Kelly Jo Bates (née Callaham) (born October 26, 1966) is the matriarch of the Bates family. She is the wife of Gil Bates, with whom she has 19 children, 32 grandchildren and 1 grandchild on the way.
Early life[]
Kelly Jo Callaham was born on October 26, 1966, to Kenneth Callaham, Sr. and Betty (Smith) Callaham. She was the couple's fourth child, and her mother went on to adopt two more children after her.
At some point when she was a child, her parents divorced. Her mother remarried twice once Kelly was an adult, with her third husband coming after her second husband's death.
Personal life[]
Marriage[]
Just married
Kelly began college at Anderson University in Anderson, South Carolina, where she met William Gilvin "Gil" Bates, Jr.. The two served on the same ministry team, and when Gil needed tutoring for his chemistry class, Kelly was the lab assistant. The two then transferred to Carson-Newman University in Jefferson City, Tennessee. Gil proposed to Kelly while they were still in school in October 1987. Kelly and Gil got married on December 19, 1987. For their honeymoon, they went to Gatlinburg, Tennessee.
Motherhood[]
Although Kelly and Gil had expected to not start having children until they had been married for five years, Kelly got pregnant only a few months after getting married, and the couple's first child, Zachary Gilvin, was born on December 30, 1988. Just over a year later, Zach was joined by a sister, Michael Christan, on January 23, 1990. Kelly quickly got pregnant again, and by this point Gil said he "got excited about having children". This child, Erin Elise, was born on May 2, 1991, and was joined by sixteen more: William Lawson was born on July 27, 1992, Kenneth Nathaniel was born on August 29, 1993, Alyssa Joy was born on November 9, 1994, Tori Layne was born on December 20, 1995, Trace Whitfield was born on February 1, 1997, Carlin Brianne was born on April 11, 1998, Josie Kellyn was born on August 4, 1999, Katie Grace was born on October 5, 2000, Jackson Ezekiel was born on February 17, 2002, Warden Justice was born on May 19, 2003, Isaiah Courage was born on October 16, 2004, Addallee Hope was born on February 17, 2006, Ellie Bridget was born on April 28, 2007, Callie-Anna Rose was born on August 2, 2009, Judson Wyatt was born on September 15, 2010, and Jeb Colton was born on February 1, 2012.
The couple suffered four miscarriages: Jewels, between 2007 and 2008, Jubilee, between 2007 and 2008, Zion, in March 2011, and Sunny, in August 2012.
Grandchildren[]
On November 2, 2013, her daughter Erin married Chad Paine. Together, they have 6 children. Their first child, son Charles "Carson" Stephen IV, was born on May 14, 2015 May 14, 2015. Their second child, daughter Brooklyn Elise, was born on August 6, 2016. Their third child, daughter Everly Hope, was born on March 30, 2018. Their fourth child, daughter Holland Grace, was born on November 26, 2019. Their fifth child, daughter Finley Marie, was born on January 18, 2022. Their sixth child, son William Gage, was born on October 30, 2023. The couple suffered three miscarriages in 2014.
On December 14, 2013, her son Zachary married Whitney Perkins. Together, they have 5 children. Their first child, son Bradley Gilvin, was born on October 29, 2014. Their second child, daughter Kaci Lynn, was born on June 20, 2016. Their third child, daughter Khloé Eileen, was born on November 7, 2019. Their fourth child, son Jadon Carl, was born on June 7, 2021. Their fifth child, daughter Lily Jo, was born on August 15, 2023. The couple suffered a miscarriage in June 2018.
On May 24, 2014, her daughter Alyssa married John Webster. Together, they have 5 children. Their first child, daughter Allie Jane, was born on April 11, 2015. Their second child, daughter Lexi Mae, was born on January 26, 2017. Their third child, daughter Zoey Joy, was born on March 28, 2018. Their fourth child, daughter Maci Jo, was born on February 9, 2021. Their fifth child, son Rhett Alan, was born on March 18, 2023.
On August 15, 2015, her daughter Michaela married Brandon Keilen. The couple miscarried a daughter, Eden Miracle in 2021.
On December 16, 2017, her daughter Tori married Bobby Smith. Together, they have 5 children. Their first child, son Robert "Kade" Ellis IV, was born on November 9, 2018. Their second child, son Kolter Gray, was born on March 25, 2020. Their third child, daughter Charlotte Raine, was born on June 24, 2021. Their fourth child, daughter Cambree Layne, was born on August 2, 2022. Their fifth child, son Weston Slade, was born on May 29, 2024.
On October 5, 2018, her daughter Josie married Kelton Balka. Together, they have 3 children. Their first child, daughter Willow Kristy, was born on July 19, 2019. Their second child, daughter Hazel Sloane, was born on June 14, 2021. Their third child, son Miles Kelton, was born on February 21, 2024. The couple suffered a miscarriage on August 25, 2020.
On May 25, 2019, her daughter Carlin married Evan Stewart. Together, they have 2 children. Their first child, daughter Layla Rae, was born on January 31, 2020. Their second child, son Zade Patrick, was born on March 27, 2022.
On October 22, 2021, her son Nathan married Esther Keyes. Together, they have 2 children. Their first child, daughter Kenna Joy, was born on October 17, 2022. Their second child, son Graham Alan, was born on October 4, 2024.
On December 3, 2021, her daughter Katie married Travis Clark. Together, they have 2 children. Their first child, daughter Hailey James, was born on February 17, 2023. Their second child, son Harvey Gray, was born on September 29, 2024.
On May 12, 2022, her son Lawson married Tiffany Espensen. Together, they have 1 child. Their first child, son William Daniel, was born on July 19, 2024. The couple miscarried a child, Hope, in early 2023.
On October 1, 2022, her son Trace married Lydia Romeike. Together, they have 1 child. Their first child, son Ryker Cruise, was born on September 12, 2023. They are currently expecting their second child. The couple miscarried a child, Angel, in 2024.
Career[]
Television[]
Kelly and her family's close family friends, the Duggar family, premiered their own reality show, 17 Kids and Counting, on TLC in 2008. In the episode "When Big Families Collide", which aired on October 13, 2008, the show's viewers were introduced to the Bates family. Kelly and her family went on to appear in a number of episodes throughout the show's ten season run.
On March 13, 2012, a special episode of the show, "The Bates Family: And Baby Makes 19" premiered, which served as a sort of re-introduction to the family before the premiere of their own TLC show, United Bates of America, on August 13, 2012. The show ran for one season, before announcing on October 6, 2012, that it had been canceled.
On November 18, 2014, the family announced they had begun filming for a second reality show, Bringing Up Bates. Bringing Up Bates, which premiered on UpTV on January 1, 2015, was canceled after ten seasons on January 18, 2022.
Wedding involvement[]
Kelly was a matron of honor at her daughter Michaela's wedding to Brandon Keilen on August 15, 2015.
