Zachary "Zach" Gilvin Bates (born December 30, 1988) is the first child and first son of Gil Bates and Kelly Bates.
He is the brother of Michaela Keilen, Erin Paine, Lawson Bates, Nathan Bates, Alyssa Webster, Tori Smith, Trace Bates, Carlin Stewart, Josie Balka, Katie Clark, Jackson Bates, Warden Bates, Isaiah Bates, Addallee Bates, Ellie Bates, Callie-Anna Bates, Judson Bates, and Jeb Bates.
He is the husband of Whitney Bates and the father of their children, Bradley, Kaci, Khloé, Jadon and Lily.
Early life[]
Zach as a baby
Zachary "Zach" Gilvin Bates was born on December 30, 1988, in Tennessee, to Gil Bates and Kelly Bates. He was the couple's first child, and they went on to have eighteen more children after him.
Zach was a surprise to the couple, who had been married less than a year.
"There's never a dull moment", Zach said of having so many siblings. "Every year, you know, there was - just add another person - it doesn't feel abnormal to me", he said in another interview.
Along with his siblings, Zach was homeschooled growing up. He and his 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. He graduated in 2006. He scored high on the ACT.
Personal life[]
Courtship with Sarah[]
In June 2011, Zach began courting Sarah Reith. This courtship proposal was featured on the 19 Kids and Counting episode "38 Kids & Counting", which first aired on October 18, 2011. On July 12, 2012, the couple announced that they had ended their courtship several months after it began, at Sarah's decision.
Courting
Courtship with Whitney[]
In 2012, Zach met Whitney Perkins while she was working as a carhop at a local Sonic. The two spent several months becoming friends. On July 1, 2013, Zach asked Whitney to court. On July 17, 2013, they announced that they had entered a courtship. Although the two had planned on maintaining strong physical boundaries, as Zach had done in his previous courtship and was encouraged by Zach's parents, the couple did end up kissing before marriage.
Engaged
Engagement[]
On September 11, 2013, Zach showed up at Whitney's house with a surprise. He had coordinated with her parents to have an overnight bag ready, and had spoken with her school and work to get time off for her. The two, along with members of Zach's family, flew to Orlando, Florida. They took a boat ride in Clearwater, Florida, where they were followed by dolphins, before attending a local church.
On September 12, 2013, Zach's parents scoped out a private spot at Smyrna Dunes Park and set up arrangements as Zach had planned while he took Whitney to get her nails done. When the couple arrived, Zach proposed, and Whitney said yes.
Just married
Marriage[]
On December 14, 2013, Zach married Whitney Eileen Perkins at 1:00 p.m. at First Baptist Church in Lake City, Tennessee, with a reception at the Main Event in Clinton, Tennessee. Zach's brother Lawson wrote a song for the couple that was sang at the wedding. His groomsmen were his brothers Lawson, Jackson, Warden, and Isaiah, and his friend John-David Duggar, and his sisters Alyssa, Josie, and Katie were among the bridesmaids.
For their honeymoon, Zach and Whitney went to Kauai, Hawaii.
Vow renewal
Vow renewal[]
On June 14, 2018, Zach and Whitney had a vow renewal ceremony at The Pavilion at Hunter Valley Farms. This ceremony allowed Whitney's biological parents to attend after they weren't invited to her wedding.
Fatherhood[]
Baby Bradley
On March 3, 2014, Zach's mother Kelly commented on a post about one of his campaign rallies saying that Zach and his wife Whitney were expecting their first child, due October 22, 2014. Bradley Gilvin Bates was born at 10:12 p.m. on October 29, 2014 at Tennova Healthcare Physicians Regional Medical Center in Knoxville, Tennessee. He weighed 7 pounds and 10 ounces, and was 19 inches long.
"We can't even begin to explain how overjoyed, excited, and grateful we are to be parents! We just can't seem to take our eyes off of him. He has already brought so much joy into our lives, and he's enjoying being the center of attention in the Bates family. We are thankful to the Lord for this precious gift of life!"
Baby Kaci
On October 29, 2015, at Bradley's first birthday party, Zach and Whitney announced that they were expecting their second child. Kaci Lynn Bates was born at 10:32 p.m. on June 20, 2016. She weighed 7 pounds and 8 ounces.
"We were overcome with emotions that just cannot be described when we saw our little Kaci Lynn and held her in our arms for the first time. We have anticipated this moment for months, yet it exceeded all of our dreams. Looking in her sweet little eyes just took our breath away."
Baby Khloé
On August 9, 2018, Zach and Whitney announced that they had suffered a miscarriage in June 2018.
On May 7, 2019, Zach and Whitney announced that they were expecting their third child, due November 10, 2019. On July 25, 2019, they announced that they were expecting a girl to be named Khloé Eileen. Khloé Eileen Bates was born at 3:48 p.m. on November 7, 2019. She weighed 7 pounds and 9 ounces.
Baby Jadon
On November 24, 2020, Zach and Whitney announced that they were expecting their fourth child, due June 2021. On January 27, 2021, they announced that they were expecting a boy to be named Jayden Carl. Jadon Carl Bates was born at 5:15 p.m. on June 7, 2021. He weighed 7 pounds and 6 ounces. On June 9, 2021, he was admitted to the NICU with a collapsed lung and put on a ventilator. The ventilator was removed on June 13, 2021.
On February 11, 2023, Zach and Whitney announced that they are expecting their fifth child, due August 2023. On March 25, 2023, they revealed that they are expecting a girl. On June 4, 2023, they announced that the due date is August 31, 2023. Whitney went into labor on August 15, 2023, at 38 weeks pregnant. Their daughter, Lily Jo, was born on August 15, 2023. She weighed 6 lbs, 12 oz. and measured 19.25 inches.
Health[]
Just after finding out that they were expecting Jadon, both Zach and Whitney tested positive for COVID-19. Zach contracted it at work and ultimately, Whitney tested positive as well.
In February 2023, Zach was playing outside with his kids and tripped and landed on a tree root. He hurt his left foot and could barely walk. His foot became bruised and swollen. The doctor said that he had a torn muscle and aggravated tendons. He was in a boot for a few weeks.
Career[]
Education[]
Zach attended college where he pursued history and criminal justice. He was said to be a good student. He also completed EMT training with a 4.0. Zach volunteered for his local fire department during his time as a student.
Police[]
On September 4, 2015, Zach graduated from police academy. He immediately began working as a Police Officer after graduation at Anderson County Sheriff's Department in Clinton, Tennessee. In 2020, Zach retired from the police department to work for the family tree business in Rocky Top, Tennessee.
Politics[]
On August 5, 2010, Zach was elected to to be a county commissioner of Anderson County, Tennessee. He was the youngest person to ever win a county commissioner seat. "Several people asked me to run, and I said I don't really like the politics of it," he said when asked why he decided to run for office. "I said I'd like to find us a good candidate, but I couldn't find anybody."
On January 21, 2014, Zach announced that he was running for mayor of Anderson County in the Republican primary:
"I am proposing to run a positive campaign, focusing on how I can benefit the Anderson County mayor's office. I am not focusing on running against any individual. I am simply running for Anderson County mayor because I feel burdened to see honesty, integrity, and diligence executed in our government offices. I want to do the best I can to have a positive impact on our local government."
On May 6, 2014, Zach lost this primary to Terry Frank.
Real Estate[]
In January 2024, Zach announced that he got his Real Estate License. He works at Wallace Real Estate in Knoxville, Tennessee.
Social Media[]
In March 2024, Zach launched a YouTube channel called Bates Kitchen, where he makes weekly cooking videos.
Television[]
Zach appeared on the TLC show 19 Kids and Counting many times as a teenager and young adult.
In 2012, TLC aired one season of the show United Bates of America, which focused on Zach's family.
In 2015, UpTV began airing a similar show, Bringing Up Bates. Zach was regularly featured on both shows.
Wedding involvement[]
Zach was a groomsman at his sister Erin's wedding to Chad Paine on November 2, 2013.
He was a groomsman at his sister Tori's wedding to Bobby Smith on December 16, 2017.
He was a groomsman at his sister Carlin's wedding to Evan Stewart on May 25, 2019.
He was an usher at his brother Nathan's wedding to Esther Kayes on October 22, 2021.
He was an usher at his brother Lawson's wedding to Tiffany Espensen on May 12, 2022.
He was a groomsman at his brother Jackson's wedding to Emerson Wells on October 14, 2023.
