Updated: September 14, 2026
Jen Hatmaker, the popular author, speaker, and former HGTV star, has been open about the end of her long marriage. Her ex-husband is Brandon Hatmaker, a former pastor, author, and co-host of the family’s home renovation series. Their story drew wide attention in Christian and mainstream circles, especially after Jen shared more details in her 2025 memoir Awake. Here’s a clear, up-to-date look at who Brandon is, what happened, and where both stand now.
Table of Contents
Who Is Brandon Hatmaker?
Brandon Hatmaker married Jen (then Jennifer King) in 1993 when she was 19 and he was 21. They met at Oklahoma Baptist University. Together they raised five children—three biological and two adopted from Ethiopia—and co-founded Austin New Church in Texas in 2008. Brandon also wrote books focused on faith and service, including titles like Barefoot Church. The couple appeared on HGTV’s My Big Family Renovation (sometimes referred to as Your Big Family Renovation), giving viewers a window into their large, active household in Buda, Texas.
Before the split, Brandon had stepped back from full-time pastoral work. He later described a period of personal struggle in the years leading up to 2020.
The Divorce and What Triggered It
In July 2020, Jen discovered Brandon’s affair. In her memoir and interviews, she described waking up around 2:30 a.m. on July 11 to hear him voice-texting another woman with the words “I just can’t quit you.” She asked him to leave the next morning. The couple announced their divorce publicly in September 2020 after 26–27 years of marriage. Jen called it “completely unexpected” at the time.
Brandon later acknowledged the affair in a 2025 Substack post, calling it the lowest moment of his life and the result of a longer personal spiral. He expressed regret for the pain caused to Jen, their children, and others. He clarified that his current wife, Tina (whom he married in late 2022), was not involved in the affair or the decision to divorce.
Here’s a quick reference table of key facts: Detail Information Full Name Brandon Hatmaker Marriage Years 1993 – 2020 Children 5 (including 2 adopted from Ethiopia) Reason Cited Infidelity discovered in July 2020 Brandon’s Later Status Married to Tina (2022) Jen’s Current Status In a relationship with Tyler Merritt
Life After the Split
Both moved forward separately. Jen has spoken about the emotional and practical challenges of sudden single parenthood, including financial strain and supporting the children through the change. She has said they never shared custody in the traditional sense and that she primarily raised the kids day-to-day afterward. In recent years she released Awake, reflecting on the marriage’s end, her evolving faith, and personal growth. She is now in a relationship with actor and activist Tyler Merritt.
Brandon has focused on rebuilding. In his public statements he emphasized owning his mistakes, making amends, and starting over. He has continued involvement with his children and described positive moments such as graduations, family milestones, and becoming a grandfather.
Key points many readers find useful when following this story:
- The divorce became public during the pandemic, adding extra stress for the family.
- Both have addressed the events years later—Jen in her memoir and interviews, Brandon primarily through written statements.
- Their five children were at varying ages (including teenagers and young adults) when the marriage ended.
- Public reaction mixed support with scrutiny, especially within faith communities.
Lessons and Public Reflection
The Hatmakers’ story highlights how even long, visible marriages can face hidden struggles. Jen has reflected on patterns in their relationship, the impact of religious culture, and her own process of healing. Brandon has stressed personal accountability and the possibility of moving beyond a lowest moment. Their openness—while difficult—has prompted conversations about infidelity, divorce, faith, and starting over later in life.
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Conclusion
Brandon Hatmaker is Jen Hatmaker’s ex-husband of nearly three decades. Their marriage ended in 2020 after she discovered his affair, a chapter both have revisited in recent years with honesty and regret. Today, Jen continues her work as an author and speaker while building a new chapter with Tyler Merritt, and Brandon has remarried and focused on personal restoration. The story remains a reminder that private pain can become public, yet recovery and new beginnings are possible. Details continue to be shared mainly through Jen’s memoir Awake and Brandon’s own statements, giving a fuller picture as of 2026.
