Joanna Gaines, co-founder of Magnolia and half of the well-known duo from the home renovation series Fixer Upper, recently shared insights into her experiences during the early days of the show. During a conversation on the podcast Not Gonna Lie with Kylie Kelce on November 5, Joanna discussed her reluctance to revisit older episodes of the series and how she and her husband, Chip, adjusted their filming practices to safeguard their children’s privacy.
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Set to run on HGTV from 2013 to 2018, Fixer Upper captured the hearts of viewers with its charming renovations and engaging family dynamics. However, Joanna revealed that the couple’s children frequently appeared in the show’s earlier segments. As the series progressed, they became increasingly aware of the privacy concerns that came with public recognition. The decision to limit their children’s on-screen presence stemmed from a desire to ensure they could grow up away from the spotlight, allowing them to live more normal lives.
Reflecting on her children’s experiences, Joanna noted that many fans are surprised to see how much they have grown since the show first aired. The Gaines’ children— sons Drake, 21, and Duke, 18, and daughters Ella, 20, and Emmie, 16, along with their youngest child, Crew, who is eight—have transformed into young adults while many viewers associate them with their appearances as children on Fixer Upper. Joanna admitted that it can be jarring for her to see the young versions of her children on the show, stating, “When I see my kids, I’m like, ‘How are they adults now?’”
The recognition challenge has inadvertently granted Joanna and Chip’s older children some degree of anonymity. This was evident during Magnolia’s recent fall celebration, Silobration, where Joanna mentioned her children were able to attend freely without being recognised. “No one knows who they are,” she noted, adding that they enjoyed shopping among numerous vendors without drawing attention to themselves.
Joanna also expressed a sense of naivety about the effects of celebrity on her children during the initial seasons of Fixer Upper. At the time, she did not fully grasp the extent to which public exposure would impact them, stating, “We were naive and didn’t know… Once I knew, that’s when we pulled it and we were like, ‘You’re never seeing [them]!’” This proactive approach was a direct response to the challenges her children were facing due to their unexpected fame.
Maintaining the individuality of her children has always been important to Joanna. “I just want my kids to feel like their own thing and not like, ‘Oh, you’re Chip and Jo’s kids,’” she explained. As they grow older, Joanna finds satisfaction in the fact that her children can engage with her business ventures on their own terms, experiencing the joys of working at Magnolia without the pressure of public scrutiny.
Since the conclusion of the original Fixer Upper, Joanna and Chip have expanded their television repertoire with several spin-offs under the Magnolia Network, which they launched in January 2022. The couple continues to captivate audiences with shows like Fixer Upper: Welcome Home and Fixer Upper: The Castle. Their daughter Ella’s involvement in the series, particularly in Colorado Mountain House, marks a significant milestone as she showcased her own design expertise while tackling projects independently.
As the Gaines family continues to grow and evolve, Joanna’s reflections on privacy and the passing of time underscore the reality of balancing family life with a public persona. The decisions they have made appear to prioritise the well-being of their children even as they remain in the limelight.
Fans of Fixer Upper can expect new episodes that delve into the creative journeys of the family while maintaining a focus on home renovation. Joanna and Chip’s approach seems to focus not only on design but also on fostering a sense of normalcy for their children amid their growing fame.
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