‘Bringing Up Bates’: Comprehensive Guide to the Bates Family (2024)

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Celebrity Moms

By Riley Cardoza

‘Bringing Up Bates’: Comprehensive Guide to the Bates Family (1)

20

Gil Bates and Kelly Jo Bates have 19 children, and for 10 seasons, their lives were documented on Bringing Up Bates.

The couple tied the knot in December 1987 and welcomed their first child the following year. By 2012, Kelly had given birth to nine boys and 10 girls, without any multiples in the mix. Many of their kids have gotten married over the years, giving the pair more than 15 grandchildren — and counting.

The UPtv personalities first graced television screens in a 2012 series called United Bates of America. They returned to TV for Bringing Up Bates three years later. In January 2022, the network canceled the reality show after 10 seasons.

Scroll down to meet Gil and Kelly’s children and grandchildren:

Credit: Up TV

'Bringing Up Bates': A Comprehensive Guide to the Bates Family

Gil Bates and Kelly Jo Bates have 19 children, and for 10 seasons, their lives were documented on Bringing Up Bates.The couple tied the knot in December 1987 and welcomed their first child the following year. By 2012, Kelly had given birth to nine boys and 10 girls, without any multiples in the mix. Many of their kids have gotten married over the years, giving the pair more than 15 grandchildren — and counting.The UPtv personalities first graced television screens in a 2012 series called United Bates of America. They returned to TV for Bringing Up Bates three years later. In January 2022, the network canceled the reality show after 10 seasons.Scroll down to meet Gil and Kelly’s children and grandchildren:

Credit: Courtesy of The Bates Family/Instagram

Gil Bates and Kelly Bates

Gil and Kelly were born in 1965 and 1966, respectively. They met at Anderson College.

Credit: Courtesy of Whitney Bates/Instagram

Zachary Bates

Their eldest child married Whitney Perkins in December 2013 and share three kids — Bradley, Kaci and Khloé. The couple announced in November 2020 that they are expecting a fourth. Us exclusively revealed their “perfect” son Jadon's arrival in June 2021.

Credit: Courtesy Brandon and Michael Keilen/Instagram

Michaela Bates

The nursing student, who is the second oldest Bates, wed Brandon Keilen in August 2015.

Credit: Courtesy of Erin Bates/Instagram

Erin Bates

The third oldest Bates child married husband Chad Paine in November 2013. The couple share six children: Carson, Brooklyn, Everly, Holland, Finley and William.

Credit: Courtesy of The Bates Family/Instagram

Lawson Bates

The singer works as a reserve deputy for Anderson County’s Sheriff’s Department.

Credit: Courtesy of The Bates Family/Instagram

Nathan Bates

Bates, who is an EMT with a private pilot's license, proposed to Esther Keyes in May 2021. He previously courted Ashley Salyer in 2016.

Credit: Courtesy of Alyssa Bates/Instagram

Alyssa Bates

After marrying John Webster in May 2014, Alyssa went on to welcome daughters Allie, Lexi and Zoey. She announced her fourth pregnancy in August 2020, and daughter Maci arrived six months later.

Credit: Courtesy of Tori Bates/Instagram

Tori Bates

She and husband Bobby Smith share sons Kade and Kolter. The pair announced in January 2021 that baby No. 3 is on the way and shared their plans to name their daughter Charlotte. The infant arrived in June 2021.

Credit: Courtesy of Trace Bates/Instagram

Trace Bates

Gil and Kelly’s eighth child works in law enforcement. Trace got engaged to girlfriend Lydia Romeike in March 2022, exclusively telling Us, “Lydia is my best friend, and she’s the most positive thing in my life.”

Credit: Courtesy of The Bates Family/Instagram

Carlin Bates

In May 2019, Carlin married Evan Stewart. They welcomed their daughter, Layla, in February 2020, and the little one was diagnosed with a heart condition three months later. The couple announced in August 2021 that they are expecting baby No. 2. The pair were “in heaven” when their son arrived seven months later, Carlin gushed via Instagram.

Credit: Courtesy of Josie Bates/Instagram

Josie Bates

Josie and her husband, Kelton Balka, welcomed daughter Willow in July 2019, nine months after their wedding. Us Weekly broke the news in January 2021 that baby No. 2 is on the way, another daughter they plan to name Hazel. She was born in June 2021, Us exclusively revealed.

Credit: Courtesy of Katie Bates/Instagram

Katie Bates

Us exclusively revealed in March 2020 that Katie was courting Travis Clark, the same year she graduated from Crown College. The couple got engaged in April 2021 and tied the knot in December of that year. In February 2023, the duo welcomed their first child, daughter Hailey.

Credit: Courtesy of The Bates Family/Instagram

Jackson Bates

Kelly's son graduated from high school in June 2020.

Credit: Courtesy of Warden Bates/Instagram

Warden Bates

Warden is currently a student.

Credit: Courtesy of The Bates Family/Instagram

Isaiah Bates

Isaiah is the “tallest Bates family member,” Kelly wrote via Instagram in October 2020.

Credit: Courtesy of Addallee Bates/Instagram

Addallee Bates

Kelly’s 15th child was born premature in 2006 and suffered hearing loss. She now wears hearing aids.

Credit: Courtesy of The Bates Family/Instagram

Ellie Bates

Ellie is “fun, spunky and adventurous."

Credit: Courtesy of The Bates Family/Instagram

Callie Bates

Kelly’s youngest daughter is her “most animated.” She wrote via Instagram in August 2020: “People are drawn to you like a magnet!"

Credit: Courtesy of The Bates Family/Instagram

Jud Bates

The second youngest child “has grown in the blink of an eye,” Kelly wrote in December 2020 when Jud got braces.

Credit: Courtesy of The Bates Family/Instagram

Jeb Bates

Kelly and Gil’s youngest child arrived in 2012.

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‘Bringing Up Bates’: Comprehensive Guide to the Bates Family (2024)

FAQs

What denomination is Bringing Up Bates? ›

Bible Baptist Church is a Baptist church in Clinton, TN. It is led by Pastor Gil Bates. They are most known for the attendance of Gil and the rest of the Bates family.

What religion is Bringing Up Bates' family? ›

Gil and Kelly Bates, who are evangelical, conservative Christians, didn't really want a big family when they got married 23 years ago. In fact, Gil Bates didn't really like children and Kelly Bates was more concerned with her career than having a big family. But they don't believe in birth control.

Why was Bringing Up Bates canceled? ›

'Bringing Up Bates' Canceled After Following Racist Video Mocking George Floyd's Death Last Year. The Bates family will have some time to reflect on decisions new and old thanks to the canceling of their show Bringing Up Bates.

Is Bringing Up Bates a real family? ›

Gil Bates and Kelly Jo Bates have 19 children, and for 10 seasons, their lives were documented on Bringing Up Bates. The couple tied the knot in December 1987 and welcomed their first child the following year. By 2012, Kelly had given birth to nine boys and 10 girls, without any multiples in the mix.

Are the Bates family IBLp? ›

The Bates family follows the teachings of Bill Gothard's Institute in Basic Life Principles and their homeschooling program, Advanced Training Institute. It is unknown when they began following IBLP.

What ethnicity is Bates? ›

Bates is a common surname of English origin and is derived from the name Bartholomew. The name could also originate from the Old English "Bat", meaning "Boat", as used to identify a person whose occupation was boatman.

Who is pregnant in the Bates family in 2024? ›

On Thursday, Nathan Bates and his wife Esther announced that they're expecting their second baby together in a joint Instagram post. "We're doubling the cuteness! Baby #2 coming Fall, 2024! ," they wrote in the caption of a carousel of photos, taken by Nathan's brother Lawson and his wife Tiffany.

Are the Bates family fundamentalists? ›

Religious Details

The Bates Family has five children from parents Zach and Whitney (Perkins) Bates. They are a second generation fundamentalist family through the Bates.

Are the Bates family quiverfull? ›

Both the Bates and Duggar families have strong Christian beliefs and are a part of the Quiverfull movement.

Which Bates had a miscarriage? ›

Lawson and Tiffany are currently expecting their rainbow baby. They previously suffered a miscarriage in 2023. “I was so scared.

What city does the Bates family live in? ›

The show follows the daily lives of Gil and Kelly Jo Bates, not far from Knoxville, Tennessee and their large family of eighteen children.

What happened to Addallee Bates? ›

She was born with complications that caused her breathing and heart to stop, and she was given several sets of double letters in her name as a reminder that God gave her a second chance. Addallee is currently homeschooled. She is being brought up as an active participant of the Institute in Basic Life Principles.

Why can't Michaela and Brandon have kids? ›

They'll try fertility treatments, but if none of them work they plan to adopt children instead. On January 2, 2022, Michaela did a Q&A on Instagram about her infertility. She revealed that she has multiple blood clotting disorders, like some of her sisters.

How many Bates kids are not married? ›

Currently 12 out of the 19 Bates children are married. Many of these weddings have been televised events, and the wedding parties garner a good deal of interest. Here is a guide to the known wedding details of each Bates child. Names are listed as they would have appeared in the wedding program.

Are Duggars and Bates still friends? ›

The Duggars and the Bates haven't been spotted together recently. It's not that unusual, given that the Bates live in Tennessee and the Duggars live in Arkansas, but considering how close they once were, it's definitely a bit suspicious that they haven't had any get-togethers this year so far.

What religion is Tommy Bates? ›

Pastor Tommy Bates has a unique calling and gift of God to bridge the gap of separation between “that which was” and “that which is” in the full-gospel movement. God uses him mightily to preach a contemporary message with the “old time” anointing.

What religion is Bates College? ›

Although founded as a Freewill Baptist seminary, Bates College today is nonsectarian, and a lively interchange of religious and non-religious perspectives is a vital aspect of campus life.

Are the Duggars and the Bates the same religion? ›

They both practice the same religion, but only one family believes in college. Both families are fundamental Baptist Christians who homeschool their children using the ATI curriculum created by the Institute in Basic Life Principles. However, unlike the Duggars, all the Bates kids go to college after graduating.

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