Ty Pennington hosted one of the most popular home renovation shows. “Move That Bus” became a nationwide catch phrase. He suffered a huge health scare a few years ago. In an emotional post, he got candid about mental health. Keep reading for more on feeling “hopeless.”
Ty Pennington Suffered Scary Health Issue In 2023
Ty Pennington hosted Extreme Makeover: Home Edition on ABC from 2003 until 2012. He earned two Primetime Emmy awards for the show. He went on to host ABC’s short-lived talk show The Revolution after the home renovation show was canceled.
Ty Pennington suffered a serious health issue in 2023 that nearly took his life. What he thought was a minor sore throat became life-or-death after a large abscess in his throat restricted his airway. He underwent emergency surgery and was in the ICU. The home renovation expert recovered and is in good physical health today. However, he opened up about the feeling of “hopelessness” after a hard year.
HGTV Star Gets Candid About Mental Health, ‘Hopelessness’
Ty Pennington continues his career in home renovation on HGTV and TLC. His show Battle on the Beach was among the nearly dozen shows HGTV surprisingly canceled in 2025. ABC also rebooted Extreme Makeover: Home Edition without him. Clea Shearer and Joanna Teplin hosted the revival, which aired in early 2025. However, Ty Pennington still hosts Rock the Block on HGTV.
In his personal life, he is happily married to his wife of four years, Kellee Merrell. He first met the social media manager in 2010. They became a couple after reconnecting in 2020. They married in 2021 in Savannah, Georgia. In an emotional post, Ty Pennington opened up about a difficult year.
“It’s been a heck of a month … a year… hell, a decade! If you’re feeling stuck in a cycle of heartbreak and hopelessness, know that you’re not alone,” he wrote.
The caption continued, “And yet through it all, I’m immensely grateful to have someone to weather the storm ❤️ Hold your loved ones close. Sending love to everyone who needs it right now.” The candid post included a photo of Ty Pennington and his wife.
Fans React To Heartfelt Message
Ty Pennington’s social media post about “hopelessness” received hundreds of comments. A lot of people around the country – the world! – are going through difficult times themselves.
- “Ty you are so right,to everyone love strong and hold tight,we all need to lean on each other,nobody can do it all alone,sending hugs to everyone and lots of love”
- “Definitely a struggle of a year. Thank you for this. And hugs to you, too.”
- “Having someone to weather the storm is so important. I can relate, this past month and year has been rough”
- “I’m grabbing the love you are giving. This is a nightmare. Signed: A Minnesotan.”
- “I feel these words with every fiber of my being…
- Sending you much love & light”
- “What a beautiful sentiment. We need it now. We need so much light to shut out the darkness. Thank you!!!”
Ty Pennington didn’t reveal what prompted the emotional post. However, he reminded us that we’re never alone.
Jennifer Havener grew up in a small town in Upstate New York. She earned her B.A in Writing & Literature from Naropa University in Boulder, Colorado. She always knew watching reality TV shows and soap operas, particularly ‘Days of Our Lives’, would come in handy someday. When she’s not writing, she’s playing with her dogs, Lola and Ruger
