Joanna Gaines Shares Secret to 23-Year Marriage

The HGTV star discussed keeping her marriage to Chip Gaines strong on the Not Gonna Lie with Kylie Kelce podcast.

Updated on Nov. 5, 2026 in Marriage

Gouache-painted editorial illustration of two smooth river stones, one round and one angular, balanced on separate ledges in warm earthy tones. — Joanna Gaines says she and Chip Gaines have kept their 23-year marriage strong by embracing their opposite personalities and trying new things together, including dance lessons. AI Illustration. Upload story photo >

Joanna Gaines said she and Chip Gaines keep their 23-year marriage strong by letting each other be their true selves, embracing opposite personalities, and evolving as a couple. The HGTV star made the remarks on the Not Gonna Lie with Kylie Kelce podcast.

Why it matters

Joanna Gaines said challenges and discomfort make the couple stronger, and that their differing strengths create a power that emerges when they embrace the tension between them. Her comments offer a candid look at the habits she credits for a long-lasting marriage.

Joanna Gaines, 48, has been married to Chip Gaines, 51, since May 2003, and the couple has five children. Kylie Kelce, 34, has been married to Jason Kelce, 39, since April 2018, and the couple has four children.

The players

Joanna Gaines

An HGTV star and mother of five who co-hosts home renovation programming with her husband Chip Gaines.

Kylie Kelce

A podcast host and mother of four who is married to former NFL center Jason Kelce.

The details

Gaines said the couple keeps their marriage fresh by trying new things together, such as dance lessons. She and Kelce agreed that they each married the funny guy and the life of the party.

May 2003: Joanna Gaines married Chip Gaines.
April 2018: Kylie Kelce married Jason Kelce.
Thursday, Nov. 5: Joanna Gaines appeared on the Not Gonna Lie podcast episode.

Culture Shift

Celebrity podcasts such as Not Gonna Lie with Kylie Kelce have become a venue where public figures discuss marriage in personal terms. Gaines's remarks reflect a broader pattern of couples emphasizing individuality and shared novelty over traditional roles.

Couples looking to keep their relationships fresh can consider trying new activities together, as Gaines described with dance lessons. Her emphasis on letting partners be their true selves offers a practical starting point for everyday connection.

The takeaway

Gaines's approach centers on embracing differences and new experiences rather than avoiding tension. Couples can apply that by naming what each partner brings and trying something unfamiliar together.