Bringing Up Bates: A Complete Guide to Erin Bates and Her 18 Siblings

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After giving birth to her seventh child, Erin Bates Paine is surrounded by numerous individuals expressing warm wishes as she recuperates.

Although Erin Bates-Paine, the third oldest among Gil and Kelly Bates’ 19 children, continues to fight after a severe UTI and kidney infection led to septic shock following the August birth of their son Henry – as reported by Chad Paine in a September 4 Instagram update: “She is currently in the ICU; doctors are conducting scans and tests to find out the cause.” He further mentioned, “Erin is very weak and has spent extended periods semi-conscious” – there’s an extensive network of family members eager to support her recovery process.

Henry’s visit increases the total number of grandchildren for Gil and Kelly to 35, as they eagerly await more additions to their family: daughter Carlin Bates Stewart, 27, who is expecting her third child with Evan Stewart in September; daughter Josie Bates Balka, 26, who will welcome her fourth child with Kelton Balka later this year; and son Lawson Bates, 33, looking forward to the birth of his second child with Tiffany Bates in December.

It’s also worth noting that among the Bringing Up Bates family, the younger members are yet to complete their high school education, meaning they haven’t yet reached an age where they could potentially become parents and start courting.

Just as the Duggar family, known for its large size, follows a “more is better” approach in terms of expanding their family, so too do evangelical and conservative Christians often adhere to this same philosophy when having children.

In the 2011 interview on Nightline, Gil expressed that both of them had decided to put their trust in God regarding the number of children they would have, a year before welcoming their youngest son Jeb Bates. However, they never imagined they’d have 18 children. They believed they might only have one or two, possibly three at most.

Rather than filling their 4,000-square-foot home in Tennessee with just furniture, they decided to house an entire baseball team. After gaining popularity on TLC’s popular show “19 Kids and Counting,” they welcomed cameras to document the ensuing mayhem.

Each year, an additional person would join us, as Zach Bates shared with Nightline, and this doesn’t seem unusual to me.

Indeed, they are the ones carrying on the legacy now, as he and his younger siblings are expanding their family. It’s been a whole decade since their Up TV series concluded its 10th and last season, but they’re still adding more Bates children to their brood.

Keep reading to meet their squad. 

William Gilvin “Gil” Bates, the South Carolina state wrestling champion, crossed paths with lab assistant Kelly Bates (née Callaham) at Anderson University, a Christian liberal arts school in South Carolina. She was assigned to help him with Chemistry. Displaying their intellectual prowess, he asked for her hand in marriage in October 1987 while they were both attending Carson-Newman University in Tennessee. They decided to tie the knot only two months later. Initially, they didn’t envision a big family, but neither of them endorsed the use of birth control. In an interview with Dateline in 2011, Gil shared that they chose to trust God on the matter of their children’s number, expecting to have no more than two or three.

The oldest child, Zachary Bates, was born a year after their wedding; the 19th addition to their family, Jeb Bates, came in 2012. When it comes to reciting the names of their large family, Kelly teasingly mentioned Gil, who owns Bates Tree Service, saying, “Oh, Daddy’s great at that. His memory is sharper than mine.”

Zachary, born on December 30, 1988, was educated at home like his siblings and was deeply involved in Bill Gothard’s Institute of Basic Life Principles. His relationship with Sarah Reith was featured on “19 Kids and Counting,” but it was Whitney Perkins who won his affection while working at Sonic Drive-in. They began courting in 2013, and he proposed just two months later. The wedding took place that December, with John-David Duggar serving as one of the groomsmen. The couple subsequently had sons Bradley (born October 2014), Jayden (June 2021), Kaci (June 2016), Khloé (November 2019), and Lily Jo (August 2023).

Besides his work at the family tree company, Zachary has also held positions such as a police officer, a county commissioner, and a real estate agent.

On January 23, 1990, Michaela Bates Keilen entered the world, approximately 13 months following her older brother’s birth. As a youngster, she developed a knack for sewing and was responsible for creating many of the family’s dresses and managing the laundry. Brandon Keilen, who would later become her husband, had to wait until his graduation from bible college before he could propose. Consequently, they dated for two years prior to their engagement in April 2015.

Following their August wedding, the couple moved to Chicago and faced challenges in starting a family. Michaela openly shared her fertility issues through blog entries and YouTube videos. Sadly, they experienced a miscarriage in 2021, but later welcomed two young boys into their lives as foster parents.

In a conversation with People magazine, Erin Bates Pain (joining the family on May 2, 1991) shared that when reflecting on her childhood and the way she was brought up by her parents, there’s nothing negative that comes to mind. Instead, everything appears quite positive, and they created some of the best memories together.

Instead of having a TV, we opted to spend time with Dad during playtime, or engage in family activities like board games or memory-making moments. Consequently, I never felt deprived, quite the contrary – I believe we grew intellectually more because of this choice.

After tying the knot with Charles “Chad” Stephen Paine III in 2013, they yearned for a large family. However, due to a blood clotting disorder, they experienced several miscarriages before they were blessed with Carson in May 2015, Brooklyn in August 2016, Everly in May 2018, Holland in November 2019, and Finley in January 2022. Despite the belief that they wouldn’t have more children, they expanded their family with William in October 2023 and Henry in August 2025. On Instagram, Chad shared that Erin was battling complications following Henry’s delivery, asking for prayers as she worked towards recovery.

As a lifestyle connoisseur, I’d like to share an update about a remarkable individual who started his own lawn-cutting business, Lawson’s Lawncare, at the tender age of 13. This impressive young man, Lawson Bates, born on July 27, 1992, was often associated with Jana Duggar due to his interactions on her Instagram posts. However, things took an exciting turn when he announced his engagement to the lovely Tiffany Espensen. This came after a romantic proposal during their Italy vacation in October 2021. The singer-songwriter expressed to People, “Discovering Tiffany-her heart, her aspirations, and her dreams-has been the most delightful experience of my life. We’ve been creating beautiful memories together over the past year.

The couple got married on a yacht near San Diego in May 2022. However, they experienced a miscarriage before having their son named William in July 2024. Around a year after that, they announced that another baby was expected.

Nathaniel Kenneth Bates, often known as Nathan, became part of our family on August 29, 1993. His romantic journey with Ashley Salyer was highlighted in the show Bringing Up Bates, but he later got engaged to Esther Keyes in May 2021. They exchanged vows in October of the same year (mirroring many of his siblings by sharing their first kiss at the altar). A daughter named Kenna was born a year later, and in October 2024, they were blessed with a son, Graham. Since childhood, Nathan had aspired to be a preacher, which he pursued through various mission trips and roles as a first responder.

Alyssa Bates Webster, born on November 9, 1994, served as the family’s secretary, shopper for clothing, and prepared numerous meals. During her work on Florida Congressman Daniel Webster’s campaign for the U.S. House of Representatives, she encountered his son John Webster. In January 2014, they became engaged at Orlando’s Ruth’s Chris Steakhouse, and got married that May. The couple residing in Florida had their first child, Alli, in April 2015, followed by Lexi in January 2017, Zoey in March 2018, Maci in February 2021, and Rhett in March 2023.

12 months after her elder sister’s birth on December 20, 1995, Tori Bates Smith first met Bobby Smith in the year 2016. Their love story became a part of their family’s reality series. The couple tied the knot shortly after their engagement in December 2017. A graduate from Crown College of the Bible in elementary education, Tori Smith and her husband Bobby became parents to son Robert IV in November 2018. They were later blessed with sons Kolter in May 2020, Weston in May 2024, daughters Charlotte in June 2021, and Cambree in August 2022.

Born on February 1, 1997, Trace Bates, whose name signifies a harvester of white fields, entered the world. On television, he courted Chaney Kahle before being introduced to his future spouse, Lydia Romeike, by his sister Josie Bates Balka. They announced their engagement in March 2022 on YouTube (where Trace shared, “I just know that Lydia is my best friend, and she’s the most positive influence in my life”), and they tied the knot in October of the same year before 350 guests, including Jason Duggar who served as an usher. Their first child, Ryker, was born in October 2023. In June 2025, they were blessed with a rainbow baby, their daughter Kaia.

On April 11, 1998, Carlin Bates Stewart completed high school together with her brother Trace. They had taken dual enrollment at a local college. Carlin’s sister Erin introduced her to Evan Stewart, and the couple revealed their engagement in September 2018. Marrying the next year (with Joy-Anna Duggar Forsyth serving as a bridesmaid), they welcomed daughter Layla in January 2020 on the show “Bringing Up Bates.” Their son Zade was born in March 2022, and they announced the upcoming arrival of their third child in February 2025.

Gil and Kelly welcomed their tenth child on August 4, 1999. She met her future spouse, Kelton Balka, at a piano recital in 2014, but they didn’t start dating until 2017. They got engaged in June 2018 during a proposal caught on camera, and tied the knot that October, once more under the watchful eyes of cameras. Their first daughter, Willow, was born in July 2019, with Hazel joining the family in June 2021. Miles became part of the family in February 2024, and the couple announced they were expecting another child in April 2025.

On October 5, 2000, Katie Bates Clark was given the name that means “pure grace.” In a 2019 Facebook Live session, she publicly announced her romance with Travis Clark, sharing their picturesque engagement on an oceanfront in April 2021. They exchanged vows in December of the same year and welcomed their daughter Hailey into the world in February 2023. Their family expanded further with the arrival of their son Harvey in September 2024. Katie holds a cosmetology license, which she has utilized working as a stylist for her sister Josie’s company, Effortless Beauty, and as a model for Bates Sisters Boutique.

Among the group often referred to as the ‘three musketeers’, which includes Warden Bates, Isaiah Bates, and Jackson Bates, it was Jackson who was born on February 17, 2002. He crossed paths with his future wife, Emerson Wells, at a rodeo in Florida, with their engagement being announced in March 2023. The wedding took place in October of the same year, with Jason Duggar serving as a groomsman. Their first child, David, arrived in July 2025.

Known as “Tigger” because of his lively personality, Warden (born on May 19, 2003) has a passion for sports and singing. Balancing work is no issue for him, as he’s involved with both his father’s excavation company and his brother-in-law Chad’s Paine Construction business.

On October 16, 2004, the third musketeer made his arrival. This individual, who graduated from The Crown College in 2023 with a one-year Bible Certificate for Foundations of Christian Life, launched his own lawn care business in the year 2022. He simultaneously worked for both his father and brother-in-law Chad prior to this entrepreneurial venture.

After being born on Feb. 17, 2006, Addalee Bates faced breathing difficulties due to her premature birth and needed hearing aids. Born prematurely, she had complications. Her parents extended the spelling of her name to underscore her second opportunity at life. In 2025, she successfully completed a one-year bible study program.

Under the moniker “Strong Light,” Ellie Bates stepped aboard on April 28, 2007. Frequently, she strikes a pose for photography sessions at Bates Sisters Boutique.

Callie-Anna Bates, the youngest daughter of Gil and Kelly, was born on August 2, 2009. Known for her vivaciousness as described by her mother on Instagram in August 2020, she has a charm that attracts people just like a magnet!

Ever since Jud Bates joined us on September 15, 2010, he’s been rapidly developing, as Kelly expressed in her Instagram post from December 2020. Despite encountering a couple of hurdles along the way, including fracturing his right collarbone not once, but twice – one instance was due to playing football and another while riding his electric bike.

Jeb Bates joined the family on February 1, 2012, needing some extra care in the Neonatal Intensive Care Unit (NICU). Gil expressed to People that even with his 19th child, he still felt the same excitement and nerves as he did with their firstborn.

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2025-09-05 23:49