Collin Gosselin Honors His Father’s Ex Colleen as His ‘Real Mom’

The former "Jon & Kate Plus 8" star is opening up about the woman who stepped in during the darkest chapter of his childhood. His emotional post came on a day that turned out to be doubly significant.

Collin Gosselin is feeling grateful — and he wants the world to know it.

The 21-year-old former reality star took to Instagram on Wednesday, June 17, to honor a very special person in his life: Colleen Conrad, his father Jon Gosselin's former girlfriend, on her birthday.

"I didn't plan this at all, but coincidentally on the day of the official announcement of my book, it is Colleen's birthday," Collin wrote. "She is the strongest woman I know, who stepped in at the toughest part of my life and CHOSE to be a mother to me."

He continued, "Happy birthday to my wonderful, hardworking, passionate, and I could go on… to my real mom ❤️ I love you so much. Also I had to add a Rascal Flatts song, because we always sing Rascal Flatts songs together. Collin & Colleen 🫶🏼."

The post was accompanied by a warm photo of the two smiling together during a day out. The outpouring of love didn't stop there — Colleen's daughter, Jordan, flooded the comments with hearts and added, "I love you and so beyond grateful you came into our family ❤️❤️."

Collin, clearly moved by the response, returned to the comments to expand on what Colleen means to him. "The love you feel for a mom you were given is incredible," he wrote. "But the love you feel for a mom that CHOSE you is something so powerful. I am so fortunate ❤️ @colleen.conrad122 I love you so much 🫶🏼."

Colleen and Jon first crossed paths growing up in Pennsylvania, though their romantic relationship didn't begin until 2014. The couple spent seven years together before splitting in 2021.

Even after the breakup, Colleen remained a steady and loving presence in Collin's life, stepping into a maternal role that has clearly left a lasting impact.

As Collin noted, the birthday tribute doubled as a milestone day. It also marked the official announcement of his upcoming memoir, "In the Shadow of Eight: Surviving the Reality of My Childhood." In the book, the "Jon & Kate Plus 8" alum promises an unflinching look at his upbringing.

Collin was a familiar face on the TLC series in the late 2000s, appearing alongside his seven siblings and his parents, Jon and Kate Gosselin. Following his parents' 2009 divorce, he continued to appear in the spinoff, "Kate Plus 8."

In recent years, Collin has been candid about the emotional and physical abuse he says he endured at his mother's hands.

In prior interviews, he described being isolated from his siblings and subjected to Kate's volatile moods — including harrowing accounts of being zip-tied and confined to a basement room under constant camera surveillance.

Eventually, he was able to move in with his father. Kate's lawyer has since indicated that she would not be responding to the allegations. Kate, along with five of Collin's siblings who have remained in her orbit, is now estranged from him.

Collin has expressed a desire to rebuild those sibling relationships, but tensions on all sides show little sign of easing. Still, he remains focused on telling his truth.

"My life was always broadcast to millions, but what was actually happening in my life was never shown — in fact, much of it was deliberately kept hidden," Collin said in a statement. "For years, other people told my story through headlines, television episodes and public speculation."

"Now, finally, I'm sharing what was really happening behind the scenes," he added. "This book is about truth, survival, resilience and finding my voice after years of being silenced. If my story helps even one person feel less alone or gives them the courage to tell their own, then every difficult page was worth writing."