It's easy for Kody Brown to pump out 17 kids when he's got four wives. But will there ever be a fifth?
The patriarch of the polygamist clan in TLC's Sister Wives was asked that very question by Anderson Cooper in a wide-ranging interview on the latter's syndicated talk show, Anderson, and let's just say he wasn't exactly dismissive of the idea.
In fact, he's leaving it up to God, apparently.
"Certainly not right now," said Kody.
"That doesn't sound like a 'no' to me," interjected Anderson.
The reality star then explained how his religious beliefs leave the door open for taking another bride—that is, if he gets the go-ahead from on high.
"You guys have to understand that I actually answer to essentially a higher call. I am part of an order, a church. So there is this situation where I feel like I am maxed out and I don't want to take another wife," he said. "I am not interested in that, but there is a requirement...I answer to a higher calling, and if that requirement comes along and I have a choice in it, then I will do it. I would prefer not to."
With a quartet of wives by his side—first wife Meri, second wife Janelle, third wife Christine and fourth wife Robyn—and 17 children among them, we'd certainly say "maxed out" might be a bit of an understatement.
But if you ask the women, the immensity of the family hasn't gotten in the way of how they raise the kids, particularly the youngest, Solomon, whom Robyn gave birth to last October.
Wondered Anderson: "Do you all feel like the mother of the child? How does this work?"
Replied Meri: "We feel like one of the moms, definitely."
Added Christine: "When he cries, we all turn and try to make him happy except when it's time to eat."
The CNN anchor subsequently quizzed them on what it's like having to move out of Utah, where Kody and company feared prosecution for their polygamist lifestyle, and taking up residence in Las Vegas, to which the patriarch answered, "It's great."
"It's actually free and easy," said Kody. "People apparently are tolerant, and it's been a very good experience for us. We've got businesses that are going very well."
As for whether the brood gets teased at school about their parents being in a plural marriage, he acknowledged "there's a little" of that, but, at the age of 13, it's "very regular."
When Anderson asked if the kids might follow their parents' example and embrace their unusual lifestyle, Kody acknowledged it's their choice alone.
"Yeah, but they change their minds. Some kids have already [said] they will, some are saying they won't," he explained. "Let's go through college. That frontal lobe, that's the part of the brain that lets you reason with reason—let's get that developed and then let them make those decisions."
Yeah, better get that frontal lobe developed, guys.
The full sit-down airs on Anderson today. Check your local listings.