What The Cast Of Here Comes Honey Boo Boo Is Doing Today
Was "Here Comes Honey Boo Boo" your favorite binge-worthy reality show? The TLC series was hugely popular because of its interesting characters, including Alana "Honey Boo Boo" Thompson, Mama June Shannon, and Mike "Sugar Bear" Thompson. But there's much that has changed since the hit show was canceled in 2014 — although many of the stars that fans came to love remained on television with various spin-off shows, which gave fans a glimpse into the family's life.
But how has life changed? Did they all go on to achieve bigger and better things? Well, not quite, and it's not been smooth sailing for everyone. Take Mama June Shannon, for example, who has had her personal struggles to contend with. And Alana is the first to admit that her public persona has had a lasting effect on her life, and not for the better. "To be honest, I do not have many friends. At all," she told Teen Vogue in an interview in 2021. "Because I feel like folks are so much like, 'Oh, my God, I'm friends with Honey Boo Boo. I don't trust nobody really, so I don't have friends."
Was being on the show more of a curse than a blessing? This is how the lives of the "Here Comes Honey Boo Boo" cast have evolved since they disappeared from our TV screens.
Alana Thompson has grown up and graduated high school
Alana "Honey Boo Boo" Thompson was the show's star, and fans loved her because of her larger-than-life personality and downright cuteness. But she's not a little girl anymore, and much has changed recently, including Thompson graduating from high school in 2023. She revealed on social media that she intends to continue her education and major in neonatal nursing.
Thompson has been in a long-term relationship with her boyfriend, Dralin Carswell, with whom she attended prom. She's also grown tired of fans comparing her to who she was as a child, and the teen is looking to shed the Honey Boo Boo image. "My mama did not name me Honey Boo Boo. My name is Alana," she told Teen Vogue in 2021. Her comments suggest she's proud of the young woman she has become, and she wants to be known for the things she has accomplished more recently instead of fans remembering her antics as a child.
"I guess people still expect me to be little Honey Boo Boo, and I'm not anymore," she explained. "Just because I'm from the South, people expect me to be all country bumpkin, out riding four-wheelers all the time, but that's not really how it is. There are so many folks on my Instagram that do not like my nails or my eyelashes. But I do not care. As long as I like myself, I'm good."
Mama June Shannon had personal struggles, but she's overcoming them
Mama June Shannon transformed after "Here Comes Honey Boo Boo," taking fans along on her weight loss journey. Still, her life was not all sunshine and rainbows, and she's had many personal struggles. This includes her choice of male companions: She and her boyfriend at the time, Eugene Edward Doak, were arrested on felony drug possession charges in 2019 (via People). She later married Justin Stroud in 2022.
Shannon's struggles also impacted her relationship with her daughters, and Lauryn "Pumpkin" Shannon became the legal guardian of her younger sister, Alana Thompson. Lauryn also spoke with people about their mother's problems on "Mama June: Family Crisis," saying June was not taking their calls and was unreceptive to offers for help. "It's gotten so low to this point, like, what more is there to do?" she said. "What more can we physically do for her? I mean, we tried to send her to rehab. The network even gave her the opportunity that anybody in their right f***ing mind would take. She checked out within less than 24 hours."
The relationship between June and Alana appears to be on the mend. Alana discussed her mother's recovery with Teen Vogue and how it changed her. "When my mama got real bad with her [drug use], I didn't know where I was going to end up," she said. "I'm proud of myself for how far I've come."
Mike Sugar Bear Thompson is embracing his life and new image
Mike "Sugar Bear" Thompson is Alana Thompson's father and Mama June Shannon's former partner. The pair were never married and ended their relationship in 2014. He later married Jennifer Lamb in 2017.
Fans will notice how his appearance has changed significantly. He got dental work, a hair transplant, and Botox. "I haven't stopped looking in the mirror," he told Page Six. "I don't recognize the man in the mirror. I never thought I could have a smile I would be proud of, and I really love the Botox because I look a lot younger." His self-confidence has improved, but his relationship with his daughter, Alana, has not. It has been alleged that the two do not have much contact.
"There is no communication. None, none! Besides when we are in production," Shannon told The Sun. "It's kind of like 'hey,' do whatever he needs to do, and then it's gone. It's not, 'Hey I want to spend time with her after.' It's been that way now for 15 years..." Alana also commented on the relationship in an episode of "Mama June: Road to Redemption" (via Distractify), saying, "He definitely does try and blow up my phone constantly and constantly and constantly. But I never text back just due to the fact of, like, now you've waited this long to just be in my life? Like, I'm gonna be 17, and you've waited this long to even try?"
Lauryn Pumpkin Shannon is a dedicated mother
Lauryn "Pumpkin" Shannon expanded her own family after marrying Joshua Efird in a Las Vegas ceremony in 2018. She was 18 at the time. The year before, they welcomed their first child, a daughter named Ella Grace. In 2021 they had a son, Bentley Jameson. Then in 2022, the couple announced the birth of their twins, Sylus Ray and Stella Renae.
When Mama June Shannon faced legal troubles and struggled with substance abuse, Lauryn "Pumpkin" Shannon stepped up. She was granted legal guardianship over her younger sister, Alana Thompson, and she did her best to give her a safe and comfortable place to live, allowing her to thrive. However, it was not an easy decision because she already had her own children to care for and was suddenly also caring for a teenager.
"It's been really good. It's obviously been a crazy experience because we went basically from raising a 2-year-old overnight to now raising a 2-year-old and a 14-year-old. So it's two different age groups right there," she told Entertainment Tonight in 2020. "It's stressful. It's really stressful. It puts a lot on a person because of the age difference." Alana also discussed living with her sister, telling Teen Vogue that Lauryn "stepped up when I had nobody." Alana acknowledged that her sister's decision to take her in had its challenges. "But I know it's stressful on her, because she has another person to take care of," she said.
Jessica Chubbs Shannon has had a complete transformation
Mama June Shannon is a mother to four daughters from three different relationships. Her second oldest child is Jessica "Chubbs" Shannon, who was born on Oct. 12, 1996. While she may not be as well known as her siblings, she was the first in the family to graduate high school and has changed her life in recent years. This includes her weight loss journey.
Jessica told HollywoodLife in 2020 that she had struggled with her weight and self-confidence for several years, and after consultations with medical professionals, she committed to getting a gastric balloon. The results have been phenomenal. "It's been life-changing," she told the publication. "I wouldn't trade it for the world." She has also changed her way of eating, focusing on more balanced meals. "I'm more confident in myself," she said. "I'll go and wear a tight-fitting shirt or something super cute and not have to worry about my stomach bulging out. I really enjoy the way that I'm turning out to be."
Her love life also appears to be going well: In 2022, Jessica revealed that she was in a relationship with her girlfriend, Shyann McCant.
Anna Chickadee Cardwell has been struggling with her health
Anna "Chickadee" Cardwell is Mama June Shannon's eldest daughter. Most recently, her health has been a topic of much discussion because, in 2023, it was reported that she was diagnosed with stage 4 adrenal carcinoma.
Anna is a dedicated mother to her two daughters and married Michael Cardwell in 2014. She gave birth to her first child, Kaitlyn Elizabeth, in July 2012. She had her second child, Kylee Madison, in 2015. Then in 2017, it was announced that she and Michael were getting divorced. Anna went on to find love with her boyfriend, Eldridge Toney, although the couple has struggled to have a child. In an interview with The Sun in 2021, she spoke about this. "We are trying to have a third child, and it's been difficult. I've gone through four miscarriages and a D&C," she said. "It's been a long bumpy road for us trying to have baby number three."
Anna has had a very complicated relationship with her mother, and has not been shy about criticizing her. "I think she did it just to be more famous," she told E! News in 2017 of Mama June's weight loss. "I don't think she did it just for her because she never mentioned anything ever before about getting plastic surgery. I think Mama did get herself out there to get another show..." However, Mama June is reportedly leaving Alabama to be near Anna while she focuses on her health.
Kaitlyn Cardwell is growing up and has had an important surgery
Kaitlyn Cardwell is Anna Cardwell's eldest daughter, and fans of "Here Comes Honey Boo Boo" were introduced to her from early on. Her birth announcement happened in Season 1 of the series, and she's mostly grown up in front of the cameras, which is why some people are invested in her life.
In 2016, Anna revealed her daughter had surgery to remove an extra thumb. She spoke to Us Weekly about the decision. "The doctor told me that she did very, very well," she said. "[At first] she was like, 'No, Mommy, I'm going to miss my little finger.' I said, 'When you get older, people might pick on you. You don't know that.' She was like, 'Well then, Ma, you can get on to them and go back and pick at them.'" Kaitlyn later changed her mind and committed to the procedure, which was successful.
Kaitlyn is heading into her preteens now, and Anna is incredibly proud. For her tenth birthday in 2022, she celebrated her daughter with a touching tribute on Instagram. "Y'all help me wish this crazy and silly and smart girl a happy 10th bday. Omg y'all I have a 10 year old lord help me, but if it wasn't for her, I would be a mother she is the smartest and sassiest little girl I know, and I am so proud of her," she wrote.
Jo Doe Doe Shannon has been a great aunt
Jo "Doe Doe" Shannon is Mama June Shannon's sister and an aunt to her four daughters. Jo was there for her nieces when her sibling was struggling. In 2022, The Sun reported that she was seen delivering baby products to Lauryn "Pumpkin" Shannon. It's no secret that June's daughters have had problems with her, some of which have played out very publicly, so it's great their aunt was able to be there for them.
Putting her relationship with her nieces aside, Jo has focused on her health and undergone a transformation. She consulted with Dr. Stephen Batash and underwent surgery to help her reach her weight loss goals. Her social media is filled with images and comments about her weight loss journey, which Jo is passionate about. She also uses her Instagram to share her love for her nieces, including praising Alana Thompson for graduating high school.
In a sweet post from 2023, Jo wrote: "So proud of my niece. Thru all the hardships and craziness you have shown them all that you are going to win and all of us are so proud of you. You deserve all the world has to offer you and I can't wait to see how far you will succeed in your life."