Katie Irene ‘Kate’ Gosselin (née Kreider), born on March 28, 1975, in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, is an American television personality best known for her role on the reality TV show Jon & Kate Plus 8.
The show documented the lives of Kate, her then-husband Jon Gosselin, and their eight children, including a set of sextuplets and twins. She has also appeared in other reality shows, written several books, and worked as a nurse.
Early Life and Education
Kate was born to Charlene and Kenton Kreider, a pastor. She is of German, Scottish, and English descent and is the third of five siblings, with three sisters (Kendra, Christen, and Clarissa) and one brother, Kevin.
Kate grew up in the suburbs of Reading, Pennsylvania, where she pursued a career in nursing. She completed a diploma program at the Reading Hospital and Medical Center, became a registered nurse, and worked as a labor and delivery nurse in Wyomissing, Pennsylvania.
Career
Kate’s career took a major turn when she and her husband were featured in a special on Discovery Health, ‘Surviving Sextuplets and Twins,’ which chronicled their sextuplets’ birth and early years. This success led to Jon & Kate Plus 8, aired from 2007 to 2009 on the Discovery Health Channel and later TLC.
The show became a cultural phenomenon, documenting the family’s daily life and the challenges of raising a large family. After Kate divorced Jon in 2009, the show was renamed Kate Plus 8 and continued for several seasons until it was ultimately canceled in 2017.
Kate also appeared on the tenth season of Dancing with the Stars in 2010 and participated in other reality TV shows, including Celebrity Wife Swap in 2013. Her dating life was featured in the reality series Kate Plus Date premiered in 2019. In 2023, she appeared on the competitive reality show Special Forces: World’s Toughest Test, where she was eliminated in the first episode due to a physical injury.
Kate has written three books: Multiple Blessings (2008), Eight Little Faces (2009), and I Just Want You to Know (2010), all of which appeared on The New York Times Best Sellers list. Her first book, Multiple Blessings, co-authored with Jon Gosselin and Beth Carson, sold over 500,000 copies.
Despite her media success, Kate maintained her nursing credentials. In 2021, she obtained her multi-state, registered nurse license in North Carolina, where she continued her career in healthcare.
Personal Life and Divorce
Kate married Jon Gosselin on June 12, 1999. The couple had twins, Cara and Madelyn, in 2000, followed by sextuplets (Aaden, Collin, Joel, Alexis, Hannah, and Leah) in 2004. The Gosselins divorced in 2009, leading to a contentious and public custody battle over their children. Kate was granted primary custody, but over the years, two of her children, Collin and Hannah, have come to live with their father, Jon.
Kate remains active on social media, particularly Instagram, where she shares updates about her family, travels, and life. Her account @kateplusmy8 has over 440,000 followers. Despite ongoing challenges, including legal battles and a complex family dynamic, Kate continues to find ways to maintain her presence in the public eye through television and writing.
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