The Story Behind Joanna and Chip Gaines' Unexpected Love Story
Imagine this: one of the most iconic couples in home renovation history almost didn’t happen. Chip and Joanna Gaines, the beloved duo behind the Magnolia empire, could’ve taken a completely different path if fate hadn’t intervened. Joanna Gaines herself revealed that she almost ended up dating Chip’s roommate, affectionately referred to as “Hot John.”
During an appearance on The Tonight Show Starring Jimmy Fallon on Valentine’s Day, February 14, Joanna shared the story of how she almost walked straight into the arms of the wrong guy. Talk about a twist of fate!
Joanna’s Near Miss With “Hot John”
Back in the day, Joanna was working at her dad’s tire shop in Waco, Texas. One of the regular customers was none other than Chip’s roommate, “Hot John.” Now, let me tell you, Joanna had her sights set on this guy. She was working up the courage to approach him but was feeling a little nervous. “I finally mustered up the courage to leave my office,” Joanna recounted. “I walk toward the waiting room where John is, and I make eye contact. But I’m not really gifted in conversation. So, I look at him and I’m like, ‘Now what?’”
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Instead of heading straight to the waiting room, Joanna decided to take a detour outside, pretending to take a smoke break. But here’s where destiny stepped in. The very next person she saw wasn’t John—it was Chip. Talk about a lucky break!
Chip’s Charismatic Entrance
Chip, on the other hand, was ready for this moment. “Unlike her, I’m incredible at eye contact,” Chip joked. “I always have a one-liner planned for any occasion where you might meet one of the most beautiful women on the planet. You must have that back-pocket line ready to rock. So, she walked right past Hot John, thankfully, right into the loving arms [of me].”
“John’s tall, dark and handsome,” Chip admitted with a laugh. “I was sort of shorter, redder and frumpier.” But Chip had one thing going for him—charm. His winning personality was enough to capture Joanna’s heart, and the two began dating in 2001. They tied the knot on May 31, 2003, and the rest, as they say, is history.
Chip’s First Glimpse of Joanna
Interestingly, Chip was transfixed by Joanna even before they officially met. On his first visit to her dad’s tire shop, he noticed a family photo hanging behind the counter. “Her dad made the mistake of putting a pic of the family behind the counter at his [automotive] shop. I knew I’d marry her one day just by the picture on the wall,” Chip told PopSugar. He kept returning to the shop, hoping to finally meet Joanna face-to-face. “My buddies used to always joke that no one could get their brakes done as often as I got my brakes done,” Chip joked to Waco TV station KWTX.
And boy, did it pay off. After nearly two decades of marriage, Chip and Joanna have built an empire that started with Magnolia Realty in 2003, the same year they got married. Their HGTV show, Fixer Upper, launched in 2013 and quickly became one of the network’s top shows, showcasing their incredible ability to buy, remodel, and sell homes around Waco. The couple has also expanded into other ventures, creating their own home goods line, a magazine called The Magnolia Journal, and the Magnolia TV Network, formerly known as the DIY Network.
But their life isn’t just about work. In between running their successful business, Chip and Joanna are devoted parents to five children: sons Drake, 18, Duke, 14, and Crew, 4, and daughters Ella Rose, 16, and Emmie Kay, 13. Their family life is as vibrant and full of love as their professional endeavors.
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So the next time you watch one of their shows or use one of their products, remember the story of how it all began—with a little help from destiny.
