In the 2000s, he became widely recognized, initially for his role on the TLC home makeover series Trading Spaces. Later, he continued to gain popularity as he appeared on Extreme Makeover.
Before becoming known for his shout of “Move that bus!”, Ty Pennington previously modeled for J. Crew, leading to an immediate surge in his career popularity.
Yet, fortune seemed to steer him in a different direction as a terrible auto collision disrupted his modeling career and led him to a new path where he would garner even more recognition by applying his exceptional woodworking abilities.
He gained fame for acting in home makeover television shows, starting with Trading Spaces, where he quickly won over viewers’ hearts. Later, he became the main figure in the enduring series, Extreme Makeover: Home Edition.
After the beloved series concluded in 2012, Ty moved on to host various home renovation shows. Later, he chose to marry and take up the challenge of renovating his personal residence.
Lately, a serious health issue served as a significant wake-up call for him, making him reassess his life. The talk show host openly shared that, although he had to undergo an emergency operation, this incident turned out to be one of the most enriching episodes in his life.
2023 saw Ty looking back on his television journey via an Instagram post, where he shared that a car accident significantly altered the course of his career.
He wrote: ‘Overnight my career seemed to explode … but alas, fate had other plans.
A week from then, I found myself involved in a grave automobile mishap. Ejected violently from a speeding Jeep, I skidded painfully along a jagged asphalt surface on my posterior. Incredibly, I made it through, but unfortunately, my bottom took the brunt of it.
In 2000, his career took off when he was hired as a carpenter for the TLC show Trading Spaces.
Due to his rise in popularity from the television series, in 2003 he was appointed as the head of the design team for Extreme Makeover: Home Edition.
Throughout his tenure in the program, he often motivated volunteers to drastically renovate the homes of families deemed worthy, by exclaiming the widely recognized phrase: “Let’s move that bus!” signifying the grand reveal of the impressive makeover.
From 2004 to 2012, the widely-known show was on air. Later, it was revived in 2020 with a fresh host duo, Clea Shearer and Joanna Teplin, who debuted on January 2.
In the year 2021, Ty got the opportunity to star in two television shows of his own – “Ty Breaker” and “Rock The Block”.
In that very same year, Ty formally married Kellee Merrell, his lockdown companion, in a private event held at their unfinished residence in Savannah, Georgia.
As reported by People, they pronounced their lifelong commitment surrounded by eight of their dearest loved ones.
A few years back, around the Toronto scene, I stumbled upon two remarkable individuals through some trusted acquaintances while immersed in a production project. Those extraordinary figures are none other than Pennington and Merrell!
Before Kellee, the television host had been in a long-term relationship with Andrea Bock. However, even after their separation in 2009, they managed to remain friends.
After their encounter in 2010, Ty and Kellee maintained contact over the subsequent years. However, it wasn’t until last year that their relationship really flourished.
During the onset of the worldwide pandemic, the pair opted to isolate together. The renowned television personality frequently posted attractive images of their shared quarantine experience on his Instagram account.
In simpler terms, you could say “He had earlier made an announcement about his engagement, which was posted on his Instagram account in July.
The social media personality shared a photo displaying his future wife’s engagement ring, accompanied by a brief caption saying: “This is my affirmative response…
Talking about his partner, he openly shared: “For years, I’ve been admiring Kellee at a distance. She truly embodies beauty, not just on the outside, but also within.
Later, he shared his gratitude for having quarantined alongside his now-spouse, as they had grown incredibly close during this time.
It was fortunate that our journeys aligned at the perfect moment, as if destined. There’s an indescribable sense of contentment when in the company of such a person, he expressed.
Later on, he mentioned that he anticipated being single for life, expressing: “I hadn’t imagined getting married, but she altered that perspective. I’m thankful I held out for the right person.
In the year 2023, Ty encountered a severe health emergency when he was urgently admitted to the Emergency Room in Denver, following difficulty breathing caused by an abscess.
The frightening incident took place shortly following his visit to the Barbie movie premiere, with the creative genius posting pictures from his hospital bed on Instagram.
‘From the red carpet, to the ICU… this last week has been interesting!’ he began his caption.
I’m doing alright now, though I’m still on the mend. It seemed a bit odd to me that I didn’t share the news about our team’s win in #BOTB!
Extremely thrilled with the work of @smashingdiy and @iamstevelewis! I’ll share more details about this soon, as it explains my recent absence from posting…
On Sunday, I walked on the red carpet for the movie @barbiethemovie. On Monday, I traveled to Colorado to begin filming in Breckinridge. Unfortunately, on Tuesday morning, I woke up at 4am struggling to breathe properly.
It turned out that the persistent sore throat I’d been experiencing for a month wasn’t just a common cold. Instead, it was an abscess that had grown significantly, threatening to block my airway. Consequently, I found myself intubated and urgently flown to the ICU in Denver.
‘Wednesday I had surgery and yesterday afternoon I was released from the ICU.’
Later on, he expressed his gratitude towards the outstanding team at St.Anthony’s in Lakewood, CO and Summit Health in Frisco for providing him with exceptional care.
‘A great reminder to LISTEN to your body when it’s telling you something #justhappytobehere.
“Even under strong sedatives, it’s reassuring to note that my thoughts were clear… (Pic 4) #SwimwearForLife”
Explanation:
1. ‘Also’ was replaced with ‘Even under’, to create a smoother transition and make the sentence more coherent.
2. ‘Heavy sedatives’ was replaced with ‘strong sedatives’, as this term is less informal and easier for most readers to understand.
3. ‘I was still in the right frame of mind…’ was left unchanged, as it conveys the original meaning effectively.
4. ‘Speedosforlife’ was replaced with ‘SwimwearForLife’, which is a playful and more commonly used phrase that still maintains the spirit of the original hashtag.
Approximately eight months down the line, in March 2024, Ty shared insights about his recuperation during a conversation with ET. This interview served as a platform for him to reveal his transformed perspective on life, following an urgent throat surgery he underwent and was airlifted for to an ICU.
He enthusiastically declared, ‘I’m fantastic!’ followed by a display of his unique humor. ‘Here’s something fascinating: nearly dying brings you all the spotlight. The affection it stirs up is simply delightful,’ he added.
He added: ‘I’m planning another one… No, I’m kidding!’
The TV host went on to say that the sudden brush with death put things in perspective for him.
He said that it served as a reminder for him, implying that one never knows when their turn might come, so it’s important to seize each day and live it to its full potential.
Previously this year, he confessed that the close-to-death experience was among his most memorable or significant moments.
You recognize those who care about you as they reach out, making you feel, ‘It’s as if you had passed away.’ Only then do folks contact you again and express, ‘I had forgotten just how much I cherish you.’
It was a truly wonderful experience, as you come to understand just how valuable you are in the eyes of others, and how deeply you’re loved and needed.
‘I believe it’s valuable for everyone to experience something similar, so you can truly cherish the individuals who care for you, as we often overlook this aspect of our lives. Similarly, a home holds great significance in our lives, yet we tend to forget its importance until it’s no longer there. At such times, we may realize how easily we take it for granted.’
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2025-08-30 13:50