Mama June Says Daughter Anna's Kids Were Separated After Her Death
Mama June Shannon’s family dynamic isn’t what she’d like it to be.
In the wake of her daughter Anna “Chickadee” Cardwell’s death in December 2023, the Mama June: Family Crisis star successfully fought for custody of granddaughter Kaitlyn, but the legal win proved to be bittersweet as she said the 12-year-old has not seen her half-sister Kylee, 9, since their late mom’s funeral.
“Unfortunately not,” the reality star told People in an interview published June 2, adding, “It's not due to us.”
Mama June and Kylee’s father Michael Cardwell were embroiled in a tense court battle over Kaitlyn, who was 8 months old when he began dating Anna. In September, a judge sided with the 45-year-old, noting that Michael—who has custody of his biological daughter Kylee—“never provided any significant financial support,” according to court documents obtained by People at the time.
“I hated that we have to go through that,” Mama June continued. “We couldn't sit down and talk things out and come to an agreement as much as I had begged for that. But it is what it is. It ain't what it ain't.”
While the ruling came at a cost for her grandchildren, Mama June explained why she felt it was the right thing to do.
“At the end of the day, I knew what Anna wanted, and we just went and did it,” she said, adding that she and her family “had no other choice.”
E! News has reached out to Michael's attorney for comment but has not heard back.
Since Anna’s death from adrenal carcinoma in 2023, Mama June has shared some of the ways she’s kept her late daughter’s memory alive.
“She is still in our family group chat text,” she wrote in a post on Facebook in December. “Just can’t and won’t delete any text and won’t ever take her out [of] the chat.”
Mama June added that she also frequently visits Anna’s TikTok page, explaining that she likes to “watch her videos all the time and search her name to see all the videos people made for her.”
And while social media has helped Mama June through her grief, she pointed out that Anna’s absence is still strongly felt.
“Would give my last penny to just talk to her,” she added, “and [for] her [to] be here for her girls.”
Keep scrolling to read the emotional tributes shared by Anna's family after her passing.
Anna "Chickadee" Caldwell, the eldest daughter of June "Mama June" Shannon, died Dec. 9 at age 29 after a cancer battle. Her mom wrote on Facebook that she passed away in her home surrounded by "her family and the people that she wanted around her."
"This was our last family photo together that we will always treasure," she added. "We love you Anna."
"She gave one hell of a fight for 10 months," Anna's mom, star of WE tv's Mama June: From Not to Hot, said on Instagram about her battle with stage 4 adrenal carcinoma. "We love y’all and continued prayers and thoughts for our family doing this difficult time #mamajune #prayers #cancersucks #family."
Anna's little sister, star of Toddlers & Tiaras and Here Comes Honey Boo Boo, who later appeared with her mom on Mama June: From Not to Hot, wrote on her Instagram, "This is one post I wish I didn’t have to make. Last night we all surrounded Anna with love & let her know it was okay to go. Unfortunately around 11pm Anna took her last breathe."
She continued, "Anna was in so much pain last night but now as a family we all know she is at peace now. I really don’t know what to say as my heart is completely broken. Watching my 29 year old sister this last year battle this horrible disease hasn’t been easy. Anna was a fighter & still is. Lord please wrap your arms around her 2 babies & our family as the next couple of days will make this all a reality."
Amid her cancer treatments, Anna was able to watch her little sister graduate from high school. Alana is now in college.
"I’m so glad that you waited til I was home to take your last breath!" the 18-year-old wrote. "I would’ve loved for you to get to see me graduate college but i know you will forever cheer me on in heaven! We will all make sure your legacy lives on forever. And i promise to always make sure to celebrate our birthday like you never left!"
Alana continued, "The sky looks a little bit different today. We will always love you Anna. You hit me hard with his one Anna but i know your in a better place now and pain free forever!"
Alana's sister wrote on her Instagram Stories, "Fly high sweet angel."
She also shared a message of condolences from WE tv, who produces her mom's reality show, asking, “How do I bounce back from this one.”
Everyone it hurts so say this but We lost @annamarie35 last night!" Anna's sister wrote on her Instagram. "It’s hard to think that my sister is gone she was so young and had a bright future ahead of here. She will always be with us and we love and miss her already!!"
Jessica continued, "Y’all keep our family and them two sweet baby of hers in your prayers !! Anna I love you and just know we got Katilyn and Kylee for you they will be taken care of."
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