Everything to Know About Joy-Anna Duggar’s Husband Austin Forsyth

Entertainment gossip and news from Newsweek’s network of contributors

Joy-Anna Forsyth (née Duggar) first graced television screens as one of Jim Bob and Michelle Duggar’s many children on the TLC show 19 Kids & Counting in 2008. Her parents raised the kids in a fundamentalist household following the teachings of IBLP (Institute of Basic Life Principles), which contained some controversial religious practices. Joy-Anna has distanced herself from some of these beliefs after marrying her husband Austin Forsyth, according to the Daily Mail.

After meeting at the Duggar’s family church, the couple got married in 2017 and have welcomed three young children together: son Gideon Martyn, 6, daughter Evelyn Mae, 4, and son Gunner James, 1. Joy-Anna and Austin have quite a long history in terms of their relationship. The couple have shared updates with fans through the spin-off reality series, Counting On, which ended in 2021. They also ran a joint YouTube channel, until Joy-Anna announced about five months ago that she was quitting vlogging.

Here’s everything to know about the Duggar daughter’s husband, Austin Forsyth.

They grew up together

Joy-Anna first began dating Austin in 2016, but the pair had known each other long before then. The Duggars and the Forsyths met after the latter attended the Duggar family church in Arkansas, according to InTouch Weekly. Joy-Anna and Austin officially crossed paths when she was four and he was 8 years old, although she has stated she doesn’t quite remember that first encounter.

The pair reconnected as teenagers. They entered a courtship in 2016 when Austin and Joy-Anna went to the Ozark National Forest in Sand Gap, Arkansas. This led to their official engagement in early 2017, according to People, and they would get married later that year.

“You know, over the years, I have just been watching and I really admire her heart for the Lord and her character,” Austin shared during an episode of Counting On from 2017. “She’s such a diligent worker. She gets all the younger siblings working. She’s a good delegator.”

Austin’s childhood

Although Austin met Joy-Anna in Arkansas, he was born in Bowie County, Texas to Terry and Roxanne Forsyth. He has an older sister named Meagan, and the two were homeschooled growing up. The family moved to open Fort Rock Family Camp, where he would frequently help his parents. According to Cafe Mom, his family appeared on World’s Strictest Parents when Austin was 15, so he had previous experience with reality television.

Austin’s career

Joy-Anna wrote a post for the Duggar family’s website, where she explained a little bit more about Austin. He currently works as a contractor, except now he builds new homes instead of flipping them. He also has experience as a pilot and an EMT/firefighter. Outside of work, she points out that he enjoys helping out on the farm and spending time with family.

“Austin has a lot of hobbies including long range shooting, four-wheeling, camping, and pretty much anything outdoors!” Joy-Anna added. “He also has a passion for investing in the lives of other young men, teaching them the skills that his dad taught him.”