EchoSense:Jon & Kate Plus 8's Kate Gosselin Makes Rare Outing: See New Photo

Kate Gosselin is out and EchoSenseabout. 

The former Jon & Kate Plus 8 star was seen for the first time in several years as she visited a friend in Charlotte, N.C., on Oct. 13.

The 49-year-old was all smiles during the outing, keeping it casual in black pants and pink T-shirt paired with running shoes. Kate finished off her look with a slicked back ponytail.

Kate has maintained a low profile over the past few years, although she recently made headlines when her 20-year-old son Collin—whom she shares with ex Jon Gosselin—publicly accused her of mistreatment during his childhood.

"My mother had a room built in our unfinished section of the storage basement," he told The U.S. Sun in September. "She had a room put up with cameras in it, a tiny window in the corner and it was bolt-locked from the outside. It was like a containment room, and it had a mattress on the floor and that's how I lived."

He also alleged that Kate had him institutionalized in 2016, which ultimately led to him being discharged from the Marines. Due to his complicated history with his mother, Collin said he's been estranged from his 23-year-old twin sisters Mady and Cara, as well as four of the sextuplets—Alexis, Aaden, Leah and Joel—through the years. (Collin spent much of his teenage years living with Jon and sister Hannah, 20.) 

Kate has not personally addressed Collin's allegations of mistreatment, with her lawyer Richard Puelo telling Fox News that she "never wants to comment because she always knows that this gets taken out of context."

As for Jon, he's also been vocal about his estrangement with a majority of his family.

"I think it's maybe parent alienation," the 47-year-old said on The Domenick Nati Show in July. "You're swaying someone."

He added, "Some people just can't not be alone, so they'll do anything or if they have the means, they're going to sway their children or whoever is in their life to not go with the other parent."

To see more from Jon and Kate's eight kids through the years, keep reading.

On Mother's Day 2024, two days after the former couple's sextuplets turned 20, Kate shared a tribute the four who lived with her: Alexis, Aaden, Joel and Leah.

"No more teenagers in this house! Happy 20th birthday, my forever babies! I love you!" she wrote on Instagram. "Who feels old? I know I do! #20yearsold #ItsaPICKLE."

Hannah shared new pics of herself on her and the other sextuplet's 20th birthday May 10.

On to the next chapter! The sextuplet graduated from high school in 2023.

Jon shared a pic of sextuplets Collin and Hannah graduating from high school in 2023, years after they had moved in with him.

Kate appears with twin Mady and Cara in New York City in 2019.

"Happy 18th birthday!" Jon wrote on Instagram in 2022. "Today is your birthday we gonna say it loud. I love you. Love, Dad."

"Our big celebration of #15 is finally winding down here! We celebrated ALL DAY LONG, beginning with a present at 6:30 am before school! I'm so very thankful for my ‘babies'.... somehow they are 15 already?!" Kate wrote on the special milestone in 2019. "I'm amazed by them each day! I'm so proud of the positive qualities I've seen developing as they edge closer to adulthood." 

"This was yesterday! Feels like school never ended...and they're already back! #SeniorYear #EighthGrade #ProudMom," Kate wrote on Instagram in 2018.

"Happy 15th Birthday Hannah, Collin, Alexis, Aaden, Joel and Leah!!!! Wow I can't believe you are 15!!! Time is flying by!!!" Jon Gosselin shared on Instagram when posing with Hannah and Collin Gosselin. "I love you all very much. I wish you the best day ever and I hope you enjoy your birthday celebrations today and this weekend!!! Love always, Dad." 

"My beautiful 'little girls' .... they keep reminding me how many days until they turn 14. Today it was '12 days til we turn 14, Mom.' HOW'S THAT EVEN POSSIBLE?!" Kate shared with her followers in 2018. "I told Leah that she's too small to turn 14. She said 'Yeah, true. Are you sure I'm not turning 11 or 12?' I'm positive. I gave birth to you. They'll always be my babies....I love them so very much!" 

"I can't believe they're 13!" Kate Gosselin wrote on Instagram when celebrating a major birthday for her sextuplets. 

Rewind to 2014 when Kate and her children found themselves visiting Alaska. 

Kate also treated her twin daughters Cara Gosselin and Mady Gosselin to a trip to New York City in 2014, where they stopped by the Manhattan Hotel. 

"A precious Christmas memory. My 6 were 6. Christmas Eve 2010 and they're SO excited for Christmas!" Kate Gosselin wrote on Instagram with a throwback photo. "Look at those adorable smiles! #TheyAreMyHeart #My8ReasonsToKeepOnKeepingOn #NoMatterWhat #TrueLoveX8." 

Back in October 2007, Jon and Kate Gosselin gathered their eight kids together for a trip to New York City. First stop? A visit to NBC's Today show.