Chip & Joanna Gaines Are Joining This Mega Popular Reality Series and Fans May Never Recover

Chip and Joanna Gaines are basically reality TV royalty at this point. From launching Fixer Upper into a cultural phenomenon to creating a full-blown media empire with Magnolia Network, they’ve built an entire lifestyle brand out of shiplap and charm. But their next move? It’s a major curveball and it involves a swim with the sharks. Yep, those sharks.

The couple is officially joining Shark Tank as guest investors for the show’s upcoming 17th season. ABC confirmed the news on July 14 with a post that read, “From dream home renovations to making dream deals in the Tank! @joannagaines and @chipgaines are Guest Sharks on the new season of #SharkTank.”

They’ll join longtime Sharks Kevin O’Leary, Barbara Corcoran, Lori Greiner, Robert Herjavec and Daymond John.

Of course, Chip and Jo won’t be the only ones diving into the Shark Tank this season. They’ll be joined by a stacked lineup of guest Sharks bringing serious business cred to the table. That includes Allison Ellsworth, founder and chief brand officer of Poppi (yes, the viral prebiotic soda); Alexis Ohanian, Reddit co-founder and venture capitalist behind Seven Seven Six (and Serena Williams's husband); Kendra Scott, the powerhouse behind her namesake jewelry brand; and Michael Strahan, GMA co-anchor and co-founder of SMAC.

Also taking a seat in the Tank, Fawn Weaver, founder and CEO of Uncle Nearest Inc.—the fastest-growing whiskey brand in U.S. history—and Rashaun Williams, a venture capitalist and limited partner with the Atlanta Falcons. Translation: this guest roster is stacked with people who know exactly how to spot (and scale) the next big thing.

Fan reactions? Let’s just say…mixed. Many are thrilled to see Chip and Jo in a totally new environment. “Love you guys! You are doing a great job,” one person commented. Others, however, took issue with the couple’s involvement in Back to the Frontier, a show that includes a same-sex couple—sparking backlash among some conservative followers. Chip fired back on X: “Talk, ask [questions], listen.. maybe even learn.” 

Still, their Shark Tank debut marks a big moment for Chip & Jo.

You can catch their episode this fall when Shark Tank returns to ABC, with next-day streaming available on Hulu.

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