He rose to fame in the 2000s when he starred on TLC renovation show Trading Spaces before going on to star on Extreme Makeover.
Long before being famed for shouting ‘Move that bus!’, Ty Pennington once modelled for J. Crew, which saw his ‘career explode overnight.’
However, fate appeared to have other plans when a ‘horrible car accident’ derailed his modelling career and sent him down another path which would see him achieve greater fame utilising his woodworking skills.
Best known for his roles on home renovation series’ he started his TV career on Trading Spaces, where he became a fan favourite, before becoming the face of long-standing show, Extreme Makeover: Home Edition.
When the much-loved series came to an end in 2012, Ty went on to front other renovation programmes before settling down with his wife and renovating his own home.
More recently, a harrowing health scare ‘put his life into perspective,’ with the TV host admitting how, despite undergoing emergency surgery, it became one of his ‘best experiences.’
He rose to fame in the 2000s when he starred on TLC renovation show Trading Spaces before going on to star on Extreme Makeover’ (pictured in 2003)
Long before being famed for shouting ‘Move that bus!’, Ty Pennington once modelled for J. Crew, which saw his ‘career explode overnight’ (pictured in February)
Reflecting on his TV career in an Instagram post in 2023, Ty revealed how a car accident changed his career trajectory.
He wrote: ‘Overnight my career seemed to explode … but alas, fate had other plans.
‘Only one week later, I would be in a horrible car accident — catapulted out of a barreling jeep, sliding across a razor-sharp road on my backside. Somehow, I survived … my buttocks sadly did not.’
Luckily, his career breakthrough came in 2000, when he landed a job on TLC’s Trading Spaces as a carpenter.
Thanks to his new found fame on the show, in 2003 he went on to lead the design team on Extreme Makeover: Home Edition.
During his time on the programme he would rally volunteers to dramatically overhaul the homes of ‘deserving’ families, shouting the now-famous line: ‘Move that bus!’ to reveal the extravagant transformation.
The popular series ran from 2004 until 2012 before being rebooted with a new host and team, which premiered on January 2 with Clea Shearer and Joanna Teplin as hosts.
In 2021, Ty went on to front his very own TV series, Ty Breaker and another renovation series, Rock The Block.
Reflecting on his TV career in 2023, Ty revealed how a car accident changed his career trajectory, which lead to his career breakthrough in 2000 on TLC’s Trading Spaces
Thanks to his new found fame on the show, in 2003 he went on to lead the design team on Extreme Makeover: Home Edition, shouting the now-famous line: ‘Move that bus!’
In 2021 when the show ended, Ty went on to front his very own TV series, Ty Breaker and Rock The Block. He also tied the knot with his quarantine partner Kellee Merrell
That same year, Ty officially tied the knot with his quarantine partner Kellee Merrell during an intimate ceremony held at their home in Savannah, Georgia, which was under construction.
According to People, the couple exchanged their vows in front of eight of their closest friends and family members.
Pennington and Merrell were previously introduced by mutual friends over a decade ago while he was working on a show in Toronto.
Prior to Kellee, the TV presenter was in a long-term relationship with Andrea Bock but they remained friends after their split in 2009.
Ty and Kellee kept up with each other in years following their 2010 meeting, but their relationship truly blossomed last year.
The two chose to quarantine together during the early stages of the global pandemic and the reality TV star eagerly shared snaps of the beauty to his Instagram account throughout their time in lockdown.
He had previously announced his engagement with a post that was shared to his Instagram account in the July.
The media figure’s post showed off his then-fiancee’s engagement ring, and he wrote a short message that read: ‘It’s the ‘yes’ for me…’
Speaking to People about his partner, he admitted: ‘I have admired Kellee from afar for years. She’s a beautiful person inside and out.’
In 2023, Ty suffered a nasty health scare when he was rushed to ER in Denver after having trouble breathing due to an abscess
He then expressed that he was grateful to have quarantined with his now-wife and that they had become very comfortable with each other.
‘Luckily our paths finally crossed at the right time. It’s one of those things where you just feel happy being around a person,’ he stated.
Ty then noted that he expected to remain a lifelong bachelor, stating: ‘I never thought I would get married, but she changed that. I’m glad I waited for the one.’
In 2023, Ty suffered a nasty health scare when he was rushed to ER in Denver after having trouble breathing due to an abscess.
The scare occurred just after he attended the Barbie premiere, with the design wiz sharing photos to Instagram from his hospital bed.
‘From the red carpet, to the ICU… this last week has been interesting!’ he began his caption.
‘I’m okay now, still recovering but I felt it looked weird that I hadn’t posted about my teams #BOTB VICTORY!!’
‘From the red carpet, to the ICU… this last week has been interesting!’ he began his caption. ‘I’m okay now, still recovering’
He went on to say that the sudden brush with death put things in perspective and told Fox News Digital: it was one of the best experiences because you realize how much you’re worth’
‘SO freaking proud of @smashingdiy & @iamstevelewis !! Will post about that next To shed some light on why I was MIA…
‘Sunday I hit the red carpet for @barbiethemovie , monday I flew to Colorado to start filming in Breckinridge and Tuesday morning I woke up at 4am and could barely breathe.
‘Turns out, that sore throat Ive had for the last month was actually an abscess which had grown so large it was closing off my airway. Next thing I know, I was intubated and flown to the ICU in Denver.
‘Wednesday I had surgery and yesterday afternoon I was released from the ICU.’
He then thanked the ‘amazing staff’ at St.Anthony’s in Lakewood, CO & Summit Health in Frisco for taking such great care of him.
‘A great reminder to LISTEN to your body when it’s telling you something #justhappytobehere.
‘Also, even through heavy sedatives it’s good to see I was still in the right frame of mind… (pic 4) #speedosforlife.’
Eight months later in March 2024, Ty provided an update on his recovery during an interview with ET, showcasing his new outlook on life after being flown to an ICU for emergency throat surgery.
‘I’m great,’ he exclaimed, before showing off his signature wit. ‘You know what’s great is if you almost die, you get so much attention. It feels so nice to be that loved.’
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.
‘It made me realize you just don’t know when your timecard’s gonna get pulled, so wake up, live every single day to the fullest,’ he explained.
Earlier this year he admitted that the life-threatening incident was one of his ‘best experiences.’
He told Fox News Digital: ‘You find out who loves you because people message you, and you’re like, “My God, it’s like you died.” And people finally message you and say, “My God, I forgot how much I love you.”
‘So it was one of the best experiences because you realize how much you’re worth to other people and how much you would be missed.
‘Honestly, I think we should all go through something like that so you really appreciate the people that love you, because sometimes we take that for granted. And I think that’s also what a home is like, is you forget how important that is to our lives. And when it’s gone, you know, sometimes we all take that for granted.’