If you followed the tabloids in the mid-2010s, you probably remember the headlines. They felt like a fever dream of American archetypes. The daughter of a Tea Party icon and a Medal of Honor recipient. It was a match that looked perfect on a campaign poster but, honestly, was total chaos in real life.
Bristol Palin and Dakota Meyer didn't just have a "rocky" relationship. It was a rollercoaster that went off the rails, got back on, and eventually crashed for good in a very public way.
The Meeting and the "Almost" Wedding
They first crossed paths back in 2014. Dakota was in Alaska filming an episode of Amazing America with Sarah Palin. You can almost picture the scene: the rugged war hero meets the famous Alaskan daughter. By March 2015, they were engaged.
But then, things got weird.
Just days before the big Kentucky wedding was supposed to happen in May 2015, Sarah Palin hopped on Facebook to announce the nuptials were off. No real explanation. Just a "the wedding's not happening" vibe. Shortly after, Bristol revealed she was pregnant with her second child.
The internet, as you’d expect, lost its mind.
A Surprise Marriage and the Reality TV Curse
Most people thought they were done. Instead, they pulled a 180. After a messy custody battle over their daughter, Sailor Grace, they somehow found their way back together. In June 2016, they actually tied the knot.
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They looked happy—for a minute. They had a second daughter, Atlee Bay, in 2017.
Then came Teen Mom OG.
Joining a reality show about parenting is basically the kiss of death for a struggling marriage. Watching them on screen was uncomfortable. You’ve got Dakota, a man openly struggling with severe PTSD from his time in Afghanistan, and Bristol, who seemed totally overwhelmed by the emotional weight of it all.
He once described the "discord" in their marriage as "cancer." That’s a heavy word to use for the mother of your kids.
Why the Bristol Palin and Dakota Meyer Split Actually Happened
Dakota filed for divorce in early 2018. The official reason? "Conflict of personalities."
But it was deeper than that. Dakota has been very vocal about how his mental health—specifically the trauma from the Battle of Ganjgal—made him a difficult person to live with. He’s talked about how he pushed people away. Bristol, on the other hand, admitted she was "unhappy and lonely."
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It’s easy to judge from the outside, but imagine trying to navigate a Medal of Honor legacy, a political dynasty's expectations, and a house full of toddlers while cameras are rolling. It was a recipe for disaster.
Where Are They Now?
Fast forward to 2026, and the dust has mostly settled.
Dakota Meyer made headlines recently for a move nobody saw coming. In April 2025, he actually re-enlisted in the Marine Corps Reserve. He’s the only living Medal of Honor recipient currently serving in a reserve branch. It seems like the military was always where he felt he belonged. He’s also been working with figures like Pete Hegseth, staying active in the veteran advocacy space.
Bristol Palin has mostly stepped away from the reality TV spotlight. She’s focused on her real estate career in Texas and, more importantly, the logistics of a very complicated family tree.
Her oldest son, Tripp, actually moved back to Alaska in 2024 to live with his dad, Levi Johnston. Bristol was pretty open about how hard that was, but she admitted it was what he wanted.
The Reality of Co-Parenting
Co-parenting between Bristol and Dakota hasn’t always been pretty. There were public spats about "Twitter births" and custody schedules.
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But lately? It’s been quieter.
They seem to have reached that "business partner" phase of divorce. They share two daughters, Sailor and Atlee. While Dakota is back in uniform and Bristol is navigating life as a single mom in Austin, they’ve managed to keep the vitriol out of the headlines for a few years now.
Actionable Insights for the Rest of Us
You don’t have to be a celebrity to learn something from this mess.
- Trauma is a third party in the room. If you're with someone who has PTSD (military or otherwise), it’s not something you can "fix" with a wedding. Professional help is the only way forward.
- Don't rush the "rebound" marriage. They called off a wedding, had a baby, got married, and divorced all in about three years. Sometimes a "no" should stay a "no."
- Kids grow up and make their own choices. Bristol’s situation with Tripp shows that even if you move them across the country for a new life, they might still go back to their roots.
The story of Bristol Palin and Dakota Meyer is basically a cautionary tale about trying to live out a fairy tale when the reality is much more complicated. They’ve both moved on, and in a way, they both seem much more like themselves now than they ever did as a couple.
Next Steps for You:
If you're interested in how veteran families navigate post-service life, check out the resources at Hiring Our Heroes or look into Dakota Meyer’s advocacy work with the Marine Corps Reserve. For those following the Palin family’s next moves, Bristol’s real estate updates often provide a glimpse into her life in Texas without the MTV drama.