Reality personality Anna Cardwell, known for her appearance on the TLC program “Here Comes Honey Boo Boo,” passed away at the age of 29, as announced by her family on social media. On Sunday, Alana Thompson (Honey Boo Boo) and June Shannon (Mama June), Cardwell’s sister and mother respectively, revealed that she had succumbed to cancer after a 10-month battle.
In an Instagram post, Shannon acknowledged Cardwell’s tenacious fight, stating, “She gave one hell of a fight for 10 months.” Cardwell passed away at 11:12 pm on Saturday at her mother’s residence in Milledgeville, Georgia, surrounded by her daughters, sisters, husband, and close family, according to a statement from Gina Rodriguez, the family’s manager and a close friend.
Tragically, Cardwell’s demise occurred on the birthday of her youngest daughter, Kylee. The family requested prayers during this challenging time as they cope with the profound loss and make arrangements. Cardwell, survived by two daughters from her marriage to Eldridge Toney, was remembered by Thompson, who expressed the family’s acknowledgment that she is now at peace, free from the pain she endured.
Thompson shared her heartbreak, describing the difficulty of witnessing her sister’s year-long battle with the devastating disease. Despite the hardship, she emphasized Cardwell’s enduring spirit as a fighter. While Cardwell never formally disclosed her cancer diagnosis, she openly discussed her struggle on social media platforms like Instagram and TikTok throughout the year.
In July, Shannon had informed Entertainment Tonight that Cardwell’s stage 4 cancer was aggressive but noted her daughter was doing “pretty good.” Despite the terminal prognosis, the family adopted a one-day-at-a-time approach. In November, Cardwell updated her TikTok followers, sharing that she had undergone radiation treatment and autoimmune therapy, expressing that she was “pretty good.”
Cardwell gained fame through her appearances on “Here Comes Honey Boo Boo” from 2012 to 2014, a reality show following the daily lives of the family as a spinoff of “Toddlers and Tiaras.” Although the TLC show was canceled in 2014, the family members continued to pursue other reality projects, including a WEtv franchise centered on Shannon. Thompson concluded the announcement with a heartfelt message, saying, “We will always love you, Anna.”