How New Kids on the Block’s Jonathan and Jordan Knight Breathed New Life Into HGTV

At the height of New Kids on the Block’s early stardom, Jordan and Jonathan Knight grew accustomed to smitten fans turning up to their homes, weeping at shows and tossing bras on stage. What Jon never fathomed was that decades later, at 56, he would experience a different kind of fandom – 80-year-old HGTV viewers cruising past his Massachusetts farm and shouting praise for his home renovation work.

“It’s a whole new demographic,” the Farmhouse Fixer star, chatting to THR from his greenhouse, says with a laugh. “I have 60, 70, 80-year-old women driving by, rolling down the window and yelling, ‘I love your show! What you do is so pretty!’ And when I walk through the airport, instead of people saying, ‘Hey, you’re one of the New Kids,’ it’s now, ‘You’re that guy on HGTV.’ People are always asking me to renovate their homes. I wish I had six of me, so I could do more.”

He can’t clone himself, but Jon has the next best thing – his brother and bandmate Jordan, who has appeared on previous shows, but takes centerstage with him in season six of Rock the Block.

The season marks Jon’s 10th HGTV credit in four years, during which he’s undergone a transformational journey – sharing his personality and passions with the world like never before, connecting with a new demographic and finding the network throwing more opportunities his way. Clearly, HGTV thinks he has “The Right Stuff” – and with Jordan by his side, viewers can’t get enough.

Juggling boy band life with flipping houses may be unique, but Jon’s HGTV seeds were sown long before NKOTB sprouted. He says while Jordan, 54, spent his youth “getting into trouble” around Boston, he was at home tending to the yard and contemplating an architecture career. Other kids spent Saturday mornings watching cartoons. Jon? He was glued to HGTV.

So, it’s hardly surprising that after leaving NKOTB shortly before the group’s 1994 disbandment, Jon began flipping houses. He continued doing so after NKOTB reunited for 2008’s The Block, which spawned a phenomenal second coming that’s seen the quintet (Jon, Jordan, Donnie Wahlberg, Danny Wood and Joey McIntyre) continue releasing music, touring, holding fan cruises and now preparing for a Las Vegas residency.

As he settled into farm life with husband Harley Rodriguez, a Barry’s fitness trainer, Jon dreamed up Farmhouse Fixer, in which he and interior designer Kristina Crestin restore centuries-old New England farmhouses. HGTV initially declined the idea.

“We get lots of pitches from celebrities who love home renovation,” explains VP of Programming Bob Kirsh. “As intrigued as we were by Jonathan and his mission, we wanted to do a deep dive to make sure this was something he was genuinely, organically doing. Ultimately, we were blown away by what he was accomplishing and felt confident viewers would love it.”

And they did. Following Farmhouse Fixer’s 2021 debut, HGTV commissioned two further seasons, plus spin-off Farmhouse Fixer: Camp Revamp, in which Jon, Jordan and family members including sister Sharon Knight and mom Marlene Putnam transformed an abandoned lakefront campground. The show was among 2024’s top five highest-rated freshman series among adults aged 25-54.

Jon also starred on Home Town Takeover, judged a Rock the Block episode with Jordan and competed with Kristina in Barbie Dreamhouse Challenge, 100 Day Hotel Challenge and Rock the Block’s fourth season (which broke viewership records with its premiere).

Bob says it became clear on Camp Revamp how much viewers loved the “brotherly dynamic, humor and banter” between Jon and Jordan, so having them team up for Rock the Block was a no-brainer. Airing 9 p.m. ET Mondays on HGTV, then streaming on Max and Discovery+, the show sees them competing against three teams to renovate identical Utah houses.

Although Jordan’s dabbled in DIY, going from the musical expertise of 40 years in NKOTB to the lesser-trodden path of construction was nerve-wracking. However, his music career ultimately guided him.

“It’s another art form,” he says. “Stage design and choreography is about how things look and make you feel. You’re creating something and there’s roadblocks, so you go around them, then seeing that creation come together is so satisfying. It’s the same with design. When you walk into a room and see a color or a lamp, it gives off a feeling, just like stage design.”

The creativity the brothers bring from four decades of producing concerts and exploring design around the world while touring has injected a fresh perspective to HGTV, while their brotherhood has endeared them to viewers.

“We see that fun, playful sibling relationship and love of family that’s endured for decades,” says Bob. “Wouldn’t we all love to have that? And Jordan shows us he’s talented beyond singing and dancing.”

“It shows a different side to us,” agrees Jordan. “And people like that we’re brothers doing it together. Often you see family members being competitive, but we’ve always done things together and people like seeing the family element and love between us.”

Sure enough, when asked which other bandmate he’d team up with for HGTV projects, Jon reverts to Jordan.

“Joe and I have similar taste – his house is beautiful, classic and curated,” says Jon, who’s renovated around 200 homes. “For design, I’d go with Joe, but for everything else, I’ll stick with my brother!”

Jordan says his role on Rock the Block was Jon’s “sidekick” and “apprentice.” It’s the opposite to NKOTB, where he’s centerstage, leading vocals and commanding the attention of entire arenas while performing “I’ll Be Loving You (Forever)” shirtless.

He jokes that Jon taking lead “took the pressure off me,” while illustrating how much Jon shines in the renovation world. That’s exactly what Bob believes made Farmhouse Fixer popular.

“Viewers see how passionate Jonathan is,” says Bob. “After his massively successful career with NKOTB, we see the real Jon: genuine, down-to-earth, gifted and devoted to his work. People see he’s just like them.”

While the palpable enthusiasm Jon exhibits on-screen has gripped viewers and paved the way for ongoing HGTV appearances, it’s been a gradual journey to finding comfort and confidence in the public eye.

Jon’s been open about past struggles with anxiety and fame, but turned a pivotal point while competing alongside Harley, 51, in The Amazing Race in 2015.

“I left New Kids because it was overwhelming and scary, but eventually I went, ‘I’m not gonna let things scare me anymore,’” he reflects. “I decided I’ll say ‘yes’ to opportunities and if they’re scary, I’ll figure out what’s scaring me and how to change it.”

“The first thing I did that scared me was The Amazing Race, which taught me to put myself out there and be vulnerable. The show made me more comfortable on stage with New Kids, but also with doing my own HGTV show and saying ‘Yes’ to more shows.”

“At 56, I’m the happiest I’ve ever been,” he adds. “Life’s great, I’m having fun, I don’t care what other people think and don’t beat myself up.”

Indeed, the guy who was once the quietest in NKOTB interviews, now cheerfully chats away during media appearances. Jordan’s proudly noticed the evolution.

“On Rock the Block, I was amazed how he’d explain things, jump in and how outgoing he was,” says Jordan. “That’s not the Jon I know in New Kids! [Farmhouse Fixer] brought him up out of his shell. He’s more talkative and confident because he’s in his element.”

Bandmate Donnie, 55, couldn’t be happier to witness the growth Jon’s brought back into NKOTB.

“Sometimes it’s been hard for him to find the same self-confidence in New Kids that he has in his other career,” says Donnie, who has also thrived in television with shows like Very Scary People, Blue Bloods and upcoming spin-off Boston Blue. “But when you’re moving a 200-year-old home two miles down a dirt road and a 1cm miscalculation can destroy a historical artifact – and your career – in front of millions of viewers, it makes singing ‘Hangin’ Tough’ in front of 10,000 people less stressful.”

Jon’s newfound confidence breaks ground for further potential projects. HGTV recently posted a casting call for Las Vegas Blockheads with homes resembling a “1980s time warp,” filled will NKOTB merchandise and needing a makeover. Jon thinks it’s a fun idea given fans constantly ask him for home makeovers, however it’s currently just a concept and he’s unsure if he would be involved. Members of a Farmhouse Fixer Facebook group that’s amassed 69,000 fans are meanwhile hoping for Farmhouse Fixer and Camp Revamp renewals.

Meanwhile, Jordan had such a ball on Rock the Block that he and Jon are working on further construction projects, including Jordan’s new house and new restaurant, Marbella. It will mark his third hospitality venture, alongside Milton restaurants Novara and Abby Park.

In what could be music to the ears of HGTV execs dreaming up more NKOTB shows, Jordan also shares that Rock the Block inspired him to pursue his own long-held house-flipping dreams.

“Renovating houses is something I’ve always wanted to get into, but I thought it might be a distraction or might be weird for me to get into since I’m more of a pop star than a house flipper,” he says. “But it’s something that would get my creative juices going and that I’ve always dreamed of.”

For now, the brothers are busy creating the confetti-filled spectacle that’s New Kids On the Block: The Right Stuff Las Vegas Residency, launching at Dolby Live at Park MGM on June 20. The band played a four-night Vegas engagement in 2014, but this longer stint, which stretches into 2026, has opened the door for creativity and reinvention.

“Back in the day, things felt repetitive and we’d go, ‘We’re on the road doing the same old thing,’” says Jordan. “Doing new things like Vegas breathes new life into us, our brand, fans and trajectory.”

“With Vegas, we’re adding sophistication and elevation to what we’ve done in the past,” Jordan continues. “It’s like when they elevate food and it’s not just a cheeseburger, but a cheeseburger with a different bun and toppings. We’re elevating our songs and how we present them. It’s still NKOTB, but everything will be different – with extra toppings!”

Jon adds he can’t wait to start rehearsals in L.A. “The mood boards and technical specs are unlike what we’ve done before. I tell friends what we’ll have on stage and they go, ‘How’s that even possible?’ We’re filling every space with crazy video screens and moving parts.”

And naturally, their HGTV skills are helping as they go step by step through their glitziest stage creation yet.