It feels like a lifetime ago that we were all collectively obsessed with a woman’s spiky blonde haircut and the logistical nightmare of feeding eight small children at once. Jon & Kate Plus 8 wasn’t just a show; it was a cultural moment that defined the early 2000s reality TV boom. But the cameras eventually stopped rolling, the messy divorce played out in every tabloid from here to Timbuktu, and the kids—those tiny faces we watched grow up—became actual adults.
Honestly, if you haven't checked in on them lately, the family dynamic is... complicated. It’s not just a "where are they now" story; it's a "who is even speaking to whom" saga. By 2026, the Gosselin family has essentially split into two distinct camps, with a massive geographic and emotional divide between them.
The New Life of Kate Gosselin: Nursing and New Zealand Rumors
For years, people wondered what Kate would do once the reality TV checks dried up. She tried the spin-off thing with Kate Plus Date and even did a stint on Special Forces: World’s Toughest Test in 2023, though she had to bow out early with a neck injury. But lately, Kate has gone back to her roots.
Basically, she’s a nurse again.
Kate relocated to Troutman, North Carolina, a few years back and obtained her multi-state registered nurse license. She’s currently working in pediatric home health, caring for medically fragile children. It’s a bit full circle, isn't it? She’s active on TikTok now, calling this her "dog mom era" because her house is significantly quieter. In early 2026, she even sparked marriage rumors after being spotted with a massive ring in New Zealand.
She was there with Steve Neild. Remember him? Her longtime former bodyguard. While fans went wild thinking they’d eloped, Kate jumped on TikTok to clarify that the ring was just "regular jewelry" she’d owned for decades. She’s definitely living a more "normal" life these days, even if she still catches heat from the public for her past parenting choices.
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Where Are Jon and Kate Plus 8 Now: The Kids are All Grown Up
It is a literal trip to realize that there are no more teenagers in the Gosselin house. The twins, Mady and Cara, are 25. The sextuplets—Alexis, Hannah, Aaden, Collin, Leah, and Joel—turned 21 in May 2025.
The sibling split is the part that really gets people. It’s essentially a 6-to-2 ratio.
The New York Twins
Mady and Cara have largely built lives in New York City. Cara is the "quiet" one, working as a financial analyst at Bank of America after graduating from Fordham. Mady, who was always the more outspoken twin, graduated from Syracuse and has been doing the NYC influencer/marketing thing. They are firmly "Team Kate" and haven't spoken to their father, Jon, in over a decade. It’s a pretty staggering statistic when you think about it. Ten years is a lot of missed birthdays.
The North Carolina Four
Alexis, Aaden, Leah, and Joel moved to North Carolina with Kate. They’ve mostly stayed out of the spotlight, which is probably a smart move. They’re all in college or starting careers in the South.
- Aaden has been a student at Western Carolina University.
- Joel was spotted on LinkedIn associated with UNC Charlotte.
- Leah frequently pops up on TikTok, showing off her dorm life and baking skills.
- Alexis reportedly has her sights set on becoming a vet.
The Pennsylvania Rebels: Hannah and Collin
Then there’s Hannah and Collin. These two chose a different path—literally. They stayed in Pennsylvania with Jon.
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Hannah has always been the bridge. She’s the only one who really seems to maintain some level of contact with both sides of the family. She recently shared a photo of a reunion with Mady and Cara in NYC, which was a huge deal for fans who thought the sisters were permanently estranged.
Collin’s story is much heavier. After being sent to an inpatient facility by Kate as a child—a move that still causes massive arguments online—he was eventually released to Jon’s custody. He’s been vocal about the "unfair treatment" he faced and hasn't spoken to Kate in years. As of 2026, he’s been running his own business, Gosselin Pressure Washing LLC, and even had a stint in the Marines before receiving a medical discharge.
Jon Gosselin’s Second Act: Marriage and Music
Jon’s life looks nothing like the "Ed Hardy shirt" era of 2009. He’s spent the last several years working as a professional DJ in Pennsylvania. He’s actually pretty good at it, apparently. He spins 90s R&B and hip-hop at clubs and hotels around Allentown.
The big news for Jon lately? He’s a married man again.
In November 2025, Jon married his longtime girlfriend Stephanie Lebo. It was a small, intimate ceremony in Pennsylvania. Unsurprisingly, only Hannah and Collin were there from his children's side. Jon has been very open about the fact that he doesn't even have the phone numbers for his other six children. It’s a harsh reality that underscores just how deep the family rift goes.
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The Reality of Reality TV
What most people get wrong about the Gosselins is thinking this was all just for show. The trauma of growing up in front of a camera crew is something several of the kids, specifically Collin and Mady, have addressed in very different ways. While Mady defends their upbringing as a unique opportunity that provided for them, Collin has described it as a "barrier" that destroyed his relationship with his mother.
The family is a living case study on the long-term effects of child stardom. There’s no easy "happy ending" here where they all sit down for Thanksgiving dinner. It’s messy. It’s human.
What to watch for next:
- The Sextuplets’ Post-Grad Life: Now that they are 21, expect more public moves from Aaden, Joel, and Alexis as they enter the workforce.
- Kate’s "Dog Mom" Content: Kate seems to be leaning into the creator economy on TikTok. Whether this leads to a full-blown media comeback or just more nursing tips remains to be seen.
- Jon’s DJ Career: With a new marriage and a stable job, Jon seems to be the most "settled" he’s been in twenty years.
If you’re looking to follow along, TikTok is currently the best place to find them. Mady and Leah post semi-regularly, and Kate is surprisingly active in her comment sections, often defending herself against "haters" who still bring up the 2000s.
To get a clearer picture of where everyone stands, you can check out Jon’s recent interviews with Entertainment Tonight or Kate’s nursing features on Nurse.org. Just don't expect a full family reunion anytime soon; that ship seems to have sailed, or at least split into two very different fleets.
Next Steps for Fans:
If you're curious about the specific allegations regarding Collin's time in the facility, look into the Dark Side of the 2000s documentary series. It provides a much more clinical, albeit darker, look at the family's history than the original TLC show ever did.
Actionable Insight: When following former child stars, it's worth checking their LinkedIn or professional certifications (like Kate's nursing license) to see their "real" lives, as social media often only shows the curated highlights.