How Old Are Joanna Gaines Kids: The Magnolia Family Grows Up

Time is a weird thing. One minute you're watching a young couple in Waco, Texas, knock down a literal wall, and the next, their eldest son is basically a grown man. Honestly, if you've been following the Gaines family since the early HGTV days, seeing how much they've changed feels a bit like looking at your own family photo album. You blink and the kids aren't kids anymore.

People are constantly asking, how old are Joanna Gaines kids, mostly because the family has transitioned from being "those cute kids in the background" to actual adults with their own careers and college lives. It’s 2026, and the house in Crawford is a lot quieter than it used to be.

The Current Ages of the Gaines Five

If you’re looking for the quick numbers, here’s the breakdown for early 2026. Keep in mind that birthdays happen throughout the year, so someone might be a year older by the time you're reading this in December.

• Drake Gaines: 20 (turning 21 in February)
• Ella Rose Gaines: 19 (turning 20 in October)
• Duke Gaines: 17 (turning 18 in May)
• Emmie Kay Gaines: 16
• Crew Gaines: 7 (turning 8 in June)

It's a huge spread. You have everything from a college junior down to a second grader. That’s a lot of different "life stages" to manage under one roof—or, increasingly, under three or four different roofs.

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Drake: The Eldest Son Leaving the Nest

Drake was born in 2005. Let that sink in for a second. He was just a little guy when Fixer Upper started, and now he’s 20 years old. He’s currently navigating the world of college. Joanna has been pretty vocal—and understandably emotional—on Instagram about the "nesting" phase ending.

He’s mostly stayed out of the spotlight compared to his sisters, but we know he’s a sports fan and has really taken to the more behind-the-scenes aspects of life. Watching him drive off to school was a "big cry" moment for Jo, and frankly, for many of us who remember him helping Chip on demo day.

Ella Rose: The Designer in Training

Ella is 19. If Drake is the athlete/student, Ella is the one everyone points to as "Mini Jo." She’s always had an eye for design and detail. Recently, she’s even started making more formal appearances in the Magnolia ecosystem.

In late 2025, news broke about her involvement in a new series, Fixer Upper: Colorado Mountain House. It’s wild to see her move from being the girl baking cookies in the kitchen to a young woman actually weighing in on design choices. She’s got that same calm, focused energy her mom has. You can tell she’s been watching and learning since she was a toddler.

Duke and Emmie: The Teen Years

Duke is 17 and will be 18 this May. He’s always been the one with a personality most like Chip—funny, adventurous, and seemingly unafraid of a little manual labor. He’s in that final stretch of high school where everything is about "what’s next."

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Then there’s Emmie Kay, who is 16. She’s often seen in Joanna’s garden or in the kitchen. She has a floral business of her own (Emmie Kay’s Flowers) which she started years ago. It’s not just a hobby; she actually understands the "Magnolia" way of business. She’s the baby of the "original four," and seeing her as a licensed driver is a trip.

Crew: The Unexpected Blessing

And then we have Crew. Little Crew is 7. He was the surprise that changed the family dynamic in 2018. Because there is such a massive age gap between him and his older siblings (over a decade!), he’s grown up in a very different world.

While the older four remember the lean years before Magnolia became a global empire, Crew has only known the farm and the fame. But Jo and Chip have worked hard to keep him grounded. He’s the star of Joanna’s social media these days, usually found "helping" in the garden or tending to the farm animals. He keeps them young. You’ve probably seen the videos of him wearing his little work boots—he’s clearly a Gaines through and through.

How the Family Dynamic Has Changed

Living in a house with a 20-year-old and a 7-year-old is a balancing act. Joanna has talked about how the older kids have almost become "secondary parents" or mentors to Crew. It’s a different kind of sibling relationship when one is heading to college and the other is just learning to ride a bike.

One thing that hasn't changed is the privacy. Even though we know their ages and see the occasional photo, Chip and Jo have been remarkably consistent about not over-exposing them. You won't find the Gaines kids on every talk show or reality special. They seem to want their kids to have a "normal" Waco upbringing, or as normal as it can be when your last name is on a silo.

Why People Stay So Interested

The fascination with how old are Joanna Gaines kids usually stems from a sense of nostalgia. For a lot of people, the Gaines family represents a specific era of television and home life. We’ve watched them grow from a small-town crew to a massive brand.

There's also the "relatability factor." Every parent feels that pang of sadness when their kids grow up. When Joanna posts about her "growing babies," she’s tapping into a universal human experience. It makes the "Queen of Shiplap" feel a bit more like a neighbor.

Actionable Insights for Fans

If you're following the Gaines family journey and want to keep up with the next generation, here are a few things to keep an eye on:

• Watch the New Series: Keep an eye out for Ella Rose’s contributions to Magnolia Network. This seems to be the official "handing of the torch" for the design side of the business.
• The Magnolia Journal: Joanna often writes long-form essays about parenting in the quarterly magazine. It’s where she gets most candid about the struggles of the "empty nest" phase.
• Instagram Updates: While they are private, Joanna’s Instagram is still the best place for genuine, non-paparazzi glimpses into their lives—especially for Crew’s gardening adventures.

The Gaines family is entering a new chapter. The kids are becoming adults, but the core values—family, hard work, and good design—seem to be sticking. It'll be interesting to see where they are in another five years.