Christine Brown‘s husband, David Woolley, was somewhat familiar with her and ex Kody Brown‘s history early on in their romance.
“He’s been in and out of watching Sister Wives for years,” Christine, 52, exclusively reveals in the latest issue of Us Weekly, on stands now. “I didn’t know that he knew who I was until our second date, but the way he told me was after I already told him everything, so he already knew.”
Christine wanted to ease into her polygamous background when she and Woolley began dating after her 2021 split from Kody, 55. “The second date … as soon as we got in his car, I was just like, ‘I was the third wife,’” she tells Us. “And then we’re talking for a while and a few minutes later, I was like, ‘I was also on television.’”
According to Christine, her now-husband name-dropped Kody “20 minutes into the conversation,” which took her completely by surprise. “I’m like, ‘You watch my show?’ And he is like, ‘Well yeah, girl, I don’t live under a rock,’ or something like that,” she says. “It was so great.”
After learning that Woolley tuned in to Sister Wives, Christine jokes, “I always tease him [that] I better have been his favorite wife.”
Christine Brown Celebrates ‘Incredible’ Year Married to David Woolley
Christine and Kody entered a spiritual union in 1994 and welcomed six kids together. When the former couple’s relationship began, Kody was legally married to Meri Brown and in a spiritual relationship with Janelle Brown. He subsequently divorced Meri, 53, in 2014 in order to become Robyn Brown‘s lawful husband and adopt her children from a previous relationship. Kody and Meri remained in a spiritual union but revealed their split in late 2022. Janelle, 55, also left the plural family.
Following her separation from Kody, Christine debuted her romance with Woolley in February 2023. He proposed two months later, and the pair exchanged vows in Utah in October 2023.
“I’m happier than I’ve ever been,” she tells Us, emphasizing that it didn’t take long to adjust to monogamy. “I was made for it.”
Christine appreciates that she and Woolley are “totally a partnership,” noting that “there’s no keeping score” in their marriage. “I’m very grateful for everything that happened to lead me here.” she adds. “I love where I’m at.”
Fans have continued to follow the aftermath of Christine and Kody’s split on Sister Wives, which is currently in its 19th season. While Woolley was initially “hesitant” to appear on the TLC series, Christine says his presence is “totally refreshing” on screen.
“We’ve gone through a lot of hard times and I think having David in our lives and having him with me gives a whole new experience for all of us when we watch the episodes. I don’t dread it,” she explains. “I love watching when we’re in it and it’s been a really nice reprieve.”
Christine Brown Says Ex Kody Texted Her About ‘Soulmate’ David Woolley
Christine tells Us, however, that she was nervous about how Kody and Woolley would get along. “I dreaded it, probably way more than David,” she says, admitting that the two men were “a little bit awkward” around each other at first. “But when it came down to it, we just realized everyone’s just gonna do the best they can and we’re just gonna be in the same space with each other for the rest of our lives, and we just need to be adults about it. … They were just gentlemen.”
Woolley has been there for Christine while she relives some of the drama with her ex in the newer episodes. “I get frustrated [with what Kody says about me],” she tells Us. “I just talk to David about it because I would never do so many of the things that [Kody] accuses me of doing. And David’s like, ‘Look, no one’s gonna believe that. Everyone knows that you’re a good mom and you’re not gonna ever pit Kody against your kids or your kids against Kody. It’s just never going to happen.’ But still, it’s hard to hear it.”
While she admits “divorce are hard,” Christine is fully embracing her next chapter with Woolley. “Kody doesn’t define me,” she says. “I define me.”
With reporting by Leanne Aciz Stanton