‘Teen Mom’ Star Kailyn Lowry Flooded With Support From Fans Amid Heartbreaking Family Loss
Kailyn Lowry is sharing her heartbreak with fans. The “Teen Mom” alum revealed that her father, Raymond, has died at age 66 following a battle with stage four COPD. Speaking on the October 11 episode of her Barely Famous podcast, Lowry reflected on the complicated emotions surrounding his passing. The MTV personality shared that she had only met her father for the second time two weeks before his death.
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“It’s kind of interesting because I’m telling people that if they have that feeling to reconnect with someone, go do it,” Lowry, 33, said. “But I don’t have that for my mom. It doesn’t make me want to change my mind.”
Lowry admitted the grief feels different because of their long estrangement, adding that she’s still processing her emotions while finding closure in their final moments together.
A Complicated Father-Daughter Relationship
Lowry later revealed that her father’s absence wasn’t as simple as she once thought. She recently learned that his decades-long distance had been “court-ordered” after he “kidnapped” her as a child.
Still, after years of unanswered questions, she decided to see him in Dallas, Texas, where he was in hospice care. “It was closure,” Kailyn shared softly. “If I would’ve just had the opportunity to tell him that I’m not mad anymore, I really appreciate the time that you gave me.”
One of their last exchanges has stayed with her. Before she left, her father told her, “You still look mad.” Reflecting on that moment, Kailyn said, “I don’t know if it would’ve made a difference for him or not. It’s more for me—to let him know I’m not mad anymore. That part of it sucks.”
Reacting to her vulnerable confession, fans showered her with love and support. One fan wrote: “I am so sorry. My mom passed a year ago and it’s such a complex type of grief. We were not speaking at the time. You feel things you never expected to feel. It’s almost like “War is Over” and then sometimes it’s not.”
Another comment read: “Ohh Kail thank you for sharing this with us! You’re so strong and the best mother! Your children will NEVER know this pain because of the cycles YOU ALONE BROKE! Sending you so much love ✨🤍”
Another supportive comment read: “Thank you letting us in. I can relate so hard, so can many others. ❤️”
Processing Grief & Finding Closure
On the podcast, Kailyn shared that Raymond was cremated and that she plans to travel back to Texas in November to honor his life with family.
“Monday was really hard for me,” she admitted. “I’d cry and then I’d be fine, and then I’d cry again. It’s weird because I feel disconnected from him, but I’m so emotional about it. I’m having a hard time understanding that part of it.”
Her co-host, Kristen Hook, gently asked how she was coping overall, prompting more tears. Lowry explained that she’s still processing her emotions and that her children “didn’t know he existed.”
Kailyn, 33, is a mother of seven, sharing her children with several of her exes, including Jo Rivera, Javi Marroquin, Chris Lopez, and Elijah Scott. She said her kids were unaware of their grandfather until his passing.
“I showed Raymond pictures of my kids and he said nothing,” Kailyn recalled. “He literally said nothing. I was like, ‘Are you gonna say anything?’ and he’s like, ‘What do you want me to say?’ That’s how matter-of-fact he is.”
Fans first met Kailyn on “16 & Pregnant,” where she was seen meeting her father for the first time. More than a decade later, her bittersweet final visit offered her a measure of peace. “I just wanted him to know I’m not mad anymore,” she said softly. “That part of it sucks, but I’m glad I went.”
‘RHOA’ Star Kandi Burruss Makes an Exciting Announcement – ‘I could not be more thrilled’
The Real Housewives of Atlanta” star Kandi Burruss will officially be returning to Broadway in the jukebox musical “& Juliet” for a limited run starting on December 11 and concluding on March 8, 2026. Find out more about the show and Burruss’ role below.
Burruss’ Storied History with Broadway
Burruss made her impressive Broadway debut back in 2018 in the hit show “Chicago” as the character Matron “Mama” Morton. She then transitioned to producing a range of successful plays and musicals, such as “Thoughts of a Colored Man,” “The Piano Lesson,” “The Wiz,” and recent sensation “Othello,” starring Denzel Washington and Jake Gyllenhaal. Burruss and her husband Todd Tucker, along with the rest of their production team, scored their biggest achievement yet with “Othello.” The play broke the record for highest weekly gross for a Broadway play, according to The Hollywood Reporter, and brought in $2.8 million in its second week of previews.
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“I could not be more thrilled to return to the Broadway stage in this incredible musical,” Burruss told Variety in an exclusive interview. “As a songwriter myself, I am such a fan of Max Martin’s genius mind, and to get to come back to Broadway in this joyful musical that celebrates his catalog is a dream come true.”
What is Burruss’ Role in “& Juliet?”
“& Juliet” opened on Broadway on November 17, 2022 at the Stephen Sondheim Theatre. The jukebox musical, directed by Luke Sheppard, flips the script on one of the greatest love stories ever told. It features iconic music from the Swedish producer and songwriter Max Martin, who recently produced Taylor Swift‘s newest album, “The Life Of A Showgirl.”
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On the show’s official site, the description reads:
“What would happen next if Juliet didn’t end it all over Romeo? Get whisked away on a fabulous journey as she ditches her famous ending for a fresh beginning and a second chance at life and love—her way.”
Juliet’s new story bursts to life through a playlist of pop anthems as iconic as her name, including ‘Since U Been Gone‚’ ‘Roar,’ ‘Baby One More Time,’ ‘Larger Than Life‚’ ‘That’s The Way It Is,’ and ‘Can’t Stop the Feeling’—all from the genius songwriter/producer behind more #1 hits than any other artist this century. Break free of the balcony scene and get into this romantic comedy that proves there’s life after Romeo. The only thing tragic would be missing it.”
Burruss will join the cast as the character Angélique, who is Juliet’s nurse and confidant. Though her character is a supportive maternal figure to Juliet, she gets her own story arc as a love interest to Lance.
Burruss Shares the Exciting News Online & Support Pours In
The “RHOA” alum announced her return to acting on her Instagram on October 9, where she relayed just how excited she was about the role in the caption of her post:
“I’ve been wanting to go back to the Broadway stage for a while now & Im so excited to join the cast of @andjulietbway! This is gonna be so fun. Yall gotta come see me in NYC!
& the 2nd swipe was a message from my friend @brandin.jay! It made me smile today. Looking forward to yall seeing the show! ❤️”
Thousands rushed in to show their support for Burruss. Fellow “RHOA” star Cynthia Bailey commented, “👏🏾👏🏾👏🏾.”
Similarly, “The Real Housewives of Potomac” star Candiace Dillard Bassett joined in by writing, “🔥🔥🔥🔥🔥.”
“Basketball Wives” star Tami Roman Youngblood also commented, “💛💛💛 you gon make me get on this plane!”
