Alex Johnston did not buy the promise ring alone. His sister Emma went with him, talked him out of anything flashy, and told him to keep it simple — because she knows Allie Smith’s style better than he does. Then, on camera, Alex told his family what was inside the Christmas gift box: her favorite perfume set — and a promise ring for Allie.
Alex was the shy kid who let his siblings do the talking when 7 Little Johnstons premiered in March 2015. He graduated in 2024 alongside Emma, and has since built something steady with Allie — a ring given, an engagement planned for next year, a farm at the end of it. Season 18 premieres Tuesday, November 17 at 9 p.m. ET/PT on TLC. Here is everything we know.
The Christmas Gift That Changed Everything
According to TV Season & Spoilers, Emma was there when Alex picked the ring out — she even helped him choose it because she knows Allie’s style — and she told him to buy something simple, because Allie would not like anything flashy. Then Alex told his family on camera exactly what he had given her.
Jonah’s reaction was disbelief, and it is easy to see why. Jonah has been with his girlfriend Ashley for seven years and still has not given her a promise ring — and, according to the same report, he explained that Ashley wanted something real, not just a promise. So the younger brother now holds the ring and the momentum, while the older brother holds the rule. That tension fuels the wedding race with his older brother Jonah.
The Plan He Said Out Loud: Engaged Next Year, Then the Farm
Alex has not kept his intentions vague. During an on-camera true-or-false session with Jonah and Emma, producers asked whether he hoped to get engaged to Allie sometime next year and eventually move to her farm to work there — and Alex confirmed the plan is real. He had already visited Allie’s family farm during Season 16, met her family, and enjoyed working there so much that he came home talking about a life built around it.
The distance is the hard part. Alex and Allie live in different states, and the relationship has been long-distance from the start. Alex later shared a clip of the two of them dancing on social media with the hashtag #longdistancerelationship. The ring was the easy step. The move to the farm is the one that changes everything.
YOU MAY LIKEEverything We Know About 7 Little Johnstons Season 18 — Wedding Bells, New Homes, and One Big Question MarkAllie’s Own Headline: The American FFA Degree
For years, Allie walked into headlines as an appendage: “Alex Johnston’s girlfriend.” On October 27, 2026, she earned one that belongs to her alone. According to TV Season & Spoilers, Allie received the American FFA Degree, a top honor in the youth agriculture organization — and the Johnston family publicly celebrated her achievement. Alex was not there in person, but he made sure his congratulations were public. Read the full story behind Allie’s American FFA Degree.
The Two Rules Standing in the Way
None of this moves forward without clearing two boundaries. The first belongs to Allie’s parents, who have reportedly set their own rule: no moving in together before marriage. The second belongs to Jonah, who has said his younger brother should not marry before him.
Some fans have criticized Alex for seeming to prioritize marriage over education and career, according to TV Season & Spoilers. What nobody can dispute is the shape of the plan — a ring already given, an engagement hoped for next year, and a farm at the end of the road. No engagement has been announced, and TLC has confirmed no wedding plans. For the wider picture, see where every Johnston kid stands in 2026.
The question now is not whether Alex means it. So when November 17 arrives: should Alex propose to Allie next year even if Jonah is still waiting on Ashley — or does the older brother go first, like Jonah says? Team Alex, or Team Jonah?
