Meet ‘Sister Wives’ Star Kody Brown’s Parents William & Genielle

It turns out Sister Wives star Kody Brown’s parents were a huge inspiration for his polygamist journey. William and Genielle were also polygamists. They just started much later in life. Read on to find out more about Kody’s parents and the decisions they made in their own marriage.

Kody Brown’s journey on Sister Wives

Sister Wives star Kody Brown’s extended family is among the most controversial on reality TV. However, so far, fans know little about the patriarch’s own parents, William and Genielle Brown. While Kody is regularly criticized for his parenting skills, the whole Brown family shows great respect for his parents.

Kody was born in Lovell, Wyoming, on January 17, 1969. His father, William, also known by his middle name of Winn, owned a ranch in Lovell. Kody’s upbringing taught him a lot, including what it takes to be a patriarch of a plural family. Kody started young, by marrying his first three wives before he turned 24. However, his father only took the polygamist step later in his life.

One thing Kody did realize while growing up was that his parents were conflicted about remaining faithful to the Mormon religion. They were conflicted about continuing their polygamist lifestyle.

Kody Brown’s parents William and Genielle

William’s plural marriages produced only 10 children — much less than Kody Brown’s 18. While Kody has nine siblings, the family has never specific which child came from which of William’s wives.

William Winn Brown was born on August 28, 1934. According to the Haskell Funeral Home, he passed away on August 24, 2013, shortly before his 79^th birthday. Like Kody, William was born in Lovell, Wyoming, and was the first child of Alma Taylor Brown and Edith Stella Winn Brown. Kody’s father had six siblings, Joseph Guernsey Brown, Val Young Brown, Persis Ann Skinner, Emma Louise Christoffersen, Alma Taylor Brown Jr., and Lionel Down Brown.

William graduated from Lovell High School in 1952 and went on to work as a US Army Ranger. He then enlisted as a paratrooper in Panama. He also attended Northwest College in Powell, Wyoming, until he met Genielle, Kody’s mother. A few years later, Kody was born. William then transferred to Brigham Young University in Provo, Utah. While at the university, he studied agricultural economics.

When he left college, William worked for cattle breeders in Wyoming and Montana. He also taught cattle management techniques to farmers. Kody’s father went on to work on his father and uncle’s farmland and cultivated his own family ranch.

Sister Wives star’s parents turn to polygamy

Initially, William and Genielle were in a monogamous relationship. However, when Kody was a teenager, they started following a polygamist lifestyle. Besides Genielle, William had two additional wives, Bobbie and Sheryl Brown.

Obituary posted for William Winn Brown. See https://t.co/hMgQEhPWAf

— Anne Sewell (@anners2008) August 15, 2021

On a controversial note, Sheryl is Janelle Brown’s mother, making her and Kody step-siblings, as well as spiritual spouses. It was Kody Brown’s parents, William and Genielle, who influenced and inspired Kody’s choice of a polygamous lifestyle.

Did you know Janelle Brown and Kody were actually step siblings? Are you surprised Kody Brown’s parents didn’t turn to polygamy until later in life? Share your thoughts with us in the comments down below.