Chip and Joanna Gaines brought renewed energy to reality TV with their shows on HGTV. The couple’s wholesomeness brought about a wave of popularity that led to them getting their own TV channel. But TV rarely depicts the realities of everyday life. Now, Joanna is speaking out about her family and marriage.
A Decade Together
Joanna Gaines sat down for an interview at the end of last year to celebrate the anniversary of her and Chip’s business and their marriage. She detailed how the couple opened a store called Magnolia Market shortly after they got married. At the time, Chip was already making a living flipping houses.
While running Magnolia Market, Joanna ran a blog that detailed the couple’s life and business. The blog caught the attention of an entertainment executive, which eventually landed them a show on HGTV. Now, after 20 years in business and being married, Joanna looks back on the way things have changed.
Mid-Life Crisis
She notably said in the interview “I feel like I’m going through a midlife crisis!” That may come as a bit of a surprise to some because Joanna tends to be the calmer and more rational person on the show. She even notes how Chip is the emotional one and that she is often emotionless. She justified her recent emotions by saying “I’m just making up for the 20 years that I have been unemotional!”
There is nothing wrong with being emotional, and it is often a part of growing older. Joanna did say that her oldest child just graduated high school, and him going off to college could easily spark this kind of emotion. However, she still has four children at home and will for a while considering their youngest is only five years old.
New Projects
What’s really interesting is that Joanna said she doesn’t like change. However, being in the home renovation industry means she is surrounded by change all of the time. Obviously the Gaines have people working for them, but they lead a life that is far from what most people would consider normal. Another consideration is that Chip and Joanna have spent much of the last 20 years building their business and brand. Joanna may now regret not spending more time with her chidloren during that time.
Since the interview, Chip and Joanna have appeared on spin-off specials, including Fixer Upper: The Castle, which saw the two restoring a castle dating back to the 1800s in Waco, TX. More recently, they appeared on Fixer Upper: The Hotel. The series saw Chip and Joana restore a boutique hotel in downtown Waco. However, it was more than just a TV show as the couple competed it and opened to the public on November 1, 2023.
The more than 100 year old hotel is stunning and unlike anything else in central Texas. Chip and Joanna own the complex along with investment partners, and it doesn’t look like they are planning on selling it anytime soon.
