Carlin Stewart

Carlin Stewart
Carlin in June 2023
Name	Carlin Brianne (Bates) Stewart
Date of Birth	April 11, 1998
Denomination	Baptist
Occupation	clothing retailer
Current Location	Lake City, TN
Appeared on	19 Kids and Counting, United Bates of America, Bringing Up Bates
Family Info
Parents	Gil and Kelly Bates
Siblings	Zach Bates, Michaela Keilen, Erin Paine, Lawson Bates, Nathan Bates, Alyssa Webster, Tori Smith, Trace Bates, Josie Balka, Katie Clark, Jackson Bates, Warden Bates, Isaiah Bates, Addallee Bates, Ellie Bates, Callie-Anna Bates, Judson Bates, Jeb Bates
Spouse	Evan Stewart
Children	Layla Stewart, Zade Stewart

Carlin Brianne (Bates) Stewart is the ninth of Gil and Kelly Bates' nineteen children. She is married to Evan Stewart, and they have two children, Layla and Zade.

Early Life

Carlin as a child

Carlin Brianne Bates was born on April 11, 1998, to Gil Bates and Kelly Jo Callaham. She was the couple's ninth child, and they went on to have ten more children after her.

Carlin was homeschooled growing up. She and her siblings were raised as active participants of Bill Gothard's Institute in Basic Life Principles. While in high school, she took dual enrollment classes at a local college (likely Crown College of the Bible's Early Advantage program).

One of Carlin's high school graduation photos

She and her brother Trace graduated from high school together in 2016. They held a graduation party at Mount Moriah Camp, which was planned by Carlin and open to the public. Erin, Lawson, Tori, and Carlin sang the song "All Along" by Rebecca J. Peck and Mark Lanier at the party. Many of the older Bates kids and friends performed skits at the party as well. At the party, Carlin's brother Nathan asked her who she aspired to be, and her answer was her father: "He’s always been faithful in the little things. He’s steady in the Lord. Whatever he does, he doesn’t lose his cool."

Family

Courtship

Carlin met Evan Stewart when she was attending a ladies' event hosted by his church. Her sister Erin saw the possibility of a connection and set them up.

Evan asking Carlin to enter a courtship

Carlin began dating Evan Stewart on September 17, 2016. On March 23, 2017, the couple publicly announced their relationship.

Carlin with Evan shortly after beginning their relationship

In the season six finale of Bringing Up Bates that aired on September 14, 2017, Gil gave Evan and Carlin the green light to enter a courtship; the episode did not feature the beginning of a courtship. Commercials for the season seven premiere of Bringing Up Bates advertised that the episode would feature a courtship proposal. This was the first public information that the couple was officially courting. On the January 4, 2018, UpTV released an official courtship announcement a few hours before the season premiere. In that night's episode, Evan took Carlin on a scavenger hunt around east Tennessee, ending at the Norris Dam. Once at the dam, Evan sang a song he had written for Carlin and presented her with a bracelet, and she agreed to enter a courtship with him. "Just looking back and seeing all the thought and all the work that went into what Evan did for me and making this day super special, I was overwhelmed with the love he showed me and all the participation of everybody," Carlin said of the courtship proposal.

Carlin and Evan shortly after getting engaged

Engagement

On September 24, 2018, Carlin announced that she is engaged to Evan Stewart. He proposed at Portland Head Lighthouse in Portland, Maine, after spending a romantic day exploring Portland together.

Carlin and Evan on their wedding day

Wedding

Carlin married Evan Stewart on May 25, 2019, at Castleton Farms in Loudon, TN. She had two matrons of honor, her sister Erin Paine and sister-in-law Whitney Bates. Her bridesmaids were her sisters Michaela Keilen, Alyssa Webster, Tori Smith, Josie Balka, and Katie Bates, future sisters-in-law Ashley Sparkman, Brittany Randolph, and Maegan and Kailyn Stewart, and friend Joy Forsyth. Her sisters Addallee and Ellie Bates were junior bridesmaids, and her sister Callie Bates and future nieces Braelyn and Bella Randolph were flower girls. Her brothers Zach, Lawson, Nathan, Trace, and Jeb Bates were among the groom's party. The wedding was officiated by Frank Gagliano and her father Gil Bates.

Honeymoon

Carlin and Evan's honeymoon location is currently unknown, but given the photo of their passports that Carlin posted the day after the wedding it is likely somewhere outside of the United States.

Carlin and Evan's pregnancy announcement

Motherhood

On September 4, 2019, Carlin announced that she and Evan are expecting their first child, due in February of 2020.

Carlin and Evan with newborn Layla

On October 5, 2019, Carlin and Evan announced that they are having a girl, who will be named Layla Ray Stewart.

On January 31, 2020, at 3:56 pm, Carlin gave birth to Layla Rae Stewart. She weighed 5 lb, 13 oz, and was 18 inches long.

Carlin and Evan with newborn Zade

On August 30, 2021, Carlin and Evan announced they were expecting their second child, due in 2022

On November 21, 2021, Carlin and Evan announced that they were expecting a baby boy.

On March 27, 2022, Carlin gave birth to Zade Patrick Stewart.

Health

Following the birth of her son, Zade, Carlin began experiencing seizures and seizure-like symptoms, dizziness, and fainting. Following multiple tests to rule out a number of diagnoses, Carlin wore a heart monitor to record the episodes and sought out a neurologist. She has undergone EEGs (electroencephalograms) to track her brain activity as well. She was given medications to control her symptoms, although a diagnosis has not yet been determined.

Carlin and Evan in the hospital in May 2022

Over a year after the onset of these issues, Carlin and Evan discussed her most recent doctor's appointment in a YouTube video posted May 20, 2023. They explained that she will be having a five day EEG in the near future, requiring her to be off of her medications for about two weeks prior in the hopes that she will have an episode while being monitored at the hospital so the doctors can better determine her diagnosis. They expressed worry at Carlin being off her medications as she has had issues in the past both coming off and getting back on her medicines.

They also asked about the possibility of future pregnancies, expressing that they don't necessarily want to have more children imminently, but they want to know what their future looks like. They were told that Carlin will be able to have more children, she will just need to be monitored closely throughout the pregnancy.

Finally, they mentioned that Carlin should be able to drive again soon, though they are unsure if that will remain true following the results of her upcoming EEG. Evan stated that he would much rather continue to drive her around than have her risk her safety should an episode occur while she is behind the wheel. Carlin also added that she has been experiencing weakness and numbness rather than falling unconscious in some of her episodes and that has required her to rest more, but the doctor told her that everyone experiences these types of episodes differently.

Resume

Carlin is very active at her church, where she leads character lessons on children on Sunday nights. She leads a Bible club for young girls that includes daily Bible reading, prayer, and Scripture memory.

Education

Carlin attended Crown College of the Bible, where she planned on pursuing a degree in music. She was a member of Crown's choir. She eventually trasnferred to Liberty Univeristy online, where she graduated with a bachelor's degree in Interdisciplinary studies.

Television Career

Carlin appeared on the TLC show 19 Kids and Counting many times as a child and teenager. In 2012, TLC aired one season of the show United Bates of America, which focused on Carlin's family. In 2015, UpTV began airing a similar show, Bringing Up Bates, which ended after 10 seasons. Carlin was regularly featured in both shows.

Carlin in the Philippines in August of 2017

Mission Work

In August of 2017, Carlin went on a mission trip to the Philippines to work with Blessing International.

Bates Sisters Boutique

On March 18, 2019, Carlin, along with her sister Erin Paine and sister-in-law Whitney Perkins, announced that she was opening a clothing store called Bates Sisters Boutique. The online store officially launched on April 19, 2019. Many of the items sold out within hours.

Wedding Involvement

Carlin has been involved in the following weddings:

• Bridesmaid: her sister Erin Bates's wedding to Chad Paine (11/3/13)
• Bridesmaid: her friend Joy Duggar's wedding to Austin Forsyth (5/26/17)
• Maid of Honor: her sister Tori Bates's wedding to Bobby Smith (12/16/17)
• Bridesmaid: her sister Josie Bates's wedding to Kelton Balka (10/5/18)
• Bridesmaid: her sister Katie Bates's wedding to Travis Clark (12/3/21)

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