Lawson Bates and Sadie Robertson

Lawson Bates just filmed a music video for "Past The Past," a single off his recent album What Country Means to Me, and he invited Duck Dynasty star Sadie Robertson to be part of the project.

"I knew getting Sadie involved would make it even better," Lawson told Just Jared Jr. "I was thrilled she liked it as well. I’m extremely grateful to her for being a part. She was perfect for the role, and incredible to work with."

Sadie shares her thoughts with JJJ: "Lawson is a one of a kind guy! Such a gentleman despite what his part in the video makes him out to be! We laughed all day watching him try acting like a jerk for the video." Sadie says she enjoyed spending the day with Lawson and his family.

Visit the Just Jared Jr. website to see exclusive pictures of Lawson and Sadie.


Photo courtesy of UP

6 Grand-Bates

The wait is almost over! Season six of Bringing Up Bates premieres tomorrow at 9pm ET/8pm CT on UP. Visit our Showtimes page to read the episode summary. In honor of the Bates' return, we have an adorable, summery photo of Gil and Kelly Bates' six grandchildren to show you.

Carson Paine, Brooklyn Paine, Allie Jane Webster, Lexi Mae Webster,

Bradley Bates, Kaci Lynn Bates

Photo courtesy of tarynyagerphotography.com

Bates Weekend Snapshots

Hope you all had a wonderful weekend. Happy Memorial Day to those reading from the United States. We are grateful for the men and women who have given everything to keep our country safe and free. Below are several new photos of the Bates family.

Gotta love this adorable, patriotic picture. Isn't Callie just the spittin' image of Erin? And Judson looks like a young Gil, don't you think?

Judson Bates and Callie Bates

Carlin Bates met boyfriend Evan Stewart in Nashville (Evan's hometown) for a date night at Maggiano's Little Italy on West End.

 Carlin Bates and Evan Stewart

Zach and Whitney took a family picture (minus Kaci Lynn, who was napping). For those wondering about Whitney's outfit, her necklace is from Charming Charlie's, her dress is from J.Crew, and her shoes are from Belk.

 Whitney Bates, Zach Bates, and Bradley Bates

Bradley Bates and Whitney Bates

Sisters Michaela Keilen and Alyssa Webster traveled from their homes in Chicago, Illinois, and Clermont, Florida, to Tennessee to be in a friend's wedding. 

Michaela Bates Keilen and Alyssa Bates Webster

Photos courtesy Gil and Kelly Bates, Zach and Whitney Bates, Carlin Bates, Alyssa and John Webster

Season Premiere Sneak Peek

Less than one week to go until the new season of Bringing Up Bates premieres on UP! Are you looking forward to checking in with the Bates clan? Below is a sneak peek at the first two minutes of the first episode.

Each day, the network will add an additional 19 seconds to the video, so be sure to come back to this post often to see the new footage. The season premiere episode features a wedding, but UP has not yet revealed who will be walking down the aisle.

Artwork/video courtesy of UP

Anatomy of a Bates Header

Earlier this week, we posted a new blog header. Several of our readers have asked that we share the progression of headers that have appeared on our blog since its inception. To view a larger version of each header, just double click on it.

 December 2014

 May 2015

 December 2015

 June 2016

 August 2016

May 2017

Photos courtesy of UP, chadanderin.com, Gil and Kelly Bates, Michael and Brandon Keilen, Alyssa and John Webster, Zach and Whitney Bates

Bates Around the World

With only one week to go until the Bringing Up Bates season six premiere (woohoo!) UP has launched a new video series called Bates Around the World. In this clip, the four oldest Bates sons (Zach Bates, Lawson Bates, Nathan Bates, and Trace Bates) try four uniquely flavored candies from four different countries. What do you think of their reactions? Have you ever tried any of these candies?

If you enjoy this blog, check out our other blogs (NashvilleWife.com and DuggarFamilyBlog.com).

Photo/video courtesy of UP

Websters Celebrate 3 Years

Happy 3rd wedding anniversary to the Websters!

John Webster and Alyssa Bates Webster

Photo courtesy of John and Alyssa Webster

Bates' Favorite Hymns

Several of the Bates are well-practiced musicians, and they all enjoy singing together as a family. In the video below, Erin Bates Paine, Chad Paine, Tori Bates, Carlin Bates, Zach Bates, and Whitney Bates share their favorite hymns. Zach's reasoning for his is especially sweet!

What are your favorite hymns?

If you enjoy this blog, check out our other blogs (NashvilleWife.com and DuggarFamilyBlog.com).

Photo/video courtesy of UP

New Bates Header, May 2017

Happy Monday! What better way to celebrate the new week than with an updated header? What do you think of the new style/colors/pictures?

Photos courtesy of UP

Warden Turns 14

 Warden Bates

Happy 14th birthday, Warden! Warden's middle name is Justice, and he is No. 13 in the Bates lineup. He also loves loves root beer and says his record is more than 4 liters in one day. Take a look back at his 11-year-old self in the video below.

Photo/video courtesy of UP

Olympic Bates

Did you know that Gil Bates qualified to try out for the Olympics before meeting Kelly? In this clip, the Bates discuss whether they think anyone else in their family could, or would desire, to make it that far in athletics.

If you haven't seen the new promo clip for the upcoming season of Bringing Up Bates, click here to watch.

Photo/video courtesy of UP

Lawson Bates' NC Benefit Concert

Hello, friends! Lawson asked us to share this update...

His benefit concert in North Carolina is this Friday, May 19th, from 7pm-9pm ET. Proceeds will be donated to the Levine Children's Hospital Bone Marrow Transplant Unit. The venue is located at 661 Clark Creek Rd in Lincolnton, North Carolina. Tickets are $15 and are available for purchase at Lawsonbates.com/tour/benefit-concert-nc/.

Photo courtesy of tarynyagerphotography.com

Wedding, Engagement, Courtship, and Twins???

Are you counting down the days until the Bates return to reality TV? We sure are! The season six premiere of Bringing Up Bates airs on June 1st at 9pm ET/8pm CT. Up has a lot in store for viewers on the new season. Check out this promo video to see some of the highlights. (Click here to read the full season summary.) What big announcements do you predict will be made this season?

Photo/video courtesy of UP

Carson Turns 2

Wishing Carson Paine a very happy 2nd birthday! We would also like to wish all the mamas out there a blessed Mother's Day!

A bundle of joy to his parents, Carson's full name is Charles Stephen Paine IV. (Chad is Charles Stephen Paine III.) He was born more than three weeks early and weighed in at six pounds.

Here's a throwback to Carson as a newborn...
 

Erin Bates Paine, Chad Paine, Carson Paine

Photos courtesy of UP, tarynyagerphotography

Bates Trivia Spring 2017 (Solutions)

On Thursday, we posted five Bates trivia questions. As promised, here are the answers. How did you do?


1. What is Kelly Bates' maiden name? Callaham

2. How many siblings does Gil Bates have? (Bonus: What are their names?) Two; Greg and Jennifer

3. What city and state did Gil grow up in? Honea Path, South Carolina

4. What color dresses did Michaela Bates' bridesmaids wear? (Six wore one color, and two wore another.) Six wore pink, and two (Kelly and Erin) wore tan

5. What is the name of the TLC reality show that the Bates starred in before moving to UP? United Bates of America

Photo courtesy of UP

Bobby Graduates from College

Bobby Smith, Tori Bates' boyfriend, is a college graduate! He completed his bible and youth ministry degree at Pensacola Christian College and accepted his diploma at commencement yesterday.

Since entering an official courtship last fall, Tori and Bobby have said that they plan to wait until Tori completes her education degree at The Crown College of the Bible before tying the knot. (She is currently on track to graduate next spring.) When do you think the couple will get engaged?

Bobby Smith and Tori Bates at graduation

Photo courtesy thebatesfamily.com

Bates Trivia Spring 2017

How well do you know the Bates family? Try your hand at these trivia questions to find out! Post your guesses as a comment, and we will reveal the correct answers on Saturday.

1. What is Kelly Bates' maiden name?

2. How many siblings does Gil Bates have? (Bonus: What are their names?)

3. What city and state did Gil Bates grow up in?

4. What color dresses did Michaela Bates' bridesmaids wear? (Six wore one color, and two wore another.)

5. What is the name of the TLC reality show that the Bates starred in before moving to UP?

Photo courtesy of UP

Bates Season 5 Recap Video

With the season six premiere of Bringing Up Bates less than four weeks away, let's take a look back at the most memorable moments from season five.

The Bates boys attended overnight summer camp, Tori started an official courtship with Bobby Smith, Lawson pulled off multiple concerts, the Bates' house nearly burned down, Gil and the kids planned a huge 50th birthday celebration for Kelly (including a visit to Kelly's hometown and childhood house), Alyssa and John welcomed their second daughter, Michaela and Brandon shared their infertility struggles, Gil and Kelly and most of the kids went snow skiing for the first time, and the entire family came together to celebrate I Love You Day...and those are just the highlights! Relive all those moments and more in this recap video.

If you enjoy this blog, check out our other blogs (NashvilleWife.com and DuggarFamilyBlog.com).

Photo/video courtesy of UP

Mama Kelly Bates

Season six of Bringing Up Bates premieres in 24 days! Who's excited?

In the downtime between seasons, UP has been airing supersized specials, which give viewers a closer look at scenes from past episodes. In an hour-long Mother's Day segment this Thursday at 9pm ET/8pm CT, the network will share the most motherly moments from the past five seasons. (Visit our Showtimes page for more details.) For an emotional sneak peak, watch the video below.

Photo/video courtesy of UP

Brooklyn's 9-Month Milestone

 Brooklyn Paine

Brooklyn Elise Paine was born at 5:42am on August 6th, 2016, weighing 6 lbs, 6 oz, which means that today is her nine-month milestone! According to parents Erin and Chad, Brooklyn loves the Paines' pets. For those who haven't heard, the Paines adopted a puppy, Max, last summer, and added two baby goats, Bubby and Sissy, to their family in Feburary.

In just eight days, Brooklyn's older brother, Carson Paine, will turn two years old.

If you enjoy this blog, check out our other blogs (NashvilleWife.com and DuggarFamilyBlog.com).

Photo courtesy chadanderin.com

Bates vs Escape Room

"Let's just say, an hour locked in a room with me and Mom being the only adults and all children, it feels like 10 hours."
-Alyssa Bates Webster

In this Bringing Up Bates webisode, Kelly Bates and Alyssa Webster take the five youngest Bates boys and a few family friends to The Great Escape Room in Orlando, Florida. Alyssa is at the end of her pregnancy and will soon give birth to Lexi, so it's already a difficult time...even before being locked in room with a bunch of little ones. Have you experienced an escape room?

Photo/video courtesy of UP

Big Sandy Highlights

Last week, some of the Bates were down in Big Sandy, Texas, for the annual homeschool/family conference. The Institute in Basic Life Principles just released a highlight reel, which we have posted below. Take a look, and let us know which of the Bates or the Bates' significant others or in-laws you see.

We have also embedded the video montage from last year's conference, which the Bates also attended.

Big Sandy 2017

Big Sandy 2016


Photo courtesy of thebatesfamily.com; videos property of iblp.org

Bates Cookbook?

"I don't know that I would be qualified for a cookbook, unless it was like, meals for 40 people in less than 20 minutes."
-Kelly Bates

Many of our readers have asked if the Bates have ever considered writing a cook book. They have thought about it, but Kelly has come to the conclusion that she isn't qualified. Hear her reasoning in the video clip below.

If you enjoy this blog, check out our other blogs (NashvilleWife.com and DuggarFamilyBlog.com).

Photo/video courtesy of UP

Erin Turns 26

Wishing Erin Paine a blessed 26th birthday! Born Erin Elise Bates, she is the third of Gil and Kelly Bates' 19 children. She graduated from The Crown College of the Bible in May 2014 with a bachelors degree in music ministry and now teaches piano lessons out of her cottage-style house. 

Erin was the first Bates child to leave the fold, marrying Chad Paine in November 2013. The couple--along with their two children (Carson and Brooklyn), two goats, and dog--resides in Clinton, Tennessee.

Erin Bates Paine

Photo courtesy of UP

Failed Plans or Bad Aim?

"I'm not much at planning, and most of the time my aim is off, too, but I aim to get around to doing it."
-Gil Bates

Do you plan to do something, or do you aim to do it? In this Southern Speak video, the Bates discuss which phrase they prefer.

If you enjoy this blog, check out our other blogs (NashvilleWife.com and DuggarFamilyBlog.com).

Photo/video courtesy of UP