Joanna Gaines Steps Away from ‘Fixer Upper’ Fame to Regain Balance

Joanna Gaines found success by knocking on every door. Eventually, she decided to stop answering. At the peak of Fixer Upper fame, the home design expert and her husband, Chip Gaines, chose to walk away from the nonstop hustle. This decision came despite pressure from their representatives to continue.

Years later, Joanna shared how she reached a point of soul weariness. In her appearance on the Joy 101 with Hoda Kotb podcast, she explained, When you start realizing you’re living on a thing that’s now lost its intentionality…it doesn’t feel fulfilling. Joanna added, We were part of this machine, wondering, what’s the life here?

She continued, It was our first pause realizing that great rewards shouldn’t come at the expense of our livelihood, happiness, or souls. Stopping at that moment became a blueprint for how Joanna now approaches work and burnout.

Stopping was our way of assessing our health, our family’s well-being, Joanna said. This was an important moment for them.

While Fixer Upper turned Chip and Joanna into television stars, they recognized they couldn’t sustain this pace forever. Joanna spoke of how fame left her with soul weariness. First gaining attention when Fixer Upper aired its pilot in 2013, the show charted the couple’s transformations of rundown properties in Waco, Texas, all while expanding their Magnolia brand.

The show became a hit, making the Gaines couple household names. In September 2017, they announced the end of Fixer Upper after five successful seasons, opting to leave while the series thrived.

Joanna said, after building their business for 25 years, they realized they had lost sight of their goal. The couple took time off during the summer to reassess.

However, taking a break brought challenges. Joanna acknowledged the pressure it placed on their team and the disappointment it caused. Yet, stepping back was necessary for clarity on their future.

She recalled fatigue becoming impossible to ignore. Chip and Joanna’s son going to college changed their view on parenting.

When the dread sets in, Joanna noted, one starts hoping for excuses to pause—even if it means welcoming illness.

She understands how to push through physical exhaustion, but the deeper exhaustion is different. Your soul just feels weary, she remarked, emphasizing its impact.

For Joanna, the warning of soul weariness was a holy fear. Despite her entrepreneurial success, she learned the importance of not overworking herself. Joanna and Chip, who have five children, rooted their Magnolia brand in Waco, Texas.

After Fixer Upper ended in 2018, Magnolia Network launched on Discovery+ in 2021. The network then replaced DIY Network in January 2022.

The couple’s Magnolia Market at the Silos includes diverse attractions in Waco, like Magnolia Market and Silos Baking Co. They also run Magnolia Table elsewhere in Waco.

The design duo publishes Magnolia Journal and lifestyle books. Joanna has a furniture line named Magnolia Home and a collection with Target called Hearth & Hand with Magnolia.

Chip and Joanna opened the 33-room Hotel 1928 in Waco during 2023, renovating a historic building with AJ Capital. They offer vacation rentals in Waco through Magnolia.

Joanna Gaines’s career transition underscores the importance of balance between success and personal fulfillment. This story is a testament to prioritizing health and family amidst pressures of fame.