Plot Synopsis

7 LITTLE JOHNSTONS is a reality series that follows the Johnston family, the world's largest known family of Achondroplasia dwarfs, as parents Trent and Amber try to find a balance between maintaining the spark in their marriage and completing a massive home renovation, all while raising five children: Jonah, 15, the eldest biological son of Trent and Amber, who is part of the drum line in his high school band; Anna, 14, who was adopted by Trent and Amber from Siberia, Russia, and recently underwent spinal fusion surgery; Elizabeth, 13, the second biological child of Trent and Amber, who is a social butterfly; Alex, 9, who was adopted into the Johnston family from Seoul, South Korea, and is the family jokester; and Emma, 9, who is the youngest Johnston, adopted from China, and is the free spirit in the family. The Johnstons were first featured in a one-hour special on Sunday, April 14, 2013 at 10pm ET/PT on OWN: Oprah Winfrey Network. Almost two years later -- on Tuesday, January 6, 2015 at 10pm ET/PT -- TLC premiered the one-hour "7 Little Johnstons: A Little Home Improvement" special, revealing the family's home renovation. Then, on Tuesday, March 24, 2015 at 10pm ET/PT -- one week before the official series premiere -- TLC debuted the one-hour "Peek-a-Boo" special, which took a look back at the Johnstons over the past two years and offered a sneak peek of the new series. In this series, Trent and Amber deal with all the typical issues of being parents -- first-time dating rules, a disastrous attempt at discussing the "birds and the bees," nail-biting soccer team tryouts, and vacation-changing illnesses.

The sophomore season of 7 LITTLE JOHNSTONS premiered on Tuesday, November 10, 2015 at 10pm ET/PT on TLC, shortly after a five-hour marathon (4-9pm) of encore episodes. This season, after a major home renovation Amber, Trent, and their five children -- Jonah, Anna, Elizabeth, Alex and Emma -- take time to enjoy the summer, but things take a turn when their youngest son may have to undergo a risky surgery. Plus, the Johnston family deals with everything from swimming lessons and cheerleading camp to braces, family vacations, and first-time driving lessons. The family also enjoys quality time at the beach, but when Amber's trip to visit her biological father is canceled, she realizes how hurt she is by his actions, and calls him to see if he is interested in continuing a relationship. In the premiere episode, the family wraps up their home renovations just in time for summer, and Amber feels it's time to renovate herself! She enlists Trent to help highlight her hair, but once she sees the finished product she realizes it's time to see a professional. Meanwhile, their youngest son, Alex, begins to have back problems, and Amber notices that he hasn't been able to walk correctly for some time. Trent and Amber make an appointment to have him checked out by a doctor, but are concerned that if he needs surgery at such a young age, he will face a lifetime of pain.

On Tuesday, May 2, 2017 at 10pm ET/PT, TLC debuts the third season of 7 LITTLE JOHNSTONS. This season, the Johnston family -- parents Amber and Trent and their children Jonah, 16, Anna, 15, Elizabeth, 14, Emma, 11, Alex, 10, their chocolate lab Jessie and their new 7-month old French bulldog, Louie -- have their fair share of ups and downs giving viewers a glimpse into their daily lives. For a little family, surgeries are not unusual but it's still scary when Alex is diagnosed with central apnea and must get an MRI to see if he needs brain surgery and Amber suffers a medical emergency of her own. Meanwhile, Trent, who is approaching his 40th birthday, is hoping to hit his weight loss goal before the big day. Amber sets out to plan a surprise party for him along with a big gift he doesn't expect. Their oldest daughter Anna isn't allowed to attend prom since she is not yet a senior in high school, but the family bands together to throw her a sweet 16 birthday party. In the season opener, "License to Drive," Jonah and Anna are both put to the test -- Jonah needs his driver's license and Anna needs her learner's permit. Meanwhile, Alex is diagnosed with central apnea and undergoes an MRI to find out whether he needs brain surgery.

TLC premiered the fourth season of 7 LITTLE JOHNSTONS on Tuesday, September 19, 2017 at 10pm ET/PT. The season opens when the family is gearing up for a big joint birthday party for oldest son Jonah and daughter Elizabeth. Prior to the party, Trent decides to have the dreaded talk with the kids about the "birds and the bees," especially Elizabeth, whose close friend will be attending, and their reactions are priceless. Once again, the whole family must prepare for yet another surgery as Elizabeth finally gets ready to have her postponed leg operation. Later in the season, Amber tries to lead everyone into a drastically healthier lifestyle, but will the changes be too extreme? Trent and Amber consider getting tattoos, Anna prepares for her driver's license test and Alex and Emma have to learn to ride bikes before entering a big race. The family also faces crude comments while out in public, and must figure out together how to handle the bullying. Finally, Amber and Trent make a big decision that will affect the rest of the family.

Season 5 of 7 LITTLE JOHNSTONS premiered on Tuesday, October 30, 2018 at 8pm ET/PT on TLC. This season, Trent and Amber move the brood to a new house and are excited to start making memories, but they soon discover that their new home isn't as perfect as it looks on the outside. Daughter Elizabeth copes with a painful break up, but tries to put her focus on a local art show she is passionately participating in. The other Johnston kids continue to have new experiences of their own as Jonah graduates from high school and begins dating; Anna takes on more responsibilities at home; Emma starts cheerleading and Alex begins vlogging. Meanwhile, Trent and Amber celebrate their 20th anniversary and consider risking everything for the dream of starting their own family business.

The sixth season of 7 LITTLE JOHNSTONS premiered on Tuesday, April 2, 2019 at 10pm ET/PT on TLC. With the Johnston kids growing up quickly and Anna on her way to college soon, Trent and Amber continue to pack in as many memories as they can as big life changes continue for the family. The new season features an epic family Halloween, a trip to New York City where they learn about dwarfism's important role in history, a Christmas party hosted by the Johnstons for over 100 little people and a trip to Hilton Head for Amber's 40th birthday. With a house full of teenagers -- Jonah, 18, Anna, also 18, Elizabeth, 16 and 13 year-olds Emma and Alex -- there are bound to be issues; Trent's anxiety hits an all-time high between everything going on with the kids and the prospect of opening a new business, so he and Amber decide to meet with a marriage counselor to work through these new challenges. In the season opener, "We're Off to See the Wizard!," the Johnstons throw a Halloween party, but can they agree on a costume theme for all seven of them? A trip to a haunted house winds up being more frightening than some of the kids bargained for. Stress takes a toll on Trent's health, giving the family a scare.

Season 7 of 7 LITTLE JOHNSTONS premiered on Tuesday, March 31, 2020 at 10pm ET/PT on TLC. In the season opener, "Summer Lovin'," the Johnstons are back with some big life events on the horizon. Trent seeks answers for his ongoing health issues, Liz re-enters the dating scene with Emma not too far behind and Anna is unsure about leaving home after graduation.

The eighth season of 7 LITTLE JOHNSTONS debuted on Tuesday, December 29, 2020 at 8pm ET/PT on TLC. Since fans last caught up with the world's largest-known little family, relationship statuses have changed, a pandemic has hit, and all the kids are back under one roof. Jonah has a new long-distance girlfriend, and he's considering moving to a different state to be closer to her. Anna is loving college, but the pandemic has forced her to move home for the time being. Meanwhile, Elizabeth is balancing her relationship with boyfriend Brice, as college courses coupled with a heavy nursing rotation are putting her at risk for burnout. Alex and Emma are still the youngest Johnstons, but they're starting a whole new era as they enter high school. Meanwhile, after over 20 years of marriage, Trent and Amber are looking for ways to spice things up, and nothing is off limits: pole dancing, an intimacy coach and even building a "love shack" on their lawn! In the season opener, "Love in the Time of Corona," to keep boredom at bay during the summer quarantine, the kids rope Trent and Amber into viral video challenges. It's great family fun, but the cabin fever is putting a cramp in Trent and Amber's bedroom life, so they decide to try a pole dancing class.

After a three-month break, 7 LITTLE JOHNSTONS returned with new episodes on Tuesday, May 25, 2021 at 8pm ET/PT on TLC. In the Season 9 debut, "Holiday Hangover," Jonah is the first Johnston to turn 21, and it's Christmas time in the household. While Trent and Amber try to make the holiday merry, the adult kids living at home is causing tension in the family.

Season 10 of 7 LITTLE JOHNSTONS premiered on Tuesday, November 16, 2021 at 8pm ET/PT on TLC. Trent and Amber continue to work on pushing their older children out of the nest. With Liz successfully moved out, Anna is eager to follow suit, but everyone wonders when Jonah will finally fly the coop. Even with some of the kids out of the house, the family still finds ways to spend time together. Since COVID led to the cancellation of the annual Little People conference, the Johnstons gather a group of little people for a vacation in Florida. The whole family attends, including Liz's boyfriend, Brice, who fits right in, even though he is average size. Having recently celebrated their two-year anniversary, the family is curious if Brice will soon become an official member of the Johnston family. Back home, the family celebrates Alex and Emma's 16th birthday with a backyard luau. As the kids are getting older, life seems to be getting less chaotic for Trent and Amber, which is their cue to liven things up. Both parents switch things up in their professional lives, and they also consider adding a new member to the Johnston home -- although it's not what viewers might expect.

The eleventh season of 7 LITTLE JOHNSTONS debuted on Tuesday, February 15, 2022 at 9pm ET/PT on TLC. As Trent adjusts to the complexities of his new job as a car salesman and Amber juggles teaching while returning to college, the Johnstons decide to welcome a new member into their household! Joose, a 17-year-old foreign exchange student from Finland who is also a little person, moves in with the Johnstons to learn to speak English fluently. Along the way, Joose gets a head-spinning introduction to American culture while sharing Finnish traditions with the Johnstons. Meanwhile, newly independent adult kids Jonah, Anna and Liz discover the highs and lows of adulting while teens Alex and Emma navigate the final years of high school.

Season 12 of 7 LITTLE JOHNSTONS premiered on Tuesday, August 16, 2022 at 9pm ET/PT on TLC, immediately following a new one-hour special at 8pm. Earlier this year, Jonah moved out on his own. But when he starts experiencing debilitating anxiety, Trent and Amber wonder if he should move back home so they can help him get his life back on track. Meanwhile, Liz and Brice are ready to take their relationship to the next level by moving in together, despite concern from their parents. Anna's last relationship was over before it even started, but she's ready to change her status for real this time. Alex and Emma are approaching their 17th birthdays with college and careers on their minds.

On Tuesday, April 18, 2023 at 9pm ET/PT, 7 LITTLE JOHNSTONS returned for its 13th season. Relationships and major life events take center stage this season. Determined to make sense of her last failed relationship, Anna undergoes therapy to gain a better understanding of herself and to overcome some of the difficulties she's been encountering in both love and life. After moving back home, Jonah gets back on track with big plans for his future, committed to finance school and his girlfriend despite Amber's concerns about their relationship. Meanwhile, Alex is head over heels in love with his new girlfriend and plans a special birthday trip to Ohio to visit her. Emma shifts focus towards her career and growing her own business with a little help from the family. Liz and Brice can't wait to finally move in together, but Trent and Amber put the brakes on their dream home. Finally, Amber, Trent, Alex and Emma head to Finland for an epic family vacation to visit their former exchange student, Joose.
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Season 14 of 7 LITTLE JOHNSTONS debuted on Tuesday, March 12, 2024 at 10pm on TLC. In the season opener, "The Rest Is Still Unwritten," Elizabeth makes a big decision about her relationship with Brice; Amber and Trent try out body painting; Anna buys a new home and starts the process of moving in; Jonah and Alex write love letters to their girlfriends.