Anna Cardwell, sister of reality TV star Honey Boo Boo and “Here Comes Honey Boo Boo” co-star, has died at the age of 29. Cardwell was diagnosed with adrenal cancer in January 2023.
In an Instagram post, Honey Boo Boo, whose real name is Alana Thompson and is now 18, shared, “Anna was in so much pain last night, but now we all know she is at peace.”
The family gained fame on the child beauty pageant show “Toddlers & Tiaras” before starring in their own series, “Here Comes Honey Boo Boo.”
Expressing her grief, Honey Boo Boo wrote beneath a family photo, “My heart is completely broken. Watching my 29-year-old sister battle this horrible disease this last year hasn’t been easy. Anna was a fighter and still is.” She added, “I would’ve loved for you to see me graduate college, but I know you will forever cheer me on in heaven! We will all make sure your legacy lives on forever.”
June Shannon, 44, Anna’s mother, also shared the same photo on Instagram, stating that her daughter “gave one hell of a fight for 10 months.” In May, Shannon confirmed that Cardwell’s cancer had progressed to stage four.
The family had their own reality TV show that ran from 2012 to 2014, following Thompson, a child beauty pageant contestant, from the age of six.
The show featured Alana with her mother, father, and three sisters, including Anna Cardwell, then known as Anna Shannon or Chickadee. The show faced criticism and concerns about child exploitation and was canceled after four seasons when reports emerged that Honey Boo Boo’s mother was in a relationship with a registered sex offender.
Following the cancellation, the family appeared on other reality TV shows such as “Marriage Boot Camp” and “The Masked Singer.” They currently feature on “Mama June: From Not to Hot,” a US reality show documenting June Shannon’s weight loss journey.