'The Voice' Season 25 runner-up Josh Sanders is locked in a contested custody battle over his three children with estranged wife Kendra after their January 2026 separation, according to court documents obtained by TMZ on June 22, 2026. She alleges he is an 'active alcoholic' who drove drunk with the kids; he claims parental alienation. For Tennessee parents, allegations of substance abuse and domestic violence directly trigger heightened scrutiny under state custody law.
Key Facts
| Detail | Summary |
|---|---|
| What happened | Contested custody dispute over three children with competing allegations |
| When | Separated January 2026; court documents surfaced June 22, 2026 |
| Where | Reported by TMZ; relevant family law in Tennessee and California |
| Who's affected | 'The Voice' finalist Josh Sanders, estranged wife Kendra, three children |
| Key allegations | Alcoholism, drunk driving with children, parental alienation, April DV restraining-order violation arrest |
| Practical impact | Substance abuse and DV claims shift custody analysis toward the child's safety |
The allegations on both sides remain unproven in court. Nothing in the public filings has been adjudicated, and an arrest is not a conviction. This commentary addresses the general legal framework, not the strategy or guilt of any individual in an ongoing case.
Why this matters legally
Allegations of alcohol abuse and domestic violence fundamentally reshape a custody case, moving the analysis from a default toward shared parenting to a child-safety inquiry. In Tennessee, every custody decision is governed by the best interest of the child standard, and credible evidence of substance abuse or family violence is among the most heavily weighted factors a court considers.
When one parent alleges the other is an 'active alcoholic' who drove intoxicated with the children, the court does not simply weigh that as one factor among many. Drunk driving with minors in the vehicle implicates child endangerment, and Tennessee judges routinely respond with supervised visitation, alcohol monitoring, or temporary suspension of parenting time pending evaluation. A 2023 analysis by the National Center for State Courts found that substance abuse is cited in roughly 40 percent of high-conflict custody disputes nationwide, making it one of the most common and consequential allegations in family court.
Parental alienation claims, like those Sanders reportedly raises, carry weight too. Tennessee courts recognize that a parent who deliberately undermines the child's relationship with the other parent acts contrary to the child's interests, and willingness to facilitate the other parent's relationship is a statutory factor.
How Tennessee law handles this
Tennessee custody decisions turn on Tenn. Code Ann. § 36-6-106, which lists the best-interest factors courts must weigh when setting a permanent parenting plan. These include each parent's past and present caregiving role, the emotional ties between parent and child, each parent's moral and physical fitness, and, critically, evidence of physical or emotional abuse to the child, the other parent, or any household member.
Substance abuse falls squarely within the fitness inquiry. A documented pattern of intoxication, especially driving under the influence with children present, can lead a court to order supervised visitation, random alcohol testing, or completion of a treatment program before unsupervised time resumes. Tennessee judges have broad discretion to craft conditions that protect the children while preserving the parent-child bond where safe.
Domestic violence triggers a separate and powerful provision. Under Tenn. Code Ann. § 36-6-406, when a court finds that a parent has engaged in physical or sexual abuse or a pattern of emotional abuse, it must limit that parent's residential time to protect the child and the abused parent. An arrest for violating a domestic-violence restraining order, as reported in this case, would be relevant evidence, though an arrest alone is not a finding of abuse.
Tennessee also requires both parents to attend a parent education seminar in contested cases, and courts frequently appoint a guardian ad litem under Tenn. Code Ann. § 36-4-132 to independently investigate competing allegations and report to the court. The guardian ad litem becomes the neutral fact-finder when, as here, each parent paints a starkly different picture.
Practical takeaways
For any Tennessee parent navigating a custody dispute involving allegations of substance abuse or domestic violence, the following steps reflect how courts actually evaluate these cases:
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Document everything contemporaneously. Tennessee courts give greater weight to dated records — texts, emails, police reports, and incident logs — created at the time of an event than to recollections offered months later in litigation.
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Take allegations seriously even if false. If you are accused of alcohol abuse, voluntarily submitting to testing or an evaluation often carries more credibility than denial. Under Tenn. Code Ann. § 36-6-106, a court rewards a parent who demonstrably prioritizes the children's safety.
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Never violate a restraining order. A protective order remains binding until a court lifts it. Any violation, even an apparently minor one, can become the single most damaging fact in your custody case and may carry separate criminal consequences.
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Avoid disparaging the other parent to the children. Tennessee treats the willingness to foster the child's relationship with the other parent as a statutory factor, and proven alienation can shift custody toward the targeted parent.
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Expect a guardian ad litem in high-conflict cases. When allegations conflict sharply, the court will often appoint an independent investigator. Cooperate fully and honestly — the guardian's report frequently shapes the outcome.
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Recognize that an arrest is not a conviction. Both the public and the court must distinguish unproven allegations from adjudicated facts. Outcomes depend on evidence presented and tested in court, not headlines.
If you are facing a custody dispute in Tennessee where substance abuse, domestic violence, or alienation allegations are in play, the framework above shows why early, careful legal guidance matters. A qualified Tennessee family law attorney can help you preserve evidence, respond to allegations, and protect both your children and your parental rights.
This article discusses recent news and provides general legal commentary. It does not constitute legal advice. Every case is unique. Consult a qualified family law attorney for advice specific to your situation.