Chip and Joanna Gaines in People Magazine recently shared the reason why America’s favorite power couple announced that their time on television was coming to an end.
Chip and Joanna shocked fans when they announced that the soon-to-air season five of Fixer Upper would be their last.
Joanna Gaines
In a post on the Magnolia blog, Joanna explained that the decision to end filming was “bittersweet,” and ultimately what they feel is best for their family at this time.
“While we are confident that this is the right choice for us, it has for sure not been an easy one to come to terms with,” Joanna writes. “Our family has grown up alongside yours, and we have felt you rooting us on from the other side of the screen. How bittersweet to say goodbye to the very thing that introduced us all in the first place.”
But in the latest cover story of People Magazine, Chip and JoJo give the world a little more insight as to what brought forth their decision.
People
Leaving the future open to what God has planned, the Gaineses say their goal right now is to step back, breathe and appreciate the series that changed their lives.
“We really want to focus on this break and take a step back to let this all soak in,” she added. “Regardless of what the future holds, we are hopeful for what God has for us and our family in this next season.”
Joanna Gaines
In the article, the couple reveals that since Fixer Upper debuted in 2013, they have been going non-stop, filming the show 11 months out of the year while also managing the Magnolia empire which boasts more than 500 employees, a real estate division, multiple retail shops, wallpaper and furniture lines, luxury vacation rentals, an upcoming restaurant, two books as well as a quarterly magazine and a product line for Target.
“I realized the show was demanding time from me, and I needed to be giving it to our businesses, to our relationship and my family,” Chip explained. “How far can you push it before something really does break down? And that’s kind of where we landed.”
The kids would ask, “Mom and Dad, do you guys have to film again today? When is this going to be over?” Chip recalls.
“The kids were so young when we started,” added Joanna. “Fast-forward to today and our oldest is almost a teenager—they’re all growing up so quickly.”
Although the show is what changed their lives and spearheaded that laundry list of successful endeavors, it will never come before the thing that matters most—their relationship with each other, and the family they’ve created.