For more than a decade, Trent and Amber Johnston have been television’s most famous rule-makers: the parents who ran the Johnston household with a firm hand and a family-first code. But ask fans what the couple is like now, and a very different picture emerges. These days, the Johnstons answer to two new names: Lolli and Boppa. And according to fans, nobody has ever looked happier about a promotion.
With granddaughter Leighton approaching her third birthday and grandson Coleman just weeks old, Trent and Amber have stepped into the role fans say suits them best. Season 18 of 7 Little Johnstons, premiering Tuesday, November 17 at 9PM ET on TLC, will catch the family right in the middle of this new chapter.
From Strict Parents to “Lolli and Boppa”
Long before Leighton arrived, Trent and Amber were already preparing for grandparenthood like it was a mission. According to reports at the time, Trent decorated a room and baby-proofed the house ahead of his first grandchild’s arrival. When Liz and Brice welcomed Leighton on November 3, 2023, the new titles were quickly made official: Trent became Boppa, and Amber became Lolli.
Amber said it best herself on social media, captioning one milestone post with the hashtag “beinglolliandboppaisthebest.” The same parents who once handed down house rules with a straight face were suddenly posting monthly milestone photos and melting over a baby in a pink bodysuit.
Boppa’s Daily Duties: School Runs and Bottle Duty
If anyone doubted how seriously Trent takes the job, his daily routine settled it. According to TV Season & Spoilers, which followed his social media updates in September 2026, Boppa’s mornings now belong to Leighton: he takes his first granddaughter to school, treasuring the one-on-one bonding time on the way. His afternoons belong to Coleman, whom he feeds in his arms and rocks to sleep.
Fans flooded the comments with praise. “You’re an amazing grandpa,” one viewer wrote. Another added: “Your grandchildren are blessed to have you.”
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Two Grandbabies, Two Very Different Arrivals
Leighton and Coleman may be fewer than three years apart, but their arrivals tell two different stories. Leighton Drew Bolden arrived on November 3, 2023, weighing 5 pounds 10 ounces. Coleman Brice (Johnston) Bolden followed on September 8, 2026, a son named after his father and a paternal great-grandfather.
“We’re so happy to have Coleman here and to be home together as a family of four,” the couple shared after his birth. “We are so looking forward to watching Leighton and Coleman grow up together.” According to reports, Coleman’s first weeks also included a hospital stay about four weeks after his birth. Through it all, Lolli and Boppa stayed close.
Why Fans Say Grandparent Trent Hits Different
Part of the appeal is the contrast. Viewers who watched Trent lay down the law for five kids now watch him nap a grandbaby on his chest and take selfies on trail rides with a toddler on his lap.
Season 18 arrives at the perfect moment to capture that change. With Liz and Brice raising two little ones and Trent and Amber fully settled into grandparent life, the show’s emotional center has quietly moved a generation down. So here is the question for the fandom: are Trent and Amber softer as grandparents than they ever were as parents, or is Boppa still the rule-enforcer at heart, just with a better title? Drop your verdict in the comments, and tell us your favorite Lolli and Boppa moment so far.
