The 5 Shocking New Realities Of Bentley Edwards: Maci Bookout’s Son At 17

The world first met Bentley Cadence Edwards in 2009 as the newborn son of Maci Bookout and Ryan Edwards on the pilot episode of MTV’s groundbreaking series, 16 and Pregnant. Now, over 16 years later, the little boy who grew up in front of the cameras is a young man, turning 17 in October 2025, and his life is a whirlwind of high school sports, complex family dynamics, and a surprising new maturity that is captivating viewers of Teen Mom: The Next Chapter. This current reality is a far cry from the chaotic childhood documented for years, showcasing a fresh, unique, and deeply personal journey.

The latest updates on Bentley, especially those from late 2024 and early 2025, reveal a young man stepping into his own identity. He is focused on his athletic career and academics, while simultaneously navigating a heavily scrutinized relationship with his biological father, Ryan Edwards, and offering a surprisingly honest perspective on the very topic that made his family famous: teenage pregnancy. The following details are the most current and essential revelations about Bentley's life today.

Bentley Cadence Edwards: The Biography of a Reality TV Teenager

Bentley Cadence Edwards has the unique distinction of being the first child featured in the entire *16 and Pregnant* and *Teen Mom* franchise. His life has been chronicled from the delivery room to the high school wrestling mat, making his personal history inextricably linked to the history of reality television.

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• Full Name: Bentley Cadence Edwards
• Date of Birth: October 27, 2008
• Age (as of Dec 2025): 17
• Parents: Maci Bookout (Mother) and Ryan Edwards (Father)
• Stepparents: Taylor McKinney (Stepfather) and Amanda Conner (Ryan's Fiancée)
• Siblings/Half-Siblings: Jayde Carter McKinney (Half-sister), Maverick Reed McKinney (Half-brother), Jagger Edwards (Half-brother), Stella Edwards (Half-sister), and Brandon Conner (Amanda's son).
• Hometown: Chattanooga, Tennessee area.
• Education: Attends Boyd-Buchanan High School.
• Notable Appearances: 16 and Pregnant (Season 1), Teen Mom OG, and Teen Mom: The Next Chapter.
• Primary Interests: Wrestling and Baseball.

1. The Rise of an Athlete: Bentley’s Wrestling and Baseball Focus

One of the most significant and recent developments in Bentley’s life is his dedication to sports, which has provided a positive and grounding focus away from the reality TV drama. He is currently a high school student at Boyd-Buchanan High School in Chattanooga, Tennessee, where he actively participates in athletics.

Bentley is deeply committed to wrestling. His name frequently appears in recent 2024 and 2025 wrestling event results on sports tracking websites, detailing his participation in various rounds and weight classes, including the 115 lbs and 134-137 lbs divisions. This rigorous athletic schedule, supported by his mother Maci Bookout and stepfather Taylor McKinney, has become a major part of his identity as he enters his late teenage years.

In addition to wrestling, Bentley also plays baseball for his high school team. This focus on competitive sports like wrestling and baseball provides a healthy outlet and structure, which Maci has often highlighted as a crucial element in his development. These activities are now a central theme in his life, often featured in the current season of the *Teen Mom* franchise, providing topical authority on his personal growth.

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2. A New Chapter with Ryan Edwards: Apologies and Reconciliation

The relationship between Bentley and his biological father, Ryan Edwards, has been one of the most turbulent and emotionally charged storylines in the *Teen Mom* franchise. For years, the two were estranged, primarily due to Ryan's struggles with substance abuse and legal issues, leading to Bentley setting firm boundaries.

However, recent 2024 and 2025 updates confirm a significant and positive shift. Following his father’s separation from his ex-wife Mackenzie Edwards and his subsequent legal and personal journey, Ryan has begun to rebuild his relationship with his eldest son.

In a deeply emotional moment documented on *Teen Mom: The Next Chapter*, Ryan Edwards offered a sincere apology to Bentley for his past absence and failures as a father. This apology was a major turning point, and the two have been seen spending more time together. Ryan even shared a rare vacation photo with Bentley and his younger siblings in 2024, signaling a commitment to a healthier family dynamic.

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Maci Bookout has publicly expressed her happiness about this change, noting that Ryan is in a better place with his new fiancée, Amanda Conner, and that Bentley is benefiting from the newfound stability. This reconciliation is a fresh, unique storyline that highlights Bentley's maturity in accepting his father back into his life on new terms.

3. Bentley's Honest Admission on Teenage Pregnancy

Perhaps the most poignant and full-circle moment for Bentley, and the entire *Teen Mom* franchise, is his recent willingness to discuss the very topic that launched his family into fame: teenage pregnancy. As he approaches adulthood, Bentley has been shown on the show making honest and mature admissions about the possibility of following in his mother's footsteps.

In a trailer and subsequent episodes for *Teen Mom: The Next Chapter*, the subject of Bentley potentially becoming a teen parent, just as Maci was at 16, was directly addressed. While the specific details of his admission are a major draw for current viewers, the fact that he is openly discussing the challenges and realities of teen parenthood—a topic he has lived through from birth—shows an incredible level of self-awareness and maturity for his age.

This storyline provides immense topical authority, demonstrating that the show's original message about the difficulties of teen parenthood is now being discussed by the next generation of children from the series. Both Maci and Ryan have been shown addressing the topic, reinforcing the importance of open communication and education with their son as he navigates high school and relationships.

The focus is not on any current situation, but rather on Bentley's mature perspective and the preventative conversations being had, which is a powerful and fresh narrative for the long-running reality series.