Katie Grace Clark (née Bates) (born October 5, 2000) is the eleventh child and seventh daughter of Gil Bates and Kelly Bates.
She is the sister of Zachary Bates, Michaela Keilen, Erin Paine, Lawson Bates, Nathan Bates, Alyssa Webster, Tori Smith, Trace Bates, Carlin Stewart, Josie Balka, Jackson Bates, Warden Bates, Isaiah Bates, Addallee Bates, Ellie Bates, Callie-Anna Bates, Judson Bates, and Jeb Bates.
She is the wife of Travis Clark and the mother of their children, Hailey and Harvey.
Early life[]
Katie as a baby
Katie Grace Bates was born at 5:55 p.m. on October 5, 2000, in Tennessee, to Gil Bates and Kelly Bates. She was the couple's eleventh child, and they went on to have eight more children after her.
Her name means "pure grace".
Along with her siblings, Katie was homeschooled growing up. She and her siblings were raised as active participants of Bill Gothard's Institute in Basic Life Principles, and regularly attended the yearly Advanced Training Institute conferences in Big Sandy, Texas. She graduated in 2018.
Katie is said to be full of spunk and laughter. She enjoys pranking her family, reading history books, and deer hunting.
Personal life[]
Relationship with Travis[]
On September 19, 2019, Katie announced via Facebook Live that she was in the beginning stages of a relationship with Travis Clark. This confirmed speculation that the two were a couple ever since they first appeared in each other's Instagram stories in late July 2019. They first met on June 27, 2019 when Travis decided to direct message Katie on Instagram and thinking that she was "the most beautiful girl I had ever seen".
Courting
Courtship[]
On March 9, 2020, Travis asked Katie to begin an official courtship in Berlin, New Jersey. On March 10, 2020, they announced their courtship. Their courtship proposal was featured on the Bringing Up Bates episode "I Love You to Piz-zas!".
Engaged
Engagement[]
On April 7, 2021, Katie and Travis got engaged at The Reach in Key West, Florida. The proposal took place in an ocean pier gazebo, which was decorated with candles, a large heart constructed of red roses, and a sign that read, "Will you marry me?". With their parents present, Travis also sang the song "Will You Marry Me" that he wrote for Katie and played guitar. Their engagement was featured on the Bringing Up Bates episode "Due Dates & An Engagement Getaway!".
Just married
Marriage[]
On December 3, 2021, Katie married Travis James Clark at Castleton Farms in Loudon, Tennessee. The wedding had around 400 guests. The couple shared their first kiss at the altar. The wedding was officiated by Katie's father Gil Bates, Travis's grandfather Charles Clark, Jr., and Travis's uncle Charles Clark III. Katie's matron of honor was her sister Josie. Her bridesmaids were her sisters Alyssa, Carlin, and Addallee, her sister-in-law Whitney, Travis's sister Kayla, and her friend Caitlin Kaetzer. The flower girls were Katie's nieces Willow and Layla and their dog Remi. Travis's best man was his brother Michael. His groomsmen were his brother-in-law Cameron, his cousin Jeffrey Walsemann, his cousin-in-law Jeffrey Weaver, Katie's brother-in-law Evan, and his friends Aaron Scully and Gavin Ziegler. Katie's brother Lawson wrote the song "I Love You Truly" for the wedding. Travis wrote the song "I Choose You" for the wedding. Her dress was designed by Renee Miller of Renee's Bridal.
For their honeymoon, Katie and Travis went to Cabo San Lucas, Mexico.
Baby Hailey
Motherhood[]
On August 6, 2022, Katie and Travis announced that they were expecting their first child, due March 2023. The due date was later revealed to be March 4, 2023. However, due to Katie's blood clotting disorder, they said that the baby could arrive around mid-February 2023. On September 10, 2022, they revealed that they were expecting a girl. On September 22, 2022, they revealed that they were naming their daughter Hailey James. On February 17, 2023, Katie and Travis shared a post stating that it was "baby time". Hailey James Clark was born at 10:29 p.m. on February 17, 2023 in New Jersey. She weighed 6 pounds and 1 ounce, and was 19 inches long.
On April 13, 2024, Katie and Travis announced that they are expecting their second child, due in Fall 2024. In a YouTube Q&A they revealed the exact due date to be October 18, 2024. On May 9, 2024, they revealed that they were expecting a boy. On June 27, 2024, they revealed that they were naming their son Harvey Gray. On October 1, 2024, Katie and Travis Clark announced that their son had been born on September 29, 2024. After birth he was transferred to East Tennessee Children’s Hospital due to a drop in his oxygen levels. He was improving at the time of the post.
Health[]
On August 20, 2022, Katie revealed that she has some blood clotting disorders. She has to take two shots a day during pregnancy.
In February 2023, when Katie was 37 weeks pregnant with Hailey, she had three infections that caused pre-term labor. This labor stopped after treatment.
On May 30, 2023, Katie was hospitalized with kidney stones. At her follow up appointment on October 5, 2023, her doctor said that her CT scan showed several kidney stones and that two of them were significant in size. On December 3, 2023, Katie was hospitalized after experiencing extreme pain and was vomiting and passing out. Her doctor said that her largest kidney stone measured 9 mm. Katie underwent surgery to remove all the kidney stones on December 5, 2023.
Career[]
Babysitting[]
Katie often babysat her nephews, Bradley Bates and Carson Paine, and nieces, Kaci Bates and Brooklyn Paine.
Education[]
Katie completed a 1-year Bible program at The Crown College. She considered studying nursing after finishing this program. In May 2020, she graduated from The Crown College with her Cosmetology license.
Bates Sisters Boutique[]
Katie worked as a photo shoot model for Bates Sisters Boutique in Rocky Top, Tennessee.
Effortless Beauty[]
Katie worked as a Stylist at her sister Josie's company, Effortless Beauty in Knoxville, Tennessee.
Social Media[]
Katie often promotes products on Instagram and YouTube from various companies, such as Athletic Greens and Dime Beauty.
Television[]
Katie appeared on the TLC show 19 Kids and Counting many times as a child.
In 2012, TLC aired one season of the show United Bates of America, which focused on Katie's family.
In 2015, UpTV began airing a similar show, Bringing Up Bates. Katie was regularly featured on both shows.
Wedding involvement[]
Katie was a bridesmaid at her brother Zach's wedding to Whitney Perkins on December 14, 2013.
She was a bridesmaid at her sister Tori's wedding to Bobby Smith on December 16, 2017.
She was a bridesmaid at her sister Josie's wedding to Kelton Balka on October 5, 2018.
She was a bridesmaid at her sister Carlin's wedding to Evan Stewart on May 25, 2019.
She was a bridesmaid at her friend Madelyn Shuler's wedding to Jacob Hunt on June 9, 2023.
