Out of all the reality shows on TV, those who are designed to help people in need are definitely my favorite. If you are a fan of such shows, chances are you are familiar with Ty Pennington, the host of Extreme Makeover: Home Edition.
Ever since he appeared on the popular BBC program Trading Spaces where he worked as a carpenter, he stole many people’s hearts. Extremely skillful and smoking hot, it didn’t come as a surprise that Ty was soon offered to host Extreme Makeover: Home Edition.
During the nine seasons it originally aired, the show helped built the homes of thousands of families. However, as much as he was happy to help one family at a time, rejecting the rest was very hard. Ty once revealed that they were getting over 4,000 videos a week of people who wanted to get renovations.
“Yeah, that’s the worst part, but who knows, we might be able to go back and help some of those people we had to say “no” to earlier,” he told Ability Magazine in 2007.
“What’s really cool is, some of the families we’ve helped have come out and helped us with other families. They really want to give back what’s been given to them. There’s definitely a pay-it-forward kind of vibe on our show.”
Hosting the show put Ty in the spotlight, but being on the set took its toll. He could barely find the time for his private life.
“I didn’t see family or a girlfriend for 10 years. I would come home to do laundry and go out again,” he told The Atlanta Constitution in 2019.
“When I saw people from the old TV show, they said ’My God! You look amazing!’ I got some sleep! I would imagine I look a lot better than when I was on the show.”
After the show was canceled back in 2011, Ty turned to other projects. He joined ABC’s talk show The Revolution and later on became a part of two cooking shows, On The Menu and American Diner Revival. He also opened a Los Angeles based design store. In 2018, Ty was part of the third season of the Deluxe Corporation’s series Small Business Revolution: Main Street, and he also did some renovations for Trading Spaces. Most recently, he was seen hosting Battle on the Beach.
When Extreme Makeover: Home Edition aired again recently, he wasn’t offered to get back on the show, but he said there are no hard feelings or any bad blood.
Today, Ty is engaged to 33-year-old social media manager Kellee Merrell. He proposed to her with a beautiful tea-drop-shaped diamond ring and shared the great news on Instagram by posting a photo with the caption “It’s the ‘yes’ for me…”
They have known in each other for a long time but only started dating last year after they stumbled upon each other.
“I have admired Kellee from afar for years. She’s a beautiful person inside and out,” Ty told People.
“Luckily our paths finally crossed at the right time. It’s one of those things where you just feel happy being around a person. I never thought I would get married, but she changed that. Glad I waited for the one.”
The couple is currently residing in Florida until their Savannah, Georgia home is ready. We are so happy Ty settled down with the woman he loves.