Was Chip Gaines married before Joanna Gaines? First wife rumor explained

Chip Gaines and Joanna Gaines have built a media empire. They turned their small business into a household name through shows such as Fixer Upper and projects under the Magnolia brand.

But as the couple dominate the world of home renovation and lifestyle content, curiosity about their personal lives arises from time to time. One recurring question is about Chip Gaines’ marital status before he met Joanna.

Rumors have circulated online for years that Chip Gaines had a wife before Joanna. According to MSN, the speculations began after fans discovered old blog posts and social media threads. These mentioned a woman named Kelley, whom Chip dated seriously in his twenties.

Some thought Kelley might be his first wife. But those claims have been widely discredited. Chip Gaines has only been married to Joanna Gaines. The couple supposedly met in 2001, in her father’s auto shop in Waco, Texas.

Even though Joanna first noticed Chip’s roommate, it was Chip who pursued her, and they started dating shortly thereafter. In 2003, they exchanged vows in a ceremony at the 19th-century Earle-Harrison House in Waco. Now, they share five kids.

Prior to meeting Joanna, Chip had a few serious relationships, one of which he wrote about in the Magnolia Journal. Discussing his ex-girlfriend, who he addressed as “Amy,” Chip said that he believed he was going to marry her.

The relationship supposedly lasted for more than two years and ended after a series of missteps—what Chip himself admitted was immaturity.

He said, ”Amy put up with me despite my terrible approach to relationships. She and I dated for upward of two years."

More about Chip Gaines’ past girlfriends and his controversial business ventures with Joanna Gaines

In an essay, Chip Gaines wrote about how he once attempted to win Amy back by constructing a small stone edifice outside her apartment. Unfortunately, the move backfired, and Amy’s father sent Chip a letter expressing his distress due to Chip’s persistence.

"I really respected this man, and for the first time throughout this whole ordeal, I realized that even though my intentions were good, I had pushed this too far." Chip said.

Realizing he had crossed a line, Chip finally cut the relationship loose. Chip also had a serious relationship with a woman named Kelley, but there is nothing to suggest either woman was his wife.

Fixer Upper hosts Chip and Joanna Gaines have faced their fair share of scandals over the years. They faced criticism in 2016 when a report revealed that their church pastor preached anti-LGBTQ teachings. They also came under fire from critics who pointed out their show had never featured same-sex couples.

According to Business Insider, in 2017, Chip’s former business partners sued him for fraud, alleging he had hidden Fixer Upper’s success when buying them out. Another Fixer Upper family sued Magnolia Realty for fraud after a car struck their house. Magnolia was fined $40,000 by the EPA in 2018 for failing to comply with lead paint safety standards during renovations.

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The couple’s donation in 2021 to Chip Gaines’ sister’s anti-critical race theory school board campaign drew backlash. In 2022, Magnolia Network also pulled Home Work after allegations from homeowners about the mismanagement of their renovations, though the show subsequently returned.

Still, in spite of all that, the Gaineses continue to be successful in the home design and television industry, and their Magnolia brand is only growing.

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