Chip Gaines Shares Daughter’s Prom Night Escapade

WACO, Texas – Chip Gaines recently opened up about his daughter Ella’s prom night, sharing that she completely ignored the midnight curfew he set for her. In an interview, Chip mentioned that Ella, who is 18 years old, had an ‘amazing’ time, staying out well beyond the appointed hour.

Chip joked about the situation, saying, ‘What do you do with this 18-year-old human that is now legally an adult?’ He acknowledged the generational differences, recalling that when he was a teen, midnight felt much later. ‘I thought that would have given her plenty of time to do everything she’d want to do at prom, but apparently, it wasn’t enough,’ he added with a laugh.

The curfew argument seemed predictable, as Ella reportedly protested the rule right away. Chip noted that he went to bed early that night, while his wife Joanna stayed up waiting for their daughter’s return.

Despite the late night, Chip remains proud of Ella. He described her as ‘thoughtful and respectful,’ highlighting a recent occasion when she decorated their family farmhouse and made a beautiful breakfast for Joanna.

During the interview, Chip admitted he wasn’t sure when Ella finally came home, emphasizing it was ‘definitely in the wee hours of the next morning.’ He playfully explained, ‘I went to bed at 9:00 p.m. that night, leaving Joanna to wait up.’

An upcoming change looms for the Gaines family as Ella prepares to leave for college in the fall. Chip shared that she has been considering schools outside of Texas, including options in Korea and Southern California. ‘The sky’s the limit with Ella,’ he remarked, looking ahead to her future plans in business and digital design.

In the context of family dynamics, Chip acknowledged how different each of their children’s college paths have been, contrasting Ella with their oldest son, Drake, who is studying business entrepreneurship. ‘Ella is on the exact opposite end of the spectrum. It feels like we’re sending this young lady off to become the next president of the United States,’ he joked.