All About Collin Gosselin’s Parents, His Colleen Conrad Connection & More
Collin Gosselin is charting his own reality TV course after playing a role in his parents’ story for his entire childhood.
If the name Gosselin rings a bell, you may recall the family from Jon & Kate Plus 8, later called Kate Plus 8. The TLC series, which ran from 2007 to 2017, followed Jon and Kate Gosselin as they raised their eight children: a set of twins and a set of sextuplets. Collin, one of those sextuplets, has since been very vocal about growing up on the reality series. Today, he is starring on Special Forces: World’s Toughest Test Season 5 and publishing a memoir titled In the Shadow of Eight: Surviving the Reality of My Childhood.
Scroll for a full refresher on the Gosselin family, Collin Gosselin’s parents, and more.
Who are Collin Gosselin’s parents?
Collin is the son of TLC stars Jon and Kate Gosselin. At the start of the series, Kate worked as a nurse, and Jon has worked as an IT specialist on and off. The couple filed for divorce in 2009, and the series continued as Kate Plus 8 after Jon moved out.
Today, Collin lives with his dad and sister, Hannah. He has been estranged from his mom and the rest of his siblings — Cara, Mady, Aaden, Alexis, Joel, and Leah — for over six years.
Who are Jon & Kate dating today?
Kate is currently dating her former bodyguard, Steve Neild. Jon is married to Stephanie Lebo, whom he married on November 23, 2025.
What is Collin’s connection to Colleen Conrad?
In a recent social media post, Collin referred to Colleen Conrad, his dad’s ex-girlfriend, as his “real mom.” To celebrate her birthday, Collin wrote, “She is the strongest woman I know, who stepped in at the toughest part of my life and CHOSE to be a mother to me. Happy birthday to my wonderful, hardworking, passionate, and I could go on… to my real mom. I love you so much.” Jon dated Colleen, his childhood friend, from 2014 to 2021.
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When Jon and Colleen’s relationship came to an end, Colleen had been diagnosed with breast cancer just months before. “We had some struggles, and we tried to push through them as best we could, but it didn’t really work out the way we thought it would. I still love and care for Colleen, but we’ve both determined that it’s the natural end,” he told The Sun at the time.
After Kate and Mady accused Collin of alleged behavioral issues, Colleen made a public statement about Collin. “I recently learned of derogatory statements made about Collin Gosselin and felt compelled to defend him,” she wrote on Instagram. “These statements were made by family members who have been estranged from his life since he was 12. Collin is not only someone I love dearly but has also been a significant figure in my family’s life.”
Following her breakup with Jon, she revealed that Collin lived with her until he turned 18. “He thrived and was always kind and respectful,” she added. “He never talked back to me. He was never violent and is far from being considered dangerous. He is there for me when I need him, even bringing me white roses every time he visits.”
Special Forces: World’s Toughest Test, Season 5, Thursdays, 9/8c, Fox
