Where Is Josh Duggar's Wife Anna Now? All About Her Life Amid Her Husband's Prison Sentence (and Why She Continues to Stand By His Side)

Mar. 15, 2025

Anna Duggar and Josh Duggar pose during the 42nd annual Conservative Political Action Conference on February 28, 2015 in National Harbor, Maryland.Photo:Kris Connor/Getty

Kris Connor/Getty

WhenAnna DuggarandJosh Duggarwed in September 2008, the couple proclaimed their loyalty to one another — with Josh even singing to his new wife, “through the hardest of days, we will choose the right way.”

In the years since they said “I do,” the couple have put those words to the test. Josh and Anna (who were both raised instrict religious households) have faced highs and lows throughout their relationship, including the revelation that Josh hadmolested underage girlswhen he was a teen, his admission thathe was unfaithful to Annaduring their marriage, andhis 2021 arrest(andsubsequent conviction) on child pornography charges.

“She doesn’t get mad,” a source close to the Duggars told PEOPLE in 2015 about Anna’s relationship with Josh. “You are not allowed to get mad.It’s not godly for a woman.”

Anna has leaned on her faith throughout the years to help get her through Josh’s various scandals.

“In my heart, when I got married, I vowed to God first and then to Joshua, ‘For better or for worse. ‘Til death do we part,’ ” Anna said on a 2015 episode ofJill and Jessa: Counting On. “I pray that through all of this that I would be an extension of God’s love to Joshua, thatI would love him and forgive himand wait patiently and allow God to work through our hearts.”

Anna wasspotted for the first timein December 2024 since Josh’s sentencing, seemingly still wearing her wedding ring.

From their courtship days to the current status of their marriage, here is everything to know about where Josh and Anna Duggar are now.

Anna and Josh met at a Christian homeschooling convention in 2006

Anna and Josh Duggar smile together.Scott Enlow/TLC

Anna first met Josh while attending a Christian homeschooling convention in 2006 when she was a teen. According to Josh, it was love at first sight — and the two began a long-distance courtship shortly after, with Anna living in Florida and Josh in Arkansas.

“A courtship is the path toward marriage,” Josh explained to PEOPLE in 2014.

As one of eight children born to Mike and Suzette Keller, Anna grew up inan ultra-conservative Christian householdsimilar to the Duggars. In fact, “her parents are even a little more extreme,” a source told PEOPLE in 2015.

Anna and Josh wed in 2008 in Florida

After a two-year courtship, Anna and Josh were married on Sept. 26, 2008, at Buford Grove Baptist Church in Hillard, Fla., near Anna’s hometown of Gainesville. The couple shared their first kiss at their wedding — which was featured on season 2 of19 Kids and Counting— and also vowed to leave the decision on how many children to have “up to God.”

“I would love to have as many children as God would bless us with,” Anna told PEOPLE at the time. “Growing up in a large family, and Joshua in a mega-family, you learn so much more. I think a large family helps you prepare for life.”

Anna and Josh share seven children

Josh Duggar with wife Anna Duggar and their two children.Scott Enlow/Discovery

Anna and Josh wasted little time in starting their family: The couple welcomed their first child, Mackynzie Renée, in October 2009, just over a year after they were married. The birth, which took place at Josh and Anna’s Arkansas home, was featured on a special episode of19 Kids and Counting.

In addition to their seven children, Anna alsoexperienced a miscarriagein 2010.

“It was very hard to go through the excitement of finding out we were expecting a little one and then losing it,” Anna said on theTodayshow shortly after the loss.

Josh Duggar speaks during the 42nd annual Conservative Political Action Conference at the Gaylord National Resort Hotel and Convention Center on February 28, 2015 in National Harbor, Maryland.Kris Connor/Getty

Scandal first rocked Anna and Josh’s marriage in May 2015, when it was revealed that he had molested five underage girls (including two of his own sisters, Jill and Jessa). Anna, who was pregnant with their fourth child at the time, was unwavering in her support of her husband —posting on social media about forgivenessand revealing that Joshconfessed his “very difficult past mistakes”to herbefore their wedding.

“[I know] who Josh really is – someone who had gone down a wrong path and had humbled himself before God and those whom he had offended,” she told PEOPLE in a statement. “Someone who had received the help needed to change the direction of his life and do what is right.”

“I can definitely look back on the past few months and say it’s been a hard road, but it’s been a good road,” Anna said on an episode ofJill and Jessa: Counting Onwhile Josh was in rehab. “I think there’s lots of hope for the future and a lot of excitement.”

She added, “God’s grace can give me the strength to love Josh when others would say he doesn’t deserve it.”

Anna and Josh said they rebuilt their relationship through marriage counseling

Josh Duggar kisses wife Anna Duggar.Anna Duggar/ X

Anna Duggar/ X

After Josh’s 2015 scandals, the couple maintained a low profile as they worked torepair their marriage. Anna and Josh began working with “a professional marriage and family counselor to take important steps toward healing,” they revealed in a statement, adding that they faced “a long road to rebuild trust and a truly healthy relationship.”

Anna and Josh emerged nearly two years later, in March 2017, withan update on the Duggar family website. In it, they revealed they were expecting their fifth child — and addressed Josh’s previous scandals.

“For nearly the last two years, we have quietly worked to save our marriage, focus on our children, andrebuild our lives together as a family. Doing so is never easy after a breach of trust,” the blog post began.

Anna believed in Josh’s “innocence” after his 2021 arrest on child pornography charges

Josh Duggar poses for a booking photo after his arrest April 29, 2021 in Fayetteville, Arkansas.Washington County Sheriff’s Office via Getty

Washington County Sheriff’s Office via Getty

Even after Josh wasfound guiltyon both counts in December 2021 — including downloading one ofthe “most offensive” videos of child sex abuse materiala Department of Justice official had ever seen — Anna continued to support her husband. She wrote a letter to the judge ahead of Josh’s sentencing, asking for a “fair sentence” that would “reunite us as a family again soon.”

In her letter, Anna also described Josh as “considerate, respectful, quick to forgive, patient, and genuinely the kindest person I know.”

“He is a kind, loving, supportive, and caring father and husband — his primary focus in life,” she added.

Several of Anna’s family members have called for her to leave Josh

Amy Duggar ; Josh Duggar.Getty (2)

Getty (2)

One of Anna’s brothers, Daniel Keller,bashed Josh on social mediain 2015, following the revelation of his pornography addiction and infidelity.

“Tell me how you would feel if someone cheated on your sister and brought so much disgrace to you and ur family,” Keller commented on Facebook. He also added that he had offered to pay for Anna and her children to come and stay with him.

Later, in 2022, Josh’s cousinAmy Duggar Kingpenned a powerful open letter to Anna on Instagram amidst his child pornography trial. In it, she wrote that there was“no shame” in divorcing Josh.

She continued on, urging Anna to “be the role model” that her children “need.”

“Josh has chosen how history will remember him,” she wrote. “By staying and supporting him you’re allowing him to choose that for you, too.”

In December 2024, Anna was spotted in public for the first time since Josh’s conviction

Josh is currently serving his over 12-year sentence at FCI Seagoville federal prison in Texas. Hisappeal was deniedin October 2023, and his expected release date is sometime in 2032.

Since Josh’s conviction, Anna has tried to remain out of the spotlight. She deleted her Instagram account (where she previously regularly posted about Josh and their children) and has been virtually silent on X (formerly Twitter) save for a few political posts.

While Josh is in prison in Texas, Anna and her children remain living in Arkansas. However, cousin Amy revealed to PEOPLE in June 2023 that sheinvited Anna and her children to come live with herand her husband following Josh’s conviction — but Anna declined.

“I offered it, and that’s really all I can do is just hope and pray that she opens her eyes. That’s all you can do,” Amy said to PEOPLE. “Unfortunately, she doesn’t see it.”

If you suspect child abuse, call the Childhelp National Child Abuse Hotline at 1-800-4-A-Child or 1-800-422-4453, or go to www.childhelp.org. All calls are toll-free and confidential. The hotline is available 24/7 in more than 170 languages.

source: people.com