Jessa Seewald And Jill Dillard’s Special ‘Dividing’ Duggar Family; Dad Jim Bob Reportedly ‘Desperate To Stay Relevant’

The Duggar drama continues. It’s been a rough year for the Duggar family, former stars of TLC’s now-canceled “19 Kids and Counting,” and according to a new report, there is turmoil in the Arkansas brood.

TLC’s decision to cancel “19 Kids and Counting” in July and give two of the show’s stars, Jill Dillard and Jessa Seewald, their own three-part special has created some tension among the Duggars, according to Life & Style. “Jill and Jessa having their own show is really dividing the family,” a “family insider” told the magazine in their Nov. 9 print issue.

The magazine also reports that Jill and Jessa’s father, Jim Bob Duggar, is upset over the cancellation of “19 Kids and Counting” and is planning to cameo on “Jill & Jessa: Counting On” in an effort to stay in the spotlight. “Jim Bob is desperate to stay relevant and reclaim the Duggar name,” said a source. “The family fortune has taken massive hit and he’s fighting back.”

The Duggar family drama, which also includes Josh Duggar’s molestation and cheating scandals and Jill's recent leave for her extended mission trip, is said to be taking its toll on Jessa, 22, who is due to welcome her first child with husband Ben Seewald on Sunday. “It’s been hard for Jessa,” said a source. “It’s just been really stressful.”

Jim Bob’s reported upset isn’t exactly surprising. The 50-year-old patriarch was rumored to have nixed TLC’s idea for a Jessa-Jill spinoff in July after the network pulled “19 Kids” from its airwaves following Josh’s molestation scandal. When TLC reportedly came forward with the idea for Jessa and Jill to star on their own show, which would focus on their lives, Jim Bob was not onboard. “He absolutely want to be back on TV and was never thrilled about the show suddenly shifting focus,” a source told People.

While it remains to be seen what members of the Duggar clan will appear in “Counting On” when it premieres in December, a Jim Bob cameo wouldn’t exactly be surprising. It appears a majority of the Duggars were present -- sans Josh, 27, who is currently in rehab -- for Jessa’s co-ed baby shower this month. And according to reports, TLC’s cameras were present for the event.

TLC has released the first trailer “Jill & Jessa: Counting On.” The episodes will follow Jessa and Ben on their baby journey and Jill, 24, and her husband Derick Dillard’s mission trip. “After some challenging months Jill Dillard and Jessa Seewald are ready to look towards the future,” reads the network’s summary. “‘Jill & Jessa: Counting On’ follows the lives of the sisters as they navigate adulthood and the changes that come with it … We're excited to see what's in store for the young couples.”