Lenny: Okay, folks, let’s talk about a couple that’s been married for over two decades, raised five kids, built a home-renovation empire from the ground up, and still finds ways to keep things fresh. Yes, we’re talking about the first couple of shiplap and Southern charm — Chip and Joanna Gaines.
Now, in case you missed it, the Gaineses just hit 22 years of marriage. That’s not just impressive in Hollywood years — that’s impressive “in any” years. And instead of just going out for dinner or taking a cute selfie, they did something different.
They hired a couple to teach them how to “dance”. Yep, real-life dance lessons. No cameras, no Magnolia-branded hardwood floors — just the two of them, stumbling through box steps and twirls like high schoolers at a prom.
Joanna spilled the beans to “People” magazine, saying, “We still feel like newbies.” Can we just take a moment to appreciate that? Because here’s the thing: so many couples hit the 20-year mark and coast. They fall into routines, raise the kids, manage the chaos, and forget that spark they had back when they couldn’t keep their hands off each other. Not Chip and Jo.
Chip, being Chip, admitted that the whole dance lesson thing was awkward. “Just she and I with this couple,” he said, “you talk about awkward.” And you can “hear” him saying that, right? You know he probably laughed through half the lesson and stepped on Joanna’s toes the other half. But here’s the kicker — they stuck with it. After a couple of weeks, they weren’t just enduring it, they were “looking forward to it”.
Joanna called it “a new awakening” for their marriage. She said it revealed insecurities, strengths, and made them grow. And honestly? That’s kind of beautiful. Because dancing is “literally” about staying in sync, following each other’s lead, and trusting the rhythm — and isn’t that what marriage is all about?
Even better, they’re not pretending they nailed it from the start. “We totally suck at it,” Joanna laughed. But that’s what made it meaningful. It challenged them. It knocked them out of their comfort zone. And in doing so, it reminded them why they chose each other in the first place.
And here’s a gem: Chip called it a “sweet reminder that all of us could use refreshes and challenges in our relationships.” That’s not just marriage advice, folks — that’s “life” advice.
So whether you’ve been married 2 years or 22, maybe it’s time to do something totally out of character with your partner. Go dance. Take a class. Learn how to paint. Embarrass yourselves. Because, as Chip and Jo just proved — even when you “totally suck” at something, doing it together might just be the thing that brings you closer.
And if that doesn’t melt your inner skeptic, I don’t know what will.
