If you’ve kept up with the chaotic, fried-food-fueled universe of the Shannon family, you know that drama follows Mike "Sugar Bear" Thompson like a shadow. For a while there, it looked like he’d finally found his match in Jennifer Lamb. Their 2017 backyard wedding was a whole thing—complete with a rainstorm, a size-4 Mama June crashing the party in a red dress, and enough tension to power a small city.
But things in reality TV land rarely stay "happily ever after."
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Naturally, fans are still asking: are sugar bear and jennifer still married? It’s a fair question, especially since they seemed to double down on their relationship during those intense weight-loss competition arcs on From Not to Hot.
Honestly, the answer isn’t what a lot of casual viewers might expect. They aren’t together.
The couple officially called it quits at the end of 2021. Jennifer was actually the one to break the news on social media, telling fans that she and Mike had decided to end their marriage on good terms.
The Breakup That Caught Fans Off Guard
When Jennifer Lamb first showed up, she was basically the "villain" to Mama June’s "hero" (or anti-hero, depending on the week). She and Mike seemed like a solid unit, especially when they were facing off against June in court over Alana "Honey Boo Boo" Thompson’s custody.
But by December 31, 2021, the vibe had shifted completely.
Jennifer posted a message explaining that they had grown apart. No massive scandal was cited at the time. No explosive cheating rumors (though those would come later from the rumor mill). Just two people realizing the spark was gone.
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By early 2022, they were living separate lives.
Where the Relationship Went Wrong
Why did it fall apart? If you look back at the show, the cracks were always there. Mike’s temper was a recurring issue. Remember that reunion special where he exploded on set, ripped his shirt, and screamed at Pumpkin? That was a massive red flag.
Even Jennifer admitted back then that she had never seen him act like that.
There’s also the weight loss factor. Interestingly, some fans speculated that as Jennifer went through her own massive physical transformation—losing over 100 pounds—the dynamic of the relationship changed. Mike had a history of being with partners who were also struggling with their weight or image.
Once Jennifer got healthy and found her confidence, maybe she realized she didn't want to deal with the "Sugar Bear" drama anymore.
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Mike’s Quick Rebound
Mike didn’t stay single for long. Only a few months after the split from Jennifer was confirmed, he went public with a new girlfriend, Heather Davis.
Heather is a nurse from Georgia, and for a while, Mike was posting all about how "loving and patient" she was. It felt like a repeat of the same cycle we saw with June and then with Jennifer.
Current Status in 2026
As of 2026, Sugar Bear and Jennifer are definitely not married. They have moved on in very different directions.
- Jennifer Lamb: She’s been living a much quieter life away from the WE tv cameras. Her social media indicates she has been in a relationship with a man named Greg and has focused heavily on her health journey and her son, Joseph.
- Mike Thompson: His life has been a bit more turbulent. Between health scares and his estranged relationship with Alana, he’s stayed in the headlines for less-than-ideal reasons. He also went through some significant dental work and grooming transformations to try and keep up with the "Not to Hot" brand, though he's largely stepped back from the spotlight recently.
The Reality of Reality TV Marriages
So, are sugar bear and jennifer still married? No. Their marriage lasted about four years, which is actually a decent run in the world of reality television.
The biggest takeaway from their split is how much the cameras can mask the actual rot in a relationship. On screen, they were a united front against Mama June. Off screen, they were dealing with Mike’s past infidelities (which he admitted to on Marriage Boot Camp), his temper, and the simple reality of two people changing at different speeds.
If you’re looking to catch up on the latest with the rest of the crew, here is what you should check out next:
- Look for Jennifer Lamb’s social media: She often shares updates on her fitness and her new partner, Greg, which gives a much more "real" look at her life than the show ever did.
- Follow Lauryn "Pumpkin" Efird: Since Pumpkin has full custody of Alana, her social updates are the best way to see how that side of the family is doing, as they have largely cut Mike out of their daily lives.
- Check recent tabloids for Mike's health updates: He has dealt with some skin cancer issues and other health scares over the last couple of years that haven't been featured on a major show.
The "Sugar Bear and Jennifer" era of the Shannon family saga is officially a closed chapter. It was a wild ride while it lasted, but both have clearly decided that being together was more trouble than it was worth.