The Duggars and the Bates: Have Any of the Kids Ever Dated?
The Duggar family and the Bates family were close friends for many years. They often appeared together on their respective reality TV shows. With 19 kids, you’d think there would be a love connection somewhere along the way. Duggar family followers think romance may be blooming between a Duggar and Bates now. Has there ever been a publicly confirmed courtship between the families in the past, though?
There have been many rumors about a Duggar-Bates Courtship in the past
So far, there has yet to be a confirmed Duggar-Bates courtship. Still, that doesn’t mean that it has never happened. Over the years, Duggar family followers have theorized that love was in the air between the Duggars and the Bates on several occasions. Jana Duggar is at the center of most of those rumors.
Before Joseph Duggar married Kendra Caldwell, rumors flew that he was dating Carlin Bates. Joseph spent about a year traveling to Tennessee before suddenly staying put in Arkansas. Carlin was also spotted around Joseph on multiple occasions. She later revealed she had been “dumped” before she met and married Evan Stewart. While she didn’t name names, family followers strongly suspect Joseph Duggar broke up with her.
Carlin and Joseph’s potential love connection might not have been the first between the two families. Family followers have long suspected Jana Duggar and Lawson Bates had, at the very least, a flirtation before he eventually married Tiffany Espensen. Lawsonw was also rumored to be interested in Jinger Vuolo before she married Jeremy Vuolo in a 2016 ceremony.
Jana may have had more than one Bates suitor. According to OK Magazine, a family insider alleged that Zach Bates courted Jana Duggar, although the relationship never progressed past casual, chaperoned dates. Zach is married and has a family, while Jana remains single.
Duggar family followers believe Jason Duggar could be dating a Bates daughter
While there have been many rumors about the Duggar and Bates kids dating, there has never been a confirmed courtship. That might change soon. Jason Duggar took to Instagram this week to soft-launch a relationship. He posted a series of photos looking cozy with a special someone, but he did not share her face or tag her in the post. While Jason Duggar has yet to reveal his special lady, some followers think the 24-year-old Duggar might be dating one of Gil and Kelly Jo Bates’ eligible daughters.
While there isn’t much evidence to go on, followers think Jason’s mystery woman’s body type and hair color match Addallee Bates. The timing of Jason’s soft launch is a bit coincidental, too. Addalee recently turned 18 and graduated from high school. If Jason and Addelle have been dating, now would be the perfect time to make an announcement. Time will tell.
