In 2008, Jim Bob and Michelle Duggar invited TLC cameras into their home and introduced their sprawling brood to the world. Since 19 Kids and Counting (formerly, 17 Kids and Counting and 18 Kids and Counting) hit the small screen, viewers have seen the devout Christian family through courtships, marriages and new babies.
However, controversy struck in 2015 when Jim Bob and Michelle’s eldest child, Josh Duggar, was accused of molesting five underage girls when he was a teenager, two of whom were his younger sisters.
19 Kids and Counting was swiftly canceled after Josh’s molestation scandal and in 2022, he was sentenced to more than 12 years in federal prison on charges of receiving and possessing child pornography.
A year later, Prime Video’s Shiny Happy People: Duggar Family Secrets premiered. The docu-series dives into the family’s history and ties to the religious organization Institute in Basic Life Principles (IBLP) church.
Here’s everything to know about the ever-growing reality TV family.
of 21
Jim Bob & Michelle Duggar
Married on July 21, 1984, the Duggar family matriarch, 57, and patriarch, 59, have welcomed 19 children over the course of their union.
The couple initially waited four years to have their first child, Josh. After conceiving again and having a miscarriage, which they say happened because Michelle was taking birth control and didn’t know she was pregnant, they decided to let God “bless them with as many children as he saw fit.”
With new babies arriving roughly every year and a half until 2009, they’ve worked hard to keep their marriage strong.
“We have a weekly date, even if it is just to take a walk in the park,” Jim Bob, a former Arkansas politician, previously told PEOPLE. “We will go out to lunch or dinner and talk together about the kids, upcoming events, what we have coming up.”
In 2020, the couple found a new passion: flipping houses in Arkansas.
of 21
Josh & Anna Duggar
Michelle and Jim Bob’s eldest son Josh, 36, and his wife, Anna, wed in September 2008 and have seven children, whose names all start with the letter “M.”
The couple share daughters Mackynzie, Meredith Grace, Maryella Hope and Madyson and sons Michael, Marcus and Mason. Meredith and Maryella were born during their father’s molestation scandal, and the couple announced their pregnancy with their seventh and youngest child, Madyson, just a week before Josh was arrested for receiving and possessing child pornography. She was born that October while he awaited trial.
On April 29, 2021, U.S. Marshals arrested Josh and charged him with receiving and possessing child pornography some of which included photos and videos of children younger than 10. During a virtual court appearance in Arkansas the next day, he pleaded not guilty to the two charges against him.
Josh pleaded not guilty, but on Dec. 9, 2021, he was found guilty on both counts. Four months later, he was sentenced to 12 years and seven months in prison and was ordered to pay fines and special assessments of $50,100. He is currently serving his sentence in Seagoville, Texas.
Before the sentencing, Anna penned a letter to the judge calling her husband a “
loving, supportive and caring father.”
of 21
John David Duggar & Abbie Burnett
Just one month after John David, 34, began courting Abbie Burnett in June 2018, he popped the question. He got down on his knee in an airplane hangar (they’re both plane fanatics) and the pair tied the knot on Nov. 3 of that same year.
The couple welcomed their first child together, daughter Grace Annette, in January 2020, and their second, son Charlie, in September 2022. The couple announced Charlie’s arrival on their shared Instagram account with a smiling pic of their newly expanded family.
“We are now a family of 4,” they wrote. “We welcomed little 💙Charlie💙 into the world last month and have been soaking up newborn snuggles ever since! We are so thankful to God for this precious gift!”
John David crashed a plane he was piloting over Tennessee in October 2021, citing a “double engine failure.” Two other unknown passengers were on board, but no one was injured. In January 2022, the couple broke their silence on the crash and issued a statement to Celebuzz.
“We are so thankful for God’s protection, as we all walked away without injuries when this happened last October. We so appreciate the love and care so many have expressed toward us!”
of 21
Jana Duggar
The Duggars’ oldest daughter (and older twin of John David by three minutes), Jana, 34, remodels houses and plays the piano, violin and harp.
In September 2021, Jana was cited for endangering the welfare of a minor after a babysitting accident. She took to social media to tell her side of the story.
“I was babysitting a few months ago when one of the children wandered outside alone. A passerby who saw the child called the police,” she wrote on her Instagram Story. “This resulted in a written citation, as well as a follow-up with child welfare who concluded that it was an accident and the child was unharmed.”
She was scheduled for a January 2022 court appearance, but the 19 Kids and Counting alum settled outside of the district court and paid $880, a clerk confirmed to PEOPLE.
After getting engaged in June 2024, Jana wed Stephen Wissmann on Aug. 15, 2024. The “classic, elegant” ceremony took place in Arkansas at The Grand at Willow Springs in front of 500 guests.
“It’s a dream come true,” the bride told PEOPLE. “Coming from two bigger families (Wissmann is one of 13 siblings), we love to be able to get together and celebrate moments like these. To have all of them there, it just means a lot.”
of 21
Jill & Derick Dillard
The Duggars’ second eldest daughter, Jill, 33, wed Derick in June 2014 in Springdale, Arkansas.
“I am the most blessed man to have Jill,” Derick told PEOPLE after their nuptials, which per custom, saved their first kiss for last.
In April 2015, the couple welcomed a baby boy, Israel David, and the blessings continued in 2017 when son Samuel Scott joined the family. Jill and Derick welcomed their third baby, Frederick “Freddy” Michael, in July 2022.
Sadly, in April 2024, the couple announced the stillbirth of their “beautiful baby girl, Isla Marie Dillard.” Jill was four months pregnant when the child died in utero.
Since quitting 19 Kids and Counting spinoff Counting On in 2017 and subsequently distancing herself from her family, Jill has embraced a life without some of the strict rules she was raised with.
The certified midwife got a nose ring, enjoys the occasional cocktail or glass of wine, wears jeans (Duggar women are expected to wear long dresses or skirts only), and even modeled modest swimwear. She’s also been outspoken about her sex life with Derick and shared that they use non-hormonal birth control.
Jill and Derick are featured in the 2023 docuseries Shiny Happy People: Duggar Family Secrets, in which Jill reflects on her brother’s sex abuse scandal and talks about how she wasn’t compensated for starring in her family’s two TLC shows. “I never received any payout — no check, no cash, no nothing. For seven and a half years of my adult life, I was never paid,” she said in the docuseries.
In September 2023, Jill and Derick released a memoir titled Counting the Cost.
of 21
Jessa & Ben Seewald
The Duggars’ third daughter got married in November 2014 in front of more than 1,000 people at the First Baptist Church in Bentonville, Arkansas. Jessa, 31, and her husband, Ben Seewald, welcomed their first child, Spurgeon Elliot, one year later after a dramatic two-day labor.
The couple’s second baby, Henry Wilberforce, joined the family in February 2017, followed by daughters Ivy Jane and Fern in May 2019 and July 2021, respectively.
In February 2023, Jessa opened up on her YouTube channel about a miscarriage she had before conceiving Fern.
Due to the risks of complications with passing the fetus at home, Jessa said she decided to check in to a hospital to perform a dilation and curettage (D&C) abortion procedure to remove the fetus from her womb.
“Nothing could have prepared me for the weight of those words in that moment,” Jessa said. “At that moment I was just in complete shock. I didn’t have words. I just immediately started crying.”
Ben and Jessa’s fifth child, George Augustine Seewald, arrived in December 2023. “Best Christmas present ever!” the doting mom wrote on Instagram.
of 21
Jinger & Jeremy Vuolo
PEOPLE exclusively revealed in July 2016 that Jinger, 30, and former professional soccer player Jeremy Vuolo, 36, were engaged — and on Nov. 5, 2016, the two said “I do” in front of 1,000 guests at the Cathedral of the Ozarks at John Brown University in Siloam Springs, Arkansas. The groom’s father officiated.
In July 2018, the couple welcomed their first child, daughter Felicity, and in November 2020, after a miscarriage the year prior, they welcomed another daughter, Evangeline Jo. In March 2019, they relocated from Laredo, Texas, to Los Angeles so Jeremy could pursue graduate studies at The Master’s Seminary.
In January 2023, Jinger published a memoir: Becoming Free Indeed. In a video on her YouTube channel, she elaborated on why she wrote it.
“This is a book about me and my spiritual journey, a journey of disentangling truth from lies. In it, I share stories from my life — stories that nobody saw while the TV cameras were rolling: stories of fear and uncertainty but also of discovery and hope.”
The couple revealed they’re expecting their third child in October 2024, telling PEOPLE that their due date is in March 2025 and that this baby could be their last.
“I mean, I felt like I was set with two, but I don’t know,” Jinger said. “Three was kind of what we had always said was a really good number. So three or four. I don’t know. But I think three is what I’m leaning towards right now.”
of 21
Joseph & Kendra Duggar
The Duggars’ 29-year-old son Joseph married his bride, Kendra, on Sept. 8, 2017, at the First Baptist Church in Siloam Springs, Arkansas.
“It’s something that I’ve always dreamed of, to have a wife and to raise a family in a way that honors the Lord,” he told PEOPLE. “We are very excited to see what God has in the future for us.”
Joseph got his real estate license in 2016 and was the first Duggar kid to attend college. He studied at Crown Bible College in Knoxville, Tennessee, for one year before returning to work at his family’s construction business.
In June 2018, the newlyweds welcomed their first child, son Garrett. In November 2019, they expanded their family again, welcoming daughter Addison Renee. February 2021 brought another bundle of joy — daughter Brooklyn Praise Duggar.
“It seems like just yesterday we were at the altar dreaming of a future together, including having children,” the Counting On couple said in a video on TLC. “Wow, here we are with another new addition and we couldn’t be more thankful for her.”
of 21
Josiah & Lauren Duggar
In January 2018, Josiah, the 27-year-old Counting On star, announced he and family friend Lauren Swanson had entered a courtship. The pair got engaged two months later and tied the knot in June 2018 before enjoying their honeymoon in Vienna.
After Lauren had a miscarriage in October 2018, the couple announced the following May that they were expecting their rainbow baby. In November 2019, they welcomed daughter Bella Milagro.
“She definitely has lived up to her name which means, ‘beautiful miracle.’ Today we are basking in God’s goodness!” The proud parents said at the time.
of 21
Joy-Anna & Austin Forsyth
The couple knew each other for 15 years before entering into a courtship in 2016.
“It’s really special that I got to grow up with him and my family knows him really well,” Joy-Anna, 26, told PEOPLE before marrying Austin Forsyth her fiancé of three months in May 2017. “We feel so happy and so excited!”
They were even more thrilled to expand their family in February 2018, welcoming their first baby, son Gideon Martyn.
Just over a year later, they announced that they were expecting again — but when they went in for their 20-week check ultrasound, they learned that they had lost their unborn baby.
In August 2020, they welcomed Gideon’s younger sister, daughter Evelyn Mae, and a baby boy in May 2023.
of 21
Jeremiah & Hannah Duggar
Jeremiah, 25, married his wife, Hannah, in March 2022. They sweetly celebrated their nuptials on Instagram with matching pics that showed them smiling beside each other in their wedding attire.
“Mr & Mrs Jeremiah Duggar,” Hannah captioned her post. Jeremiah kept his post short and sweet, writing the date of their wedding: “3*26*22.”
The couple welcomed a baby girl, Brynley Noelle, on Christmas day in 2022. To announce her birth, Jeremiah posted a photo of the new parents holding their infant, swaddled in a pink blanket, on Instagram.
“After an incredible year, God gave us a precious Christmas gift to top it all off!!” he wrote. “Baby girl decided to arrive early and we are totally and completely in love with our little Brynley Noelle.”
In February 2024, Hannah and Jeremiah’s second child, daughter Brielle Grace, was born. The doting parents announced the special news in a joint post on Instagram, saying, “You have already brought so much joy into our lives! We love you beyond what words can say.”
Jeremiah is a licensed real estate agent, flight instructor and contractor.
of 21
Jed Duggar & Katey Nakatsu
Jedidiah “Jed”, 25, twin to Jeremiah, wed Katey Nakatsu on April 3, 2021, after “quietly” courting her the year prior.
“The couple was married in a private ceremony Saturday with family and close friends in attendance,” a rep for the family told PEOPLE. “It was a beautiful ceremony and the entire family is so happy for them.”
Jed announced the news on Instagram the following day, along with a heartfelt tribute to his new bride.
“For a long time I have prayed for my future spouse, not knowing who that person would be. God answered my prayers far beyond what I could have ever imagined in Katey,” he captioned a shot of the couple on their wedding day. “We have enjoyed quietly developing our relationship over the past year and every moment together has been amazing!”
The couple welcomed their first baby, son Truett Oliver, in May 2022, and their daughter, Nora Kate Duggar, in May 2023. Jed and Katey are currently expecting twin girls.
“As a twin myself, I’m especially thrilled to welcome these double blessings into our family! The bond between twins is truly special, and I can’t wait to see them grow and experience life together,” the soon-to-be dad of four told PEOPLE in July 2024.
In 2019, Jed ran for the Arkansas House of Representatives but lost to Democratic incumbent Megan Godfrey. Now, he works for his father’s car dealership.
of 21
Jason Duggar
Jason, 24, got his start flipping houses with his family, and now, he owns his own business in Arkansas: Build Master Construction. In his Instagram bio, he adds “musician” and “outdoorsman” to his résumé.
In May 2024, Jason announced his courtship with Maddie Grace, and three months later he popped the question.
“Jase asked me to marry him, and I could not be more excited!!” Grace wrote on Instagram alongside photos from the romantic beach proposal.
The couple got married in Tennessee, the bride’s home state, in October 2024, with 300 friends and family in attendance.
“We really became each other’s best friends and it just kind of built from there,” Jason told PEOPLE of their relationship. “The journey is what has showed us that we are just perfect for each other.”
of 21
James Duggar
James, 23, is a rancher and helps his family care for cattle. As of 2020, he has his commercial driver’s license and is now in the process of earning his pilot license, taking after his older brothers John David and Jeremiah.
In April 2023, James posted a pic on Instagram with Jeremiah, both decked out in pilot gear. He thanked his brother for being a great teacher.
“Learning to fly has proven to be challenging, but also some of the most fun l’ve ever had!! And I also have an amazing instructor @jerduggar,” James captioned.
The 13th-born Duggar also has a YouTube channel, where he sometimes posts travel vlogs.
of 21
Justin & Claire Duggar
Three months after announcing their engagement, Justin, 21, wed Claire Spiveyon Feb. 26, 2021.
“Today we have started a journey together that God crafted long before we ever knew it was meant to be. We are so thankful for the love of Christ that has brought our lives together and teaches us what real love looks like,” they said in a statement obtained by PEOPLE.
“There is no greater joy than marrying your best friend. We are thankful for the prayers and support so many have shown us through our engagement and look forward to this new chapter of our lives together as husband and wife.”
Justin began courting Claire after the two met in the spring of 2019. Their families have known each other for nearly 20 years, Spivey shared in a video on TLC. In 2021, the couple shared that they had settled down in Texas.
of 21
Jackson Duggar
Jackson, 20, completed ALERT (Air, Land, Emergency Resource Team) Academy training — a military-style Christian ministry — in 2022.
Michelle shared the details of Jackson’s accomplishments on the family blog, writing, “Several of our sons — Joseph, Josiah, Jeremiah, Jason and James — have also gone through the ALERT Academy to learn a variety of skills including search and rescue, and dive training. (Many ALERT graduates have gone on to become firemen, first responders, policemen, or have joined the military.)”
The tenth-born Duggar son doesn’t have social media accounts of his own but can be seen in family blog posts and birthday wishes from his siblings and parents on Instagram.
of 21
Johannah Duggar
Johannah, 18, keeps her life pretty private online. The teenager doesn’t have any social media and still lives at home with her parents. According to the Duggar family website, Johannah loves volleyball and drawing.
In 2018, Johannah recorded an album called Happy Heart with her younger sisters Jennifer, Jordyn-Grace, and Josie and niece, Mackynzie — Josh’s daughter.
of 21
Jennifer Duggar
Jennifer, 16, like the other teenage Duggars, lives at home with her parents. She doesn’t have any social media accounts of her own, but fans can catch glimpses at her life through her older siblings’ Instagrams.
She, along with Jana and Jessa, visited Jinger in California in June 2022, which was sweetly documented on Jinger’s account. She posted a handful of photos from the trip, including one sitting with a smiling Jennifer.
Jinger wrote, “@jessaseewald @janamduggar @ben_seewald & my little sis Jennifer all came for a visit over the weekend. We rode the roller coaster at the Santa Monica Pier, ate lots of good food, played some intense rounds of spicy Uno, and did some shopping in Glendale at the Americana. Such an awesome time!”
The family website describes Jennifer as an animal lover and master crafter.
of 21
Jordyn-Grace Duggar
Jordyn-Grace, 15, is described as a “sweet-hearted, confident girl” with a love for art, fashion and calligraphy. She’s been a flower girl at five Duggar family weddings.
While she doesn’t have any social media accounts of her own, Jordyn-Grace often pops up on the Duggar family Instagram account, where she’s featured in group pics with her siblings and parents.
of 21
Josie Duggar
Born premature at 25 weeks in 2009 and weighing just 22 oz., the world watched as the Duggars’ youngest child Josie, 14, struggled to survive.
In 2014, Josie had a seizure during filming. Michelle elaborated on her daughter’s history with seizures on a dramatic episode of 19 Kids and Counting.
“One of the little glitches for Josie is that if she runs a fever, she does have the tendency to have febrile seizures,” Michelle explained. “It might happen just like that; she’ll spike a temp when you least expect it, and she’ll have a seizure.”
Now, a teen, Josie lives at home with her parents and occasionally pops up in her siblings’ IG posts and vlogs.
of 21
Amy Duggar King & Dillon King
Known as the “rebellious cousin,” Amy, 37, is the daughter of Jim Bob’s sister Deanna and made frequent appearances on 19 Kids and Counting, where her less-conservative upbringing made her stand out from the rest of the family.
“For me, growing up was all about shorts, tank tops, country songs and boyfriends,” the reality star previously told PEOPLE. “I love the Lord and I love my family. I’m just not born to live exactly the way they do.”
After less than a two-month engagement, Amy married longtime friend Dillon King, in a country-chic wedding on the grounds of Horton Farms near Bentonville, Arkansas, in 2015. The couple appeared on Marriage Boot Camp: Reality Stars in early 2017, where they worked on the issues in their marriage and ultimately decided to stay together.
In December 2018, Amy got candid about their sex life, telling PEOPLE that they have sex “all the time” and that they were ready to start a family. “The kids are coming,” Dillon added. “We’ve been practicing.”
It was a fact: the pair welcomed their first child together, son Daxton Ryan, in October 2019.
Source: People
Eternal Pen online magazine publishes interesting content every day in the celebrity section of the entertainment category. Follow us to read the latest news.
