Joanna Gaines in Tears Provides emotional update about son Drake. “Saying Goodbye is never easier”

Chip and Joanna Gaines appeared on TODAY on October 22 to discuss their two newest competition shows, Human vs Hamster and Roller Jam, which are set to premiere on Magnolia Network, the couple’s collaboration with Warner Bros. Discovery.

During the interview, the couple also reflected on their 21-year marriage, sharing their secret to growing together with hosts Hoda Kotb and Jenna Bush Hager. “We’re together a lot. We love each other. We like each other. We pull for each other,” Chip said. “Even when things aren’t great, sometimes you just fake it until you make it.”

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As parents of five—Drake, Ella, Duke, Emmie, and Crew—the couple takes pride in raising their children. Joanna has previously spoken about her role in preserving their “youth and innocence,” especially as they grow older. “As their mother, my biggest job is keeping them in a place where they cherish their youth and innocence,” she told TODAY.com.

Below, get to know Chip and Joanna Gaines’ five kids.

Ella Rose Gaines

On October 20, 2006, Chip and Joanna Gaines welcomed their second child, Ella, who is now 17. In a 2019 interview with People, Joanna revealed that Ella shares many of her traits. “Ella is like me,” Joanna said. “I think she’ll follow in my footsteps and get involved in many things. Right now, she wants to cook, be a lead designer, and own a donut truck.”

Ella has been actively pursuing her love for baking. In 2018, Joanna gave her a shoutout for her summer baking project. When Ella turned 16 in 2022, Joanna threw her a Sweet 16 party, sharing photos on Instagram of the festive balloons and gifts. “My sweet girl turns 16,” Joanna wrote. “I’m trying my hardest not to cry like a big fat mama baby when she drives off by herself tomorrow.”

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In the spring 2024 issue of Magnolia Journal, Joanna shared more about Ella’s interests, including how she was inspired to learn Korean after the family’s trip to Seoul, South Korea. “Dressing up in traditional Korean clothing was one of my favorite memories, and I’ll cherish these pictures forever,” Joanna captioned. She also mentioned that Seoul is where her parents first met in 1971. “Really, Seoul is where our family’s story begins, and I couldn’t wait to experience it for the first time.”

Joanna also talked about Ella’s entrepreneurial spirit. “Her new summer business is selling baked goods at the office when she comes to work with me,” Joanna shared on Instagram. “Tonight we stayed up late, and she made Aunt Opal’s banana pudding and the chocolate chip cookies from my cookbook.”

Duke Gaines

On May 23, 2008, Chip and Joanna Gaines welcomed their son Duke, who is now 16. In a 2019 interview with People, Joanna shared that Duke and his sister Emmie dream of owning a farm truck to sell vegetables and eggs. “We printed labels for them, and once a week they go out and sell,” Joanna said. “They’re just like Chip: They don’t take no for an answer!”

In a humorous 2021 Instagram post, Chip gave a glimpse of what “take your kids to work day” looks like when the job involves demolition. Duke was captured walking around the work site, playfully declaring, “Nothing’s cool (here).”

Emmie Kay Gaines

On January 5, 2010, Chip and Joanna Gaines welcomed their youngest daughter, Emmie, now 14. In 2019, Joanna proudly highlighted Emmie’s baking skills by sharing a photo of her making cookies, with her little brother Crew watching nearby.

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“She was determined to create her own cookie recipe, and I stepped out of the kitchen so she could surprise me (and so I wouldn’t micromanage her),” Joanna captioned the post. “Let’s just say it was one of the best cookies I’ve ever had!”

Emmie isn’t just skilled at baking—she’s also handy in the kitchen when it comes to cooking. In 2020, Joanna shared a video of the two of them preparing soup together, showing off Emmie’s growing culinary talents.

Crew Gaines

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Crew is the youngest of the Gaines family, born in 2018. He quickly became Joanna Gaines’ “little sidekick.”

“He comes to work with me every day and attends all my meetings,” Joanna shared with People. “I always joke with Chip, ‘This boy will be running the company by age 5!’”

While Crew, now 6, isn’t running the company just yet, he has already picked up a few skills. In August 2022, Joanna posted a video of Crew helping her make pasta sauce, captioning it, “My little sous chef.”

Crew’s sweet nature shone through again in November 2022, when he warmed hearts by making his dad a birthday card for Chip’s 48th. “I love you, Dad. I really hope that I wanna go fish with you,” Crew wrote.

In 2023, Joanna proudly shared a video of Crew’s creative talents, showing off the fairy garden he built. For his sixth birthday on June 21, 2024, Crew requested a “Dino fossil dig and kite party,” and Joanna delivered. She posted photos on Instagram, featuring dinosaur-themed decor, gifts adorned with plastic dino toys, and a cake topped with a T-Rex.

Joanna has often spoken about how much she’s learned from being Crew’s mom. During a November 2022 appearance on TODAY with Hoda & Jenna, she described Crew as her “little wisdom,” saying, “I can learn more from Crew — the way he teaches me to live and to notice things.”

Joanna Gaines Gets Emotions as she sent her son away

Joanna Gaines recently shared a heartfelt moment as she hugged her eldest son, Drake Gaines, before sending him off to study business entrepreneurship at the University of Mary Hardin-Baylor in Belton, TX, just 44 miles south of their hometown of Waco.

“Saying goodbye never gets easier,” the Fixer Upper star, 46, wrote in an emotional post on Thursday. “Lots of love to all the parents sending their kids off to school this season.”

Drake, now 20, is not only beginning his academic journey but has also been recruited as the No. 77 outfielder for the university’s Crusaders baseball team. The private Baptist university, however, made headlines in 2016 for being ranked among the worst schools in Texas for LGBTQAI students. UMHB had reportedly prohibited homosexual behavior in its student handbook, and in 2015, the school was granted a Title IX exception, allowing it to exclude LGBTQAI organizations for religious reasons.

Joanna and her husband, Chip Gaines, previously stood by their Antioch Community Church during a similar controversy in 2016 when Pastor Jimmy Seibert publicly denounced homosexuality and supported conversion therapy. At the time, Chip tweeted, “In times of trouble, you’ll find the Gaines family at church.”

On Tuesday, Joanna shared a peek into Drake’s new college apartment through her Instagram stories, showcasing his nearly empty fridge, a houseplant, rustic coffee table, and even a ring toss drinking game. She also added her own touch, sneaking a copy of her Magnolia Table, Volume 3 cookbook onto Drake’s shelf “for color.”

Drake, a passionate baseball player, displayed a decorative wooden board with a famous quote from Yankees legend Babe Ruth: “Never let the fear of striking out keep you from playing the game.”

Last Saturday, Joanna posted a video montage of their family vacation to Sugar Beach, A Viceroy Resort, on the Caribbean island of Saint Lucia, enjoying “fun in the sun” with the entire family.

Joanna gaines Son Drake is Rebelling against his mom

Joanna Gaines’ son, Drake, is making his own mark on his college apartment, transforming one of his mom’s carefully designed spaces into something unexpected.

The 19-year-old added blue LED strip lights, giving the apartment a “club” vibe after Joanna had thoughtfully decorated it.

As the cofounder of Magnolia Network, Joanna is used to creating beautiful spaces, but it seems Drake’s bold design choice might just be his way of playfully rebelling as the son of a renowned designer.

Joanna Gaines shared on the Today show how her son, Drake, took creative liberties with his college apartment’s decor. “He wanted more lighting,” Joanna explained, mentioning that Drake bought LED lights on Amazon and strung them around the entire space. She only found out about the change through her other kids. “I spend all this time and plan,” she said. “I do it, and then the day I leave, he’ll send pictures to his siblings, and they’ll show me.”

Chip Gaines, her husband, chimed in, agreeing with her thoughts on the new lighting. “The place was adorable the day before,” Chip joked. “Now he’s put disco lights in this thing. He’s got a smoke machine in the corner.” Joanna quickly clarified that there’s no smoke machine—at least, she hopes not. Despite being the son of a designer, Drake may be leaning into a more “dude design” aesthetic. Time will tell if Joanna’s influence can steer him away from it!