Sisters Ashley and Traci Abbott have had a complicated relationship over the decades they’ve spent together on “The Young and the Restless.” In her younger years, Traci suffered from low self-esteem due to growing up in the shadow of her older sister who she believed was more beautiful and successful than herself — in fact, she even went on to write a book detailing that experience (via Soap Central).
Both women spent time married to Brad Carlton (Don Diamont), who is the father of Traci’s only child Colleen Carlton and was killed off the show in 2009, along with his daughter. Their competition for his affection put a strain on their sibling relationship for many years before they were both able to move on and put it behind them. In regard to Brad, Beth Maitland once said in an interview with TV Insider, “You cannot control anybody else’s choices, feelings, or decisions. You can only be true to yourself. That is what defines us — how we deal with circumstances over which we have no control!” — a very wise perspective for a soap character to have!
Despite their differences, Ashley and Traci were able to come together in moments of crisis. Brad’s death, their father John Abbott’s death, their brother Jack’s health scares, and Ashley’s loss of her baby Faith, were just a few of the moments the two found support in each other. The sisters currently reside on different continents and don’t seem to be stepping on each other’s toes nearly as much as they used to.
