Chip GainesJoanna GainesMagnolia NetworkHome Renovation
Chip Gaines' New Magnolia Series Has Him Flying Solo — and a Peanuts Booth
Chip Gaines' 'Pretty Good Advice' debuts August 17 with a blue booth that has fans seeing Lucy van Pelt.
Source material: thelist.com
What is Chip Gaines' new solo project?
Chip Gaines is launching "Pretty Good Advice with Chip Gaines," a five-episode series that debuts August 17 on the Magnolia Network. Each episode features Chip outdoors at a bright blue booth with stools, where guests sit for what the network calls a "cozy heart-to-heart chat." The show covers entrepreneurial wisdom, design tips, and family relationships. Chip filmed it without Joanna, though she's never far from the brand. The booth's single open window reminded fans of Lucy van Pelt's psychiatric booth in the Peanuts comic strip — one person commented, "This reminds me of Lucy from Charlie Brown!" Even fans who didn't make the final cut were enthusiastic; one wrote, "Even though I didn't get to talk to @chipgaines it was still a great experience!" The series is part of a broader trend of Chip and Joanna working on separate projects, even as they continue to run the Magnolia Network together.
Why is Chip doing a show without Joanna?
Chip and Joanna Gaines have always been a package deal, but they deliberately carve out space for independent projects. In a 2023 interview with People, Chip said, "We're aligned in this sweet way to where we've just always been there for each other. We made each other stronger." That support extends to letting each other work alone. Joanna explained to "Today" in November 2023 that they understand "Chip's strengths, what lane that he stays in, my strengths, my weaknesses, what lanes I stay in." So "Pretty Good Advice" is Chip's solo venture, while Joanna has her own projects like "Mini Reni." The couple still manages multiple businesses, TV careers, and five kids, but they delegate rather than force every task to be shared. The result is a slate of shows on Magnolia that sometimes feature one Gaines or the other — not always both.
How do Chip and Joanna divide their work?
The Gaineses divide their work by honoring individual expertise. Their approach dates back to their early years as business partners, when they began renovating houses together in 2003, long before TV fame. This arrangement isn't a hierarchy but a sensible allocation of talents. The couple understands that forcing every task to be joint would slow them down and dilute their output. They instead choose to delegate based on comfort and proficiency. A clear division of labor allows each to pursue solo ventures, like Chip's upcoming series, while still contributing to the family brand. Joanna has discussed this strategy in interviews, noting that they stay in their respective lanes. It's a way of working that respects their differences and keeps their partnership dynamic, ensuring that neither is stretched too thin across the many responsibilities they juggle.
When did Chip and Joanna start renovating homes?
In 2003, a decade before they became famous on HGTV's 'Fixer Upper,' Chip and Joanna Gaines started renovating houses off-camera. At the time, they were building their retail business, and the renovation work was done without the presence of television crews. This early hands-on experience allowed them to develop their skills and understand each other's working style long before they entered the public eye. Their partnership during these initial projects laid the groundwork for the synergy they would later display on their hit show. While they were not yet household names, the couple was already establishing the collaborative approach that would define their careers. It wasn't until ten years later that they would bring these skills to a national audience through 'Fixer Upper,' but the foundation was set during those early, unglamorous renovations.
What has Joanna done on her own?
While Chip has his upcoming series, Joanna has also taken on solo projects. In 2023 and 2025, she appeared in 'Mini Reni' without her husband, Chip. The series featured miniature renovations, with each episode focusing on just a few rooms like a foyer and dining room, or a living room, dining room, and breakfast nook, all tied to a specific decorating theme. This is not Joanna's first time in front of the camera; she had a television debut long before 'Fixer Upper' and her marriage, appearing in a commercial for her dad's business. Unlike Chip, who once considered an athletic career, Joanna always envisioned herself in front of the camera. Her solo work demonstrates her individual strengths while complementing the couple's shared ventures.
How did Joanna Gaines get her start on TV?
Joanna Gaines's television career began not with a renovation show but with a commercial for her father's business. This appearance took place long before she met Chip or ever starred on 'Fixer Upper.' Even at that early stage, Joanna had a clear vision: she wanted to be in front of the camera. This ambition set her apart from Chip, who once considered a career in athletics instead. Her early on-camera work may have been humble, but it fueled her determination to pursue television. Over time, that drive led her to become a prominent figure in the home renovation genre, eventually co-hosting one of HGTV's most popular series. Yet her initial start in that local commercial was the first step on a path that would make her a beloved personality. It also foreshadowed her later willingness to take on solo projects, proving that her presence was not dependent on her husband's partnership.
Are Chip and Joanna still working together?
Absolutely. While they each pursue individual projects, Chip and Joanna Gaines remain deeply committed to their shared enterprises. Within their Magnolia Journal, Joanna takes on the role of editor-in-chief and appears on far more covers, while Chip contributes a regular column—a clear example of how they divide responsibilities. That structured approach helps them manage multiple businesses, television careers, and raising five children. This staggering workload is why they sometimes delegate tasks and take on separate shows, but it doesn't mean they are any less united. Their ability to give each other space, as seen in their respective solo projects, reflects a mutual understanding of each other's strengths and weaknesses, which Joanna articulated to 'Today' in November 2023 when she described the lanes they each stay in. That strategy keeps them thriving as a team, whether they're on camera together or apart.