Facing Loss in the Spotlight: Janelle Brown’s Honest Reflections
When reality TV pulls back the curtain, raw moments hit differently. That’s exactly what viewers saw when Janelle Brown opened up about piecing her life together after losing her son, Garrison Brown, who died by suicide in March 2024. In the recent Sister Wives episode aired May 4, 2025, Janelle’s vulnerability took center stage as she talked about sorting Garrison’s house—a task she called nothing short of a "big job." Clearing out her late son’s belongings, she admitted, was more than a logistical challenge. Every room triggered memories, every item stirred heartache. It’s a side of grief that doesn’t make it onto Instagram, and her candor brought that messy reality to TV.
Seated in her new North Carolina home, Janelle had a soul-baring conversation with her sister, Carrie. She described handling Garrison’s possessions as overwhelming—physically draining and emotionally relentless. The process forced her to relive both joyful family moments and the deep pain of his absence. "There’s no manual for this stuff," she confessed, acknowledging how even day-to-day routines are shaped by the weight of what’s missing. The move from Flagstaff, Arizona, added another layer: everything in her new space felt like a fresh start, but she couldn’t leave the grief behind.
Tackling Mental Health and Family Grief Head-On
Janelle wasn’t just facing her own emotions. She revealed that Garrison’s passing has pushed the entire Brown family to have conversations they once avoided. Mental health is now part of the dinner table talk, and that’s a dramatic shift for her. After Garrison’s death, silence wasn’t an option. She talked openly about keeping an eye on her other son, Gabriel, who’s coping but still feeling the sting of his brother’s absence. For a family in the public eye, talking about these things can feel awkward—but Janelle emphasized it’s necessary. She shared that while Gabriel is "doing okay," there are days when the heartbreak takes over, and all they can do is get through the day together. "We miss him every day," she told Carrie, her voice full of ache and pride at the same time.
- Practical chores like organizing Garrison’s house became unexpected triggers—each box a reminder of memories and loss.
- Conversations around mental health have become unavoidable; there’s a new focus on supporting each other emotionally, especially Gabriel.
- The family’s journey is ongoing; grief doesn’t follow a timeline, and Janelle openly admits that some days are better than others.
The episode put a spotlight on resilience, but not the polished, picture-perfect kind. Viewers watched a mother navigating an impossible new reality—balancing her own grief, her family’s wellbeing, and the constant attention from fans. She’s learning that healing isn’t about moving on. It’s about learning to keep going, even as they hold space for Garrison’s memory every single day.