The Johnston Kids, Ranked: Who’s Really Winning at Being a Grown-Up Before Season 18?

They were once the five kids squished onto the family couch in Forsyth, Georgia. Now, as 7 Little Johnstons heads into Season 18 on November 17, all five Johnston kids are adults — and their grown-up lives could not look more different. One is a married mom preparing for baby number two. One just gave his girlfriend a promise ring. One is building her own life far from the family cameras.

So we did what every fan group is already doing in the comments: we ranked them. Not by who we love most, but by how settled, steady, and thriving each Johnston kid’s adult life looks right now. Fair warning: this ranking is guaranteed to start arguments. That is rather the point.

#1 — Liz Johnston: The One Who Grew Up First

There is no real debate about the top spot. Elizabeth “Liz” Johnston married longtime love Brice Bolden in November 2025, and the couple are already parents to daughter Leighton, born in November 2023. In Season 18, according to TLC, Liz and Brice are preparing to welcome baby number two — with delivery complications a real concern given Liz’s small stature.

#2 — Alex Johnston: The Quiet Romantic Making Big Moves

Alex, the youngest son, has gone about adulthood the quiet way — and it is working. His long-distance relationship with girlfriend Allie Smith, who lives on a farm in Ohio, has survived the distance and the cameras. In a December 2025 episode, Alex revealed he had given Allie a promise ring for Christmas, a step his older brother notably had not taken.

#3 — Emma Johnston: The Youngest Adult Finding Her Own Lane

Emma, the baby of the family, has graduated high school and built her own following as a TikTok creator — no longer just “the little sister” in someone else’s storyline. Season 18 finds her stepping into adulthood on her own terms, with her own voice and audience.

#4 — Jonah Johnston: The Eldest Still Answering the Big Question

Jonah, 25, is the eldest — and, depending on who you ask, the biggest question mark. Open about his struggles with anxiety and finding his footing, he is once again the focus of his parents’ concern in the Season 18 trailer, as they wonder what comes next for him and his girlfriend, Ashley.

Fourth place is not a criticism — Jonah’s honesty about the hard parts of growing up is one of the bravest things this show has ever aired. But on stability, independence, and momentum, the eldest Johnston still has the most to prove.

#5 — Anna Johnston: On Her Own Path, On Her Own Terms

Anna’s ranking comes with the biggest asterisk. She left the show ahead of Season 17 and, according to reports, will not appear in Season 18. Her estrangement from Trent and Amber, which began with a graduation gown dispute in the summer of 2025, has stretched on for well over a year, and her October 2026 DUI arrest in Georgia, as reported by Showbiz Cheat Sheet, only deepened the divide.

But fans keep saying this: Anna chose her own life over the family script, and she has stuck to it. Ranked last on “settled”? Maybe. Ranked first on courage? Plenty of fans would say so.

So — Did We Get It Right?

Our final order: Liz, Alex, Emma, Jonah, Anna. But rankings like this are made to be argued with. Would you swap Jonah and Emma? Move Anna higher for standing her ground? Or is Liz’s top spot untouchable?

Season 18 premieres Tuesday, November 17 at 9 p.m. ET/PT on TLC, streaming on Max. Drop your ranking in the comments and defend it. The family group chat would want you to.