Where Are the Stars of 'Here Comes Honey Boo Boo' Now?
Discover the current whereabouts of the beloved stars from the hit TLC reality series 'Here Comes Honey Boo Boo' (2012-2014) Catch up on Alana 'Honey Boo Boo' Thompson, June 'Mama June' Shannon, Mike 'Sugar Bear' Thompson, Lauryn 'Pumpkin' Shannon, Jessica 'Chubbs' Shannon, and Anna 'Chickadee' Cardwell
The Thompson family, including Alana "Honey Boo Boo" Thompson, became known for causing controversy on their former reality show, Here Comes Honey Boo Boo, which aired on TLC from 2012 to 2014. They first gained fame when Alana appeared on Toddlers & Tiaras as a beauty pageant contestant before landing their own show.
Here Comes Honey Boo Boo was cancelled by the network in October 2014 following reports that June "Mama June" Shannon, the mother of the family, was dating a registered sex offender. The network released a statement at the time, saying: "TLC has canceled the series Here Comes Honey Boo Boo and ended all activities around the series, effective immediately. Supporting the health and welfare of these remarkable children is our only priority. TLC is faithfully committed to the children's ongoing comfort and well-being."
After a break from reality television, the family returned in February 2017 with the WE tv series Mama June: From Not to Hot. Shannon encountered legal issues in March 2019 when she was arrested and charged with possession of a controlled substance and drug paraphernalia. However, she was able to avoid jail time by agreeing to complete 100 hours of community service.
Before her 16th birthday, Thompson participated in a photo shoot with Teen Vogue and discussed her transition from child star to her current self. "They are completely two different people," she said in August 2021. "I would say that I do like this Alana now, rather than the younger Alana."
Thompson emphasized that she was unconcerned about whether the world accepted her more mature appearance as she continued to grow up. "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. ... As long as I like myself, I'm good."
Thompson's early fame had a lasting effect on her life. "To be honest, I don't have many friends. At all," she told the outlet. "Because I feel like people are just like, 'Oh, my God, I'm friends with Honey Boo Boo.' I don't really trust anyone, so I don't have friends."
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The Toddlers & Tiaras alum reintroduced herself at the time too. “My mama did not name me Honey Boo Boo,” she declared. “My name is Alana.”
Scroll through the gallery below to see where the stars of Here Comes Honey Boo Boo are now.
Credit: Shutterstock (4)
‘Here Comes Honey Boo Boo’ Stars: Where Are They Now?
Distant from the real world? Alana "Honey Boo Boo" Thompson and her family were no strangers to stirring up controversy on their former show, Here Comes Honey Boo Boo. The reality series was broadcasted on TLC from 2012 to 2014, and the family first gained attention when Thompson appeared as a beauty pageant contestant on Toddlers & Tiaras before getting their own show.
Here Comes Honey Boo Boo was canceled by the network in October 2014 after it was revealed that June "Mama June" Shannon, the mother of the show's star, was dating a registered sex offender. The network stated, "TLC has canceled the series Here Comes Honey Boo Boo and ended all activities around the series, effective immediately. Supporting the health and welfare of these remarkable children is our only priority. TLC is faithfully committed to the children's ongoing comfort and well-being."
However, the family made a return to reality television in February 2017 with the WE tv series Mama June: From Not to Hot. Shannon found herself in legal trouble in March 2019, facing arrest and charges for possession of a controlled substance and drug paraphernalia. Despite this, she was able to avoid jail time and agreed to complete 100 hours of community service.
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Before turning 16, Thompson participated in a photo shoot with Teen Vogue and talked about her previous experience as a child star. "They are completely different people," she stated in August 2021, comparing her past persona with her current self. "I would say that I prefer the person I am now, rather than the younger version of myself."
The TV personality expressed her indifference to the world's acceptance of her more mature appearance as she grew older. She acknowledged that people still expected her to be the young "Honey Boo Boo," but she emphasized that she had evolved and was no longer that person. Thompson also discussed the impact of early stardom on her life, revealing that she had few friends and struggled to trust people due to their interest in being associated with her fame.
The former Toddlers & Tiaras star also took the opportunity to reintroduce herself. "My mother didn't actually name me Honey Boo Boo," she announced. "My real name is Alana."
Take a look at the gallery below to find out where the cast of Here Comes Honey Boo Boo is today.
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Credit: Shutterstock; Courtesy of Alana Thompson/Instagram
Alana ‘Honey Boo Boo’ Thompson
The former child star transitioned to appearing on Mama June: From Not to Hot, competing on Dancing With the Stars: Juniors and The Masked Singer. After their mother's arrest, her sister Lauryn "Pumpkin" Shannon was granted legal guardianship over her. Thompson shared in August 2021 her ambition to become a neonatal nurse. She is working towards her career goals following her high school graduation in May 2023.
Credit: Shutterstock; MEGA
June ‘Mama June’ Shannon
June's weight loss journey was documented on the show Mama June: From Not to Hot, which premiered in 2017 and was later renamed Mama June: Road to Redemption. However, she faced legal troubles in March 2019 when she was arrested for possession of a controlled substance and drug paraphernalia. Despite this, she completed community service and avoided jail time. March 2021, June informed Us exclusively that she had been sober for 14 months and was focusing on rebuilding her finances and her relationships with her family.
In May 2022, June married boyfriend Justin Stroud at a Georgia courthouse, and they had a second ceremony in February 2023 at SpringHill Suites in Panama City, Florida.
Credit: Shutterstock; Courtesy of Mike Thompsond/Instagram
Mike ‘Sugar Bear’ Thompson
Alana’s dad still appears on the Mama June spinoff from time to time. He married wife Jennifer Lamb in January 2017.
Credit: Courtesy of Lauryn Mychelle Shannon/Instagram; Shutterstock
Lauryn ‘Pumpkin’ Shannon
Lauryn's reality TV journey with her family on Mama June’s show has continued. Alongside being Alana’s legal guardian, she also became a mother to daughter Ella in December 2017, son Bentley in July 2021, and twins Stella and Sylus in June 2022, with her husband Joshua Efird, whom she married in April 2018.
Credit: Courtesy of Jessica Shannon/Instagram (2)
Jessica ‘Chubbs’ Shannon
Initially absent from Mama June: From Not to Hot due to her college studies, Jessica has now become a part of the show. In 2020, she shocked fans by disclosing an $80,895 transformation which included weight loss surgery, liposuction, a tummy tuck, and veneers.
Credit: Courtesy of Anna Shannon Cardwell/Instagram (2)
Anna ‘Chickadee’ Cardwell
Cardwell, in contrast to her siblings, has refrained from appearing on her mother’s reality show. In 2012, she celebrated the arrival of her daughter Kaitlyn. Following her marriage to Michael Cardwell in May 2014, she welcomed their daughter, Kylee, in 2015. However, the couple parted ways in 2017.
Anna started dating Eldridge Toney in 2019 and they tied the knot just two months after she was diagnosed with stage IV adrenal carcinoma in January 2023. Sadly, Cardwell passed away on December 9 at the age of 29 after losing her battle with cancer.
