'Alaskan Bush People' Christmas special 2017 premiere date, news: Updates on Ami's health to be revealed

Discovery Channel has finally confirmed the premiere date for the "Alaskan Bush People" Christmas special. Informally called "Episode 1," this could also mean it is the first episode of season 8.

It has been notably quiet from the side of the iconic Brown family since their reality show's seventh season ended in August 2016.

After the family matriarch Ami was diagnosed with lung cancer, the whole family had to move to Los Angeles for her treatment at UCLA Medical Center. In early October, it was reported that the Brown extended family upgraded from their small cabin in Alaska to a $2.7 million mansion in Beverly Hills. It was a strategic move that put them just five minutes from the hospital where Ami is getting treatment.

Their social media accounts are rarely updated, and fans of the show could not help but wonder what happened to the family, especially to Ami's battle with cancer.

With the Christmas special coming up, fans will finally be treated to some highly anticipated Ami updates, as well as details on what the family has been up to in the past year. It will be the first time the family will be seen together on screen since the season 7 finale.

It was earlier reported that after her first round of chemotherapy finished in October, Ami flew to Colorado to join the shoot for the Christmas special. The family vacation reportedly did not last long, just enough to finish filming. Then Ami went back to L.A. to continue the second round of radiation.

Reports say this new batch of treatments has taken a toll on the 54-year-old mother's health. She was notably absent on Billy's 65<sup>th birthday, which the family celebrated in a lavish beach party on Sunday.

The "Alaskan Bush People" Christmas special airs Dec. 15, Friday, at 10 p.m. EDT on Discovery.

News
Campaign aims to mobilise 500,000 Christians for Christmas outreach
Campaign aims to mobilise 500,000 Christians for Christmas outreach

Shine Your Light is aiming to mobilise half a million Christians to share the gospel with five million people across the UK this Christmas, with more than 2,000 churches already signed up, organisers say.

The Church of England should repent for previous calls to ban 'conversion therapy'
The Church of England should repent for previous calls to ban 'conversion therapy'

The Church of England's uneasiness about the government's ‘conversion practices’ bill is a perfect lesson in the old adage, 'be careful what you wish for,' writes Dr Martin Davie.

Leaked Home Office report links 'Christian extremism' to traditionalist beliefs and immigration concerns
Leaked Home Office report links 'Christian extremism' to traditionalist beliefs and immigration concerns

An internal Home Office report lists concerns about immigration, multiculturalism and changing social values among the characteristics associated with what it calls "Christian extremism", it has been reported.

Tearfund calls for COP31 funding to reach farmers struggling with climate change and food insecurity
Tearfund calls for COP31 funding to reach farmers struggling with climate change and food insecurity

Tearfund warns that worsening climate conditions are threatening food production and pushing more people towards hunger.