Fans are still reeling after hearing that Miranda Lambert, a well-known country music star, is quitting her music career after two decades in the industry. She announced her decision in March 2023, which was surprising because she released her last studio album almost exactly a year before. Therefore, nothing indicated that Miranda would stop doing what she (apparently) loved, including touring and performing at sold-out venues. Here’s why she decided to end her career, and what she plans to do instead.

She was extremely successful

Many entertainers, actors, musicians, and singers retire from their profession once the opportunities dry up, and new faces take over the industry or even the genre. Miranda’s case is different; she had moderate to outstanding success for 20 years and has won three Grammy Awards. Additionally, her most recent studio album received universal critical acclaim with a score of 83 out of 10 on Metacritic and a Country Music Association Award for Album of the Year nomination.

Moreover, she had five high-charting songs and 10 number-one singles in her career. Thus, her decision to leave Sony Music Nashville on 15 March 2023 didn’t make sense. However, Miranda’s priorities recently shifted behind the scenes, and she wanted more time for her family, personal brand, and entrepreneurship.

Miranda loved music from a young age

Miranda Leigh Lambert, born on 10 November 1983 in Longview, Texas, USA, and raised in the town of Lindal about 50 miles (80kms) away. Her father inspired her love for music when he played his guitar, and her music taste eventually ranged from mainstream to outlaw country from the 1970s and 1980s.

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She decided to showcase her talent at 16, started writing music, playing guitar, and performing at talent shows and honky-tonk bars. Moreover, her music had a distinct theme. Her parents, Rick and Bev, who worked as private investigators, lost all their money in the oil crisis in the 1980s and 1990s. They became ministers for a Methodist church and brought endangered or abused women home for protection, and their stories around the kitchen table inspired Miranda’s lyrics. After she realized her potential and received support from the audience and people close to her, Miranda ensured that she would matriculate from high school early. That allowed her to release a self-titled and produced “Miranda Lambert” album in 2001.

A talent competition brought her fame

Her first album received little attention, hence Miranda decided to front a larger audience and talent scouts, by competing in the TV talent competition “Nashville Star” two years after her album’s release. She failed to secure the top prize, but an Epic Nashville executive and on-air judge, Tracy Gershon, noticed her, signed her to the label in 2004, and Miranda began recording her next album.

On 15 March 2005, she released her debut studio album, “Kerosine.” Four of its songs entered the top 40 of the Billboard Country Singles chart, and the title track reached 15th spot. It was a perfect mix of outlaw country with what critics described as ‘a love gone wrong theme,’ folk-pop influences of classic country, honky-tonk, and country rock. Her next album, “Crazy Ex-Girlfriend,” released in 2007, was even snappier and louder, because she wrote nearly all 11 tracks, and what sparked interest was Miranda’s authenticity; journalists revealed that she wrote those songs, including her highest charting single, “Gunpowder & Lead,” while having a concealed carry permit, and taking her handgun wherever she went.

Blake Shelton skyrocketed her popularity

Miranda’s popularity increased considerably after she released her 2009 album, “Revolution,” which contained her first number-one single on the Billboard Country chart, entitled “The House That Built Me”, and received a Grammy Award for Best Female Country Vocal Performance for that song in February 2011.

Despite her solo success, Miranda’s romantic life put her and her work in front of a massive audience – she began dating a country singer Blake Shelton in 2006, but most people only found that out when he co-wrote some songs on her 2009 album, or even later when they married in 2011. Additionally, Miranda and her girl music group, “The Pistol Annies,” were heard on Blake’s 2012 Christmas album, “Cheers, It’s Christmas,” and his well-known 2013 single, “Boys’ Round Here,” which eventually reached the top position on Billboard’s US Country Airplay chart. It was ultimately a five-times platinum-certified single in the US by the Recording Industry Association of America (RIAA).

2017 was one of her best years

Miranda’s prominence grew despite her broken heart; she divorced Blake in July 2015, and within the year he moved on with his now wife, singer Gwen Stefani. Her two albums, “Platinum,” released in 2014, and “The Weight of These Wings” from 2016, were well received. Moreover, she broke some records by winning her eighth successive Academy of Country Music Award for Female Vocalist of the Year, and her seventh CMA (Country Music Association) award in the same category.

Something changed during the pandemic

After announcing her seventh studio album, “Wildcard,” and releasing it in November 2019, Miranda wanted to go on a 27-city tour across North America. However, the outbreak of the COVID-19 pandemic hindered some planned performances, and the tour concluded in Canada in May 2020. A slight change was evident on the album; for instance, it was her first time working with another producer, and Jay Joyce helped make the album what it was. Also, it was her first country rock album in a while; the fifth studio album was marketed as a classic country, and the sixth was categorized as alternative country.

Additionally, Miranda would spend much more time at home. Her loyal fans know that Miranda bought a 400-acre farm near Primm Springs, Tennessee, an hour’s drive from Nashville, for $3,4 million in 2016. Moreover, she had a new man in her life; on 26 January 2019, she married Brendan McLoughlin, a New York Police Department officer. Many don’t know that Brendan had just had a son with his ex-girlfriend Kaihla Rettinger, when hey met Miranda in 2018. Therefore, Miranda, who said in 2015 that she wasn’t ready to raise kids, became a devoted stepmom to Landon from the get-go, and loved every moment. She even purchased a home in New York City to see him more often, since the newborn lived with Kaihla full-time.

Inspiration behind @idyllwind: Strength. Kindness. Sensitivity. Beauty. Fire. Power. Happiness.

Follow @Idyllwind to join the tribe. pic.twitter.com/HIf0C9u1je

— Miranda Lambert (@mirandalambert) February 27, 2019

She recently tweaked her music

Although “Wildcard” won the Grammy for Best Country Album in 2021, Miranda was already set on tweaking her sound. Her collaborative album that year, “The Marfa Tapes,” produced with Jon Randall and Jack Ingram, had a low fidelity, alternative music vibe. Moreover, she collaborated with Elle King, a country, blues and rock singer, on the “Drunk (And I Don’t Wanna Go Home)” single, and released a song to support the LGBTQ community, entitled “Y’all Means All”, on 30 December 2021.

She also released a folk, world, country and Christmas holiday album, “Hell of a Holiday,” two months before, in October, with her girl group, “The Pistol Annies.”

With that in mind, her last studio album under Sony Music Group, “Palomino,” released on 29 April 2022, didn’t fit the pattern; it demonstrated her return to her roots, and had a typical outlaw/cowboy country sound. However, many people need to realize that Miranda wrote all the songs in 2020 while on her Tennessee ranch and only re-recorded some for the album. Thus, the project was likely halfway ready before she started getting cold feet about being signed to a mainstream record label.

She had vocal issues

Some fans rushed to a conclusion on 31 March 2023, when Miranda canceled her Las Vegas concert at the Bakkt Theater, only two weeks after she announced becoming a free agent as a recording artist. She stated that she’d been under doctor’s care the entire day before, but that her physician ordered two days of vocal rest. Thus, while most followers showed their support, some suspected that Miranda had undisclosed vocal issues that forced her to part ways with Sony Music Group. Luckily, Miranda proved that it was a temporary setback, and performed without a hitch a few days later.

Miranda may expand her family

Miranda and her husband Brendan, have been open about their love for each other and their animals over the years. Additionally, after she gushed about her love for Brendan’s son, an insider revealed to Us Weekly in February 2022 that the couple started trying to conceive after their third wedding anniversary the month before. According to the source, Miranda felt emotionally ready, had enough practice with Landon, and Brendan always wanted to have biological children with her.

Additionally, the journalist revealed that she was building a house to accommodate their family in or around Nashville, which may or may not be on her 400-acre property. Therefore, Miranda likely wanted to pause her relentless pursuit of being a country music star, spend time with her husband, and work on growing their family.

Miranda wants to help animals

Judging by the interviews after March 2023, Miranda is stepping away from releasing albums to make time for her other passions. She has the charity MuttNation Foundation, which she started with her mother in 2009, with its goal to raise money for rescuing animals, animal shelters, and the high costs of veterinarian bills. She has an animal shelter on a ranch in Blake Shelton’s hometown, Tishomingo, Oklahoma, and has been vocal about the cause. Miranda also partnered with Tractor Supply Company and Greater Good Charities to sell pet products or provide pet meals for free. Most recently, on 20 April 2023, MuttNation and Tractor Supply Company announced that they had gathered almost $300,000 in donations from portions of pet product purchases.

She is working on her brand

Miranda has been the face of many products, including Cotton Inc.’s clothes, DSW’s line of shoes and boots, and Ram trucks manufactured by Chrysler, one of which, a 1500 Laramie Longhorn, she sold at an auction and donated the proceeds to MuttNation Foundation. Plus, she owns The Pink Pistol boutique in Lindale, has created a wine brand with Red 55 Winery, launched the clothing line Idyllwind, and has a line of home necessities and decorations, Wanda June Home, exclusively sold at Walmart.

Also, Miranda has always been a food lover, but her career kept her from seeking noteworthy success in the industry. That changed on 25 May 2021, when she opened a four-story, 17,400 sqft or 1,615m2 bar, entitled Casa Rosa or “pink house” in Spanish. Then, two years later, she published a cookbook entitled “Y’all Eat Yet?: Welcome to the Pretty B*tchin’ Kitchen” on 25 April 2023 with her co-author, Holly Gleason. It features her favorite recipes local to Texas and her mother and grandmother, who taught her to cook. She promptly embarked on a press tour to promote its release, and her break from music allowed her to do so.

Miranda didn’t quit music

Miranda has been at the top of her game since she signed a recording deal with Sony at age 19. After 20 years of consistent effort at concerts and during long days on tour and in the studio, which resulted in nine universally praised studio albums, she decided to take some pressure off. She’s now dedicated to her family, primarily her parents, husband Brendan, and stepson Landon, who turned 4 in 2023. Moreover, she’s following her passions in the food industry, and developing a personal brand by launching and advertising products from established brands.

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However, her fans can be sure that Miranda will not quit music. She said in April 2023, ‘I am, for the first time in 20 years, a free agent. I don’t have a label and feel great about it.’ She added that she ‘feels inspired to be able to see the options out there because it’s a different landscape compared to signing her first record deal.’ She wants to be a part of a new wave of whatever is going on in her genre. Fans must remember that she launched a record label, Vanner Records, in 2016.

Moreover, Miranda announced a new song with Dierks Bentley on 5 May 2023, available on the soundtrack for the CBS TV show “Fire Country.” Most recently, she co-wrote some of 13 tracks on Jelly Rolls’ “Whitsitt Chapel” country album, scheduled for release on 2 June 2023.

“Shark Tank” follows four to five investors, some of whom return season after season, looking for the right business to support financially. Unless the business has a ground-breaking idea, they rarely help it get off the ground. In most cases, the investors require a good track record; thus, their money allows the business owner to stay afloat, fulfill an existing order, expand to a new area, or finance research & development (R&D). Contestants have a few minutes to present their company and convince them without being dishonest. An on-screen handshake is not legally binding, and many deals fall through behind the scenes once lawyers, accountants, and sometimes Federal Trade Commission (FTC) get involved.

Revolutionary businesses are rare and usually reserved for Silicon Valley. Thus, most of the show’s success stories involved passionate entrepreneurs who improved an established product or service. Rent-A-Grandma falls into that category; Todd Colby Pliss, the founder, realized that a specific demographic, seniors, would be an ideal service provider for his business. He wanted to hire grandmothers as inexpensive caretakers, a role that was usually given to teenagers, students, neighbors, or temporary migrants. Unfortunately, when he presented the business opportunity, the “sharks” refused to bite, and he left without an investment.

However, his business didn’t suffer; the show’s popularity got people invested after the episode aired. Thus, Todd found new clients and, judging by his website, has a lot more than the initial 50 grandmothers in his employ. Here’s what happened to Rent-A-Grandma during and after “Shark Tank.”

The initial disinterest didn’t dissuade Todd

Todd didn’t get any money from the “Shark Tank” hosts when he debuted in the eighth episode of the third season. However, they praised his business acumen and celebrated his desire to involve an under-appreciated part of the population. After all, the community often neglects senior citizens, and Todd wanted to hire them to care for babies, children, and young teens. He felt that grandmothers would be better at nurturing without charging exorbitant fees, and that everyone involved would benefit. That would get him government support, too; some countries consider older people redundant if they cannot work.

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Importantly, Rent-A-Grandma didn’t have to spend money on training; grandmothers could earn money from the job that they’ve done or still do for their loved ones. Additionally, the on-call and contractor nature of Todd’s business model allowed them to be available only when they felt capable. That benefited grandmothers more than financially; they found companionship, made friends on the job, and could take breaks.

Unfortunately, while they loved the business, it wasn’t far enough along, so the investors couldn’t make enough money in a reasonable period. Still, Todd didn’t lose heart, and restructured Rent-A-Grandma after 2012; the company is active and has expanded to include the other half of the older population, grandfathers.

The investors found his business model unsuitable

Todd gave an excellent presentation and even brought a grandmother to demonstrate the concept. He stated that he got the idea during his tutoring job, when he noticed a shortage of reliable childcare providers. His clients’ parents consistently complained about having to hire untrustworthy people unless they wanted to pay top dollar. While neighbors’ children or students were cheaper, they were often unavailable, inexperienced, overly accommodating, or distracted while on the clock.

In contrast, grandmothers had decades of parenting experience, lots of free time, and reasonable compensation demands. Todd drove the point home, saying, ‘Why hire a teenage nanny when you can have a grandma?’ Sadly, the “sharks” didn’t see enough current value to pay $150,000 for 20% of Rent-A-Grandma. Their biggest worry was Todd’s plan to focus on franchising, i.e., allowing others to start a business under Rent-A-Grandma’s name and business model for a fee. While that would let Todd’s company expand across the US, it could also weaken the profits.

Even worse, Robert Herjavec inquired about the grandmothers’ hourly wages, which were between $14 and $20. That was still serious cash since the minimum wage in Los Angeles, California, was $8 an hour between 2008 and 2014. However, franchising the business meant that the “sharks” would wait longer for a return on their money and start raking in cash, without hundreds of thousands of clients and contractors. Most importantly, owning one-fifth or one-fourth of the company meant that they wouldn’t have a decision-making percentage in the business. Therefore, the investors would, at best, be on the board of directors, and without veto power against what they considered poor decisions.

Kevin considered investing

Some of this TV show’s investors are willing to part with their money if they receive a nearly fail-safe deal. Kevin O’Leary and Mark Cuban saw potential in the business and asked the most questions after Robert, Barbara Corcoran, and Daymond John pulled out of investing. Mark eventually dropped out, wanting to avoid his name being attached to a business focused on seniors. Kevin was inquiring about the business model and the relatively low sales of only $25,000 the previous year. He liked that grandmothers sign a 90-day deal, reducing the inconvenience when one gets sick or, unfortunately, passes away.

After hearing the response, Kevin seemed to mull it over and was coming up with a “Mr. Wonderful deal” that he gives to desperate business owners. That usually indicated that he would want a 50%, if not 51%, i.e., the controlling share of the company, frequently without paying more than the asking price. He is also known to give money loans with incredibly high-interest rates, or request a percentage of the royalties to accelerate his money return. Unfortunately, Kevin couldn’t come up with a proposal that he was comfortable with, and Todd left the “Shark Tank” studio without money in his pocket.

Todd shifted his business priorities

Todd listened to the advice and rarely mentioned franchising after 2012. Instead, he doubled down on his original business model with a twist, and to signify this change, he renamed his business from Rent-A-Grandma to Rent A Grandma. His approach changed because he realized that he was thinking too small. Instead of looking for grandmothers in the Los Angeles area, then signing them up for a three-month-long contract, Todd was inspired by websites such as Craigslist.com and Angie’s List, now known as Angi. Therefore, he hired a web developer, Nicholas “Nick” Howe, at nicholashowe.com, to build him a WordPress website at www.rentagrandma.com.

Using a website solved two primary problems. First, Todd could now refer grandmothers to his website and get them to sign up for a carer account instead of handling their details himself. Second, his content management system (CMS) made it easy for grandmothers to see client requests and bid on jobs. In contrast, clients could see and book grandmother’s profiles online without contacting Todd. Most importantly, the advanced search by country and postal code meant that people across the globe could use his service.

Some previous investigations into the business suggest that he got rid of charging grandmothers 15% of every job in favor of a one-time $25 flat service fee. That was an excellent solution for a global business; taking a cut from local transactions would be a tax-filing nightmare. Handling conversion rates and payment processing would be a challenge, too. Additionally, if things were too complicated or expensive, people outside the country could report that their search was unsuccessful, then pay a grandmother outside the platform.

Rent A Grandma expanded its focus

After participating in “Shark Tank,” Todd realized his caregiving idea was too niche. Therefore, he increased the area of expertise; people could hire a tutor, a nanny, a chef, or a pet sitter. Moreover, they may require a grandmother for companionship, as a personal assistant, party attendee, or caregiver to a fellow elder or a special needs child.

Similarly, Todd decided to bring attention to grandmothers’ skills and patience. Therefore, he started a Merchandise page, where the business sells t-shirts with their logo and those with a “Grandmas Matter!” print. Moreover, he sourced products such as chocolate chip cookies, brownies, and oatmeal raisin cookies. That helped grandmas whose baking skills exceeded their caregiving ability to make some money. Additionally, some people never tasted their grandma’s cuisine, allowing them to fulfill their lifelong dream.

Happy 4th to all! pic.twitter.com/sMZMMDAuiL

— The Grandma (@rentagrandmacom) July 4, 2019

People can request grandmothers on mobile devices

While the website is mobile-friendly, Rent A Grandma took things further by releasing an eponymous iOS application on the Apple App Store distribution platform. However, the application is unavailable in 2023, likely because it did not receive an iOS 16 update or the code had problems. Additionally, Todd created two social media profiles, on Twitter and Facebook, under the handle @rentagrandmacom, and still uses a business e-mail, [email protected], for non-tech-savvy users, including grandmothers.

Rent A Grandma has a sister company

Todd realized that other adjustments would allow him to extend his reach without developing brand-new technology or reinventing the wheel. Therefore, he started a second company, Rent a Grandpa, with an accompanying website, rentagrandpa.com. Although it has the same tagline, with ‘grandpa’ replacing ‘grandma,’ it offers activities that men do more often. Therefore, clients can request various handyman services such as dealing with furniture, electricity, painting, and lawn mowing. Moreover, they can hire grandfathers who are automotive specialists, which is useful whenever a mechanic’s help is unnecessary or pricey.

Rent a Grandpa, a new company with a rising list of services, lacks pages such as FAQ (Frequently Asked Questions), Merchandise, and About Us. However, it added a star-based rating system for registered grandpas and did not charge grandfathers fees. However, it likely takes a percentage from their wages, as Rent-a-Grandma did, and is thus limited to US territory.

Todd did not need the “sharks”

While Todd thought pumping cash into his business early on would solve all his problems, the advice he received on set was valid. He needed more time to iron out all the kinks in his business plan, primarily restricting the company to the US and not using a website and a mobile app to streamline hiring, paying, and reviewing grandmothers.

Todd accepted criticism and examined his competitors, then applied excellent ideas, such as making Rent a Grandma available globally, on mobile and desktop devices, and via the website, social media, and e-mail. After boosting the number of services, including letting grandmothers sell baked goods, he included grandfathers through his second company, Rent a Grandpa. That showed his business acumen; hence both companies are growing. Unfortunately, Todd may be stretched too thin; both websites need an SSL certificate, which boosts their security and instills trust, and the promoted Phone application is inaccessible. While those oversights hurt his brand’s reputation, they are relatively inexpensive and easy to fix, which will no doubt happen soon!

Bethany Stout embarked on her rocky weight-loss journey in the eighth season of “My 600-lb Life.” Viewers may remember how much she depended on her daughters daily, including maintaining proper hygiene. After admitting that she felt like a failure, Bethany refused to dwell on negative thoughts, and signed up for the weight loss program led by Dr. Younan Nowzaradan, aka Dr. Now, the show’s surgeon. He admits patients of all obese sizes, but the TV show films people who weigh around 600lbs or 272kgs. However, that isn’t always the case; some, such as James King, weighed about 800lbs or over 360kgs when they debuted.

After reviewing and accepting her application to become a patient, Dr. Now invited Bethany to his Houston, Texas, clinic. He put her on his standard workout regimen and 1,200-calorie diet plan, clarifying that losing weight is a prerequisite for his surgical operation, indicating the commitmernt necessary to achieve the objective. She lost over 100lbs or 45kgs, which was enough for the doctor to perform a bariatric operation, but sadly regained some weight before leaving the program. Thankfully, the effort still flipped a switch, and Bethany became much healthier and slimmer after her last appearance in the TV show.

She bounced back after a temporary failure

When viewers met Bethany, she was down on her luck and desperately needed help. However, it was evident that she cared about the people around her – that isn’t always the case with the show’s participants, who expect others to enable their lousy habits, bathe them, and administer medicine; in short, be their caretakers. Bethany immediately admitted that not being a contributing family member bothered her.

However, the weight loss program helped her lose a drastic amount of weight, and even with a setback at the end of her episode, she left weighing around 500lbs or 225kgs. Bethany pulled herself by her bootstraps and dropped 150lbs or 68kgs by mid-2021. Moreover, she occasionally updated and inspired her Instagram and Facebook fans, and blogged about her experience on her website, www.BariatricMama.com. Unfortunately, she hasn’t been active online since March 2022, hence, little is known about her life nowadays.

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Her credentials shocked everyone

Neither her weight nor her story, featured in the “Bethany’s Story” episode aired on 15 January 2020, attracted much attention. Many contestants were well over the 607lbs or 275kgs that the scale showed when Bethany stepped on it. Similarly, most patients depended on their family members, and felt that they weren’t giving back enough. Moreover, she suffered from food addiction, the primary source of morbidly obese patients’ woes.

However, it quickly became apparent that Bethany had practical and theoretical knowledge to change her situation, as she actually specialized in the illness that caused her weight to spiral. Bethany revealed that she previously worked as an addiction counselor, and held a master’s degree in counseling psychology, worked in the medical industry. Luckily, it seemed like people, including her family members, saw the good side; they thought that Bethany only needed a little push and a proper diet and exercise plan to apply her understanding of psychology.

She criticized the show’s portrayal of her

Bethany spent eight months following Dr. Now’s program, and her weight went down to 496lbs or 225kgs at the end. Although she regained some of it afterwards, and her chances of slimming down were low, she didn’t give up. While Bethany credited the show and the doctor for changing her life, she ultimately disliked how the show’s editing depicted her.

She told her Facebook fans not to believe everything they saw on TV in March 2021 via Facebook, and explained that a 90-minute episode could not show the real story. That’s why Bethany quit the show, cut ties with Dr. Now, and embraced independence. It worked; she reported a difference in how she looked and felt in 2020, a year after the filming ended, and shortly after her episode aired.

The change was evident a year later

Fans were hungry for more information about her progress, prompting Bethany to write, ‘Hey, it’s me! I will update here when I can’ on her public Facebook page – @bethanystout600. Her first noteworthy post was from March 2021, and under the explanation for her departure, she attached her picture. It showed Bethany wearing a t-shirt and jeans, proudly writing that she went from US size 38 jeans to US size 18, and was wearing her husband’s medium-size t-shirt. She added that her family members are in healthy and loving life since she’s in good shape and more physically active.

Bethany provided some clues to her success

Bethany didn’t disclose her food and exercise regimen after Dr. Now’s prescribed 1,200-calorie diet and moderate workouts. Luckily, she wanted to do her part to indirectly inspire her social media followers, and post about solutions to her food addiction. Motivational quotes and her Christian religion were a driving force, telling her followers that ‘struggling doesn’t mean that they are failing.’ Also, she spent every evening swimming, and reported feeling amazing about reaching her goals and becoming stronger.

However, the key was her weight loss wish list. She penned over 20 things that she couldn’t do when weighing over 500lbs or 230kgs. Some included going bowling with family, snorkeling, riding a jet ski, and taking a yoga class. Thus, she crossed activities off her list when she got to do them. That let her reward herself with something other than food, and she reported feeling a dopamine rush since she saw each activity as a checkpoint on her journey. Additionally, she colored her hair pink in 2020 to celebrate the first anniversary of her operation. She also got a colorful tattoo of a semi-colon the next year to celebrate her physical and mental progress.

https://www.instagram.com/p/CF0k7NMBwce/?hl=en

She wanted a skin removal operation

Bethany knew that shedding weight likely wouldn’t satisfy her; the excess skin on her torso and limbs bothered her, and inhibited her from reaching her weight goal. Therefore, on top of her work in healthcare, she started a Facebook group, Bethany’s Crochet Corner, on 11 November 2020. That allowed her to earn extra money toward her skin removal surgical operation from followers who loved her on-screen persona and crocheting skills. Unfortunately, she stopped replying in 2021, but her followers took it upon themselves to keep her passion alive by posting exciting designs.

Bethany changed her last name and occupation

Bethany mentioned ‘her man’ and took selfies with an unnamed gentleman on social media, but rarely discussed her romantic life. However, the name of her private Facebook profile, which still has “bethany.stout” as part of the URL, became Bethany Brotherton in 2023. That could mean that she married whomever she dated, or took back her maiden name. Neither option makes sense from an outsider’s perspective, however; her profile lists her as having a relationship with a man named Douglas Vreeland.

Moreover, she recently started working outside the medical industry, becoming an administrative office assistant at Brandley Pest Control on 14 December 2022, working in scheduling, sales, and customer service. In early 2023, she took on a new position as an office manager at Express Services based in Oklahoma City.

Her public profiles were active until 2022

Though she posted sporadically, her fans were disappointed when Bethany stopped posting on her Facebook page, Bethany Stout My 600 Pound Life, in March 2022. She may have become tired of the negativity; she consistently had to ban haters and trolls from commenting since 2020. Moreover, Bethany asked them not to come at her with their hate, to get a life, find positivity somewhere, and mind their business.

Similarly, she last uploaded a picture to her Instagram account, @bethanystout600lblife, in July 2021 and abandoned her TikTok account, @bstout1980, at one point. Her blog, BariatricMama.com, which she registered on 7 January 2020 and last updated in 2021, has no content, even though she reserved the domain name until 6 January 2025.

Bethany is focused on her family

Although she never mentioned numbers, Bethany was evidently approaching her goal weight in her last full-body social media update, a mirror selfie of her wearing a t-shirt, plaid shirt, and jeans. She said that she loved life and hated taking pictures, but couldn’t help herself when she felt terrific. Bethany stated that she had ‘over 100lbs or 45kgs to lose’ when her jeans were US size 22 in 2021 and most recently reported being at size 18. Judging by the experiences of MyFitnessPal.com platform members, Bethany weighed between 220lbs or 100kgs and 290lbs or about 130kgs at size 18.

With that said, Bethany abandoned her plans to leverage her TV show fame, and instead of deleting them, she stopped using her public Facebook, Instagram, and TikTok accounts and her blog. However, her friends and family, her biggest support, and some lucky fans can cheer her on as long on her private Facebook profile, as they are friends. Although she hasn’t posted about them since 2020, her four daughters motivate her daily; being there to see them grow up was one of the main reasons Bethany contacted Dr. Now.