Chip and Joanna Gaines made it big when they starred in the HGTV show "Fixer Upper," so a lot of fans were surprised when they decided to leave the show at the height of its popularity.
During an interview with Success magazine, Chip revealed that their decision was based on their desire to prioritize their marriage. "We want to make sure that we're here for our family during really crucial, pivotal points in its journey," he said.
"The idea of leaving the show at the height of its popularity is probably pretty risky, almost irrational-sounding," he continued. "Jo and I just realized in our hearts that as much as we love 'Fixer Upper,' as much as we love the honor that we have felt with this show basically introducing us to the country, if not the world, we want to make sure that we're here."
The Gaines couple have navigated through five successful seasons of the home renovation show. While the fame and fortune it brings can be quite blinding, Chip said it was more important for them not to bring stress into their relationship.
"Obviously Jo and I as a couple, we just don't want to redline," he said. "You know, we don't want to run so hard after some dream or some goal only to find out that we've neglected the thing that means the very most to us, which is our marriage and our relationship."
Chip said they've thought a lot about their decision, and more importantly - they prayed about it. It was a "risky" move to leave the show, because it might negatively affect their home goods store and bakery in Waco, Texas. But ultimately, Chip said they have no regrets.
"People are like, 'You're crazy. You would be crazy to leave this thing at the height like this. Give it another year. Let it run out of gas,'" he said. "And we kind of laugh, and we're like, 'You know what? That's not who we are. We don't want to run this thing off a cliff and into a culvert.'"
