If you spent any part of the mid-2000s glued to TLC, you remember the chaos. The matching outfits. The synchronized van-loading. The "Kate Haircut." It’s been nearly two decades since we first met the Gosselin family, and honestly, the update on where are they now: Jon and Kate Plus 8 is a lot messier—and more human—than the scripted reality TV endings we're used to seeing.
The kids aren't kids anymore. They’re 21 and 25. Let that sink in for a second. While the world watched them learn to walk and go to potty training, they’ve spent their adult lives navigating a family rift that makes the Great Divide look like a sidewalk crack.
The Great Sibling Divide: Who is Talking to Whom?
The biggest shocker for fans isn't that Jon and Kate still don't get along—it’s how the kids have split into two distinct camps. As of 2026, the family is basically a house divided.
On one side, you’ve got Hannah and Collin. These two famously moved in with Jon back in 2018. Collin’s story has been particularly heavy. After being sent away to a program for "special needs" by Kate—a move Collin later described as an attempt to hide him away—he’s been vocal about his estrangement. He recently took to TikTok to share that he basically has no relationship with his other six siblings. It’s heartbreaking, really. He calls his social media a "journal" in hopes they might see it and realize who he actually is.
Then you have the "other" six: Mady, Cara, Alexis, Aaden, Leah, and Joel.
They’ve stayed firmly on Team Kate. Mady and Cara, the twins, are 25 now and living their best lives in New York City. Cara is working as a financial analyst—total 180 from the reality TV spotlight—while Mady has leaned into the influencer world. They don't talk to Jon. Like, at all. In fact, most of the kids haven't spoken to their father in years.
- Hannah: Attending college in Pennsylvania; still the "bridge" who tries to talk to everyone.
- Collin: Living in PA, recently launched a pressure-washing business, and still hoping for a sibling reunion.
- The NC Crew: Leah, Aaden, and Joel are all in college in North Carolina, where Kate moved them a few years back.
Jon Gosselin’s New Life: From IT Guy to Groom
Jon’s journey has been... a lot. Remember when he was the poster child for a mid-life crisis with the Ed Hardy shirts and the Vegas clubs? He’s mostly traded that in for a more stable life in Pennsylvania.
Just this past November (2025), Jon got married to Stephanie Lebo. It was a small, intimate ceremony. Guess who was there? Hannah and Collin. Guess who wasn't? Everyone else. Jon still works in IT, but he’s also been leaning into his DJ career. He’s been spotted spinning tracks at the Americus Hotel in Allentown, playing 90s R&B for crowds who probably still ask him about the show.
He seems happier, but the weight of the estrangement clearly hangs over him. He’s said in interviews that he’s "offered the olive branch" to his other kids, but so far, nobody is biting.
Kate Gosselin: Back to Basics (and TikTok)
Kate has had a rougher transition out of the limelight. After Kate Plus 8 finally ended, she tried the dating show thing, but it didn't really stick. For a while, there were rumors she was struggling financially—she even admitted in court docs that she had to "borrow" money from the kids' trust funds to survive.
But as of 2026, Kate is back to her roots. She’s living in North Carolina and working as a registered nurse again. Specifically, she’s doing pediatric home care. It’s a grueling job—12-hour shifts, high stakes—but she’s mentioned on TikTok that it’s what she needs to do to keep the family afloat.
Speaking of TikTok, she’s entered her "dog mom era." She posts videos with her German Shepherds and occasionally one of the sextuplets will pop in for a cameo. Aaden recently appeared in one of her lives, and fans were shocked at how much he looks like a college-aged version of Jon.
Why the Gosselin Story Still Matters
We grew up with these people. We saw the best and absolute worst of their parenting. People love to take sides—you’re either a Jon supporter or a Kate supporter—but the reality is that there are no winners here.
The kids are the ones who had to grow up under a microscope. While Mady and Cara seem to have found their footing in the corporate and influencer worlds, the sextuplets are still figuring it out. The fact that they’re all in college (or graduated) is a win, considering the chaos of their childhood.
What you can take away from this family saga:
If you’re looking to keep up with the family without the filter of a TLC producer, your best bet is following the kids directly. Mady and Cara post sporadically on TikTok, and Collin is becoming much more active as he tries to rebuild his reputation.
Watch for Hannah’s posts especially. She’s the only one who seems to move between both worlds, and if a full family reunion is ever going to happen, she’ll be the one to bridge the gap. For now, the Gosselins are just like any other family with a messy divorce—except their baggage is archived on Discovery+ for $4.99 a month.
Keep an eye on Collin’s new business, Gosselin Pressure Washing LLC, if you're in the Pennsylvania area. It’s probably the most "normal" thing any of the kids have done yet.
