songs entirely. It's nasty, emotional, and real, but that has always been the Browns' tale.


Sister Wives airs Sundays at 10 p.m. ET on TLC, with episodes available to stream on Max.

Edited by Zainab Shaikh