Chip Gaines Gets Real About Joanna Flying Solo in New Show

Chip and Joanna Gaines built their Magnolia empire side-by-side. So how does he feel that Joanna’s latest show, “Mini Reni,” is a solo project?

In a new interview with Parade, Chip makes it clear that he not only does NOT feel left out, he’s actually delighted for his wife of almost 22-years.

“As I think about Jo and this incredible opportunity that God has blessed us with, I mean — it’s just like, I thought I was going to be a superstar. But it turned out the universe had a totally different idea in mind, and she has become just this incredible leader,” he says. “I’m so proud of her … We’ve definitely evolved in our older age in almost a sarcastic way. Like, I’ve become a little more bashful, I’m a tad insecure, dare I say. And Jo has become this force to be reckoned with.”

Chip goes on to say, “She’s done a couple of cooking shows without me. She’s done a show called ‘Mini Reni’ without me. And it’s just like I’ve launched this superstar into the universe and I could not be more proud.”

Chip Gaines Jokes that He Peaked in High School

In the Parade interview, Chip admits that the two have switched places over the years. “I was a very confident 20-something,” says Chip. “Thought the world was my oyster… I was one of these kids that, now that I’m 50, I kinda look back and I kinda peaked in high school, I’m not gonna lie. But high school and college, like, that was my era. I did all that you could possibly imagine and then some. And people would, like, vote me most likely to succeed. Why? I was terrible at school, not terribly smart, but I meet Jo, who was a little bit of a wallflower in her earlier, in high school and college. She probably would’ve been a little bit quieter, a little more bashful… and now she has become this incredible leader.”

Chip marvels at the impact his wife has had on both their business and their community. “We’ve got this beautiful company of which, two-thirds are female, we’re here in Waco, Texas and the impact that we’ve had on this community, I mean, it’s like I wish I could take credit for it because I feel like I should’ve been picked in this way, but instead it was Jo that was bound to be the superstar.”

Chip Lets Viewers In on the Evolution of Joanna’s Many Nicknames

Viewers have rarely heard Chip call his wife by her given name Joanna. But they’ve heard him call her plenty of nicknames. Chip told Parade that he started out calling her “JoJo.” But he quickly shortened it to “Jo.” And then he switched to “Joey,” though he says he’s not sure why. “I have no earthly idea where this came from,” he says.

But he reveals that there’s one nickname he has for her that viewers have not heard. That’s because he only uses it when he’s irritated or frustrated with his wife. “When I’m mad at her, I don’t know if this is relatable, but you know how when you like call somebody by their first, middle and last name and you’re like ‘oh no, I’m in huge trouble?’ I call her Joseph Daniel.. and she knows something is irritating me in that context.”

Chip Gaines Says He Misses His Long Hair

Chip Gaines famously got his long hair chopped off as a birthday present for Jo, who turned 47 on April 19.

But he says he misses it. “I’m so convinced that I’m a better human with long hair. And not better like morality. I’m probably a bit rowdier with long hair, it’s probably a good decision that I keep my hair short. But any time I cut it short I feel like ‘gosh, that’s the boring decision that any old person might make.’ And so I’m always, like, desperate to grow it long again. But I think it’s pretty clear that I definitely do better with a short head of hair.”