What Anna Duggar's Siblings Are Doing Today (& Why Some Of Them Left The Church)

The Duggar family — led by patriarch Jim Bob Duggar and matriarch Michelle Duggar — gained popularity for two things: Their reality show "19 Kids and Counting" and the extremely conservative beliefs their children must adhere to. Despite the widespread acceptance of dating, Jim and Michelle believe Christians (particularly their children) should instead be courting. "Courtship is really waiting for the one God has for you and praying through the whole process," Jim explained to Today, while Michelle added, "It's really examining the person and considering, 'Would this be the guy I want to be the father of my kids?'"

Given their hyper-religious lifestyle, it's not surprising that the Duggar kids have attracted people who share their same beliefs. In 2008, Jim and Michelle's oldest son, Joshua 'Josh' Duggar, married 20-year-old Anna Keller, who was apparently raised in a similar religious and conservative environment. "Her parents are even a little more extreme," a source told People of Anna's parents, Mike and Suzette Keller. "Anna and her siblings were always taught that if you follow these 10 steps or whatever, God would bless you."

However, like the Duggars, Anna and her seven siblings, Susanna, Daniel, Priscilla, Rebekah, Nathen, David, and Esther, have all struggled to uphold their parents' teachings. Some have even publicly distanced themselves from this conservative way of life, choosing to live independently of their parents and, most importantly, the church.

Despite the strict upbringing she received, Anna Duggar's younger sister Susanna Keller is determined to live life on her own terms. In 2012, she shocked fans when it was revealed that she was expecting a child outside of wedlock. The Kellers and Duggars, who publicly uphold conservative values and frown upon premarital sex, were quick to express their disapproval and let Susanna know she did not have their support. As reported by Radar, the Duggars forbade their licensed midwife daughter, Jill, from assisting with Susanna's delivery. "Michelle and Jim Bob, however, wouldn't let her participate. They thought Jill shouldn't be exposed to an unmarried mother in that condition," a source told the outlet.

Despite the lack of support, Susanna has continued to thrive. In February 2020, she tied the knot with York Bridges in a beautiful ceremony in Florida, which was attended by Anna and her husband, Josh Duggar. "It was so exciting to celebrate with my younger sister Susanna & her husband York on their special day!" Anna gushed on Instagram. Eight months later, Susanna revealed she and Bridges were expecting their first child together. In April 2021, the couple welcomed a baby boy, weeks earlier than Susanna's expected delivery date. "We are beyond thrilled a thankful that our little man got to come home today #oneweekold #nicubaby," she captioned an Instagram post.

A few months after Josh Duggar confessed to infidelity and having a porn addiction, a source close to the Duggars revealed that despite how bad things were, Anna would be sticking by her husband's side. "She is fully and permanently committed to her marriage and her children," the insider told People. "Divorce is not even something that will be discussed." On the flip side, however, Anna's siblings, particularly Susanna and brother Daniel, encouraged her to divorce Josh. "She thinks cheating is unacceptable. Plus, she never really cared for him," sources told Radar of Susanna's stance.

Likewise, Daniel publicly supported his sister and called out Josh, offering to help Anna and her children move in with him should she walk out on the marriage. "I have told her I would pay for her to move out here w me and pay for her kidz," he wrote on Facebook at the time, per People. "She said she's staying where she's at. But I won't stop trying to get that pig out of our family." But while divorce is not an option for the Duggars, the Kellers have embraced it just fine. In 2015, Anna's older sister Rebekah divorced Josh after 11 years of marriage and two children. Similarly, Daniel and his wife Candice got divorced in 2016. Both Rebekah and Daniel have since remarried, InTouch Weekly reports.