In a heartfelt reveal of personal turmoil, Jen Hatmaker, popular HGTV star and author, candidly discusses the betrayal that shattered her 26-year marriage in her new memoir, *Awake*. The 51-year-old television personality shares a haunting memory from July 2020 when she awoke in the early hours of the morning to find her husband, Brandon Hatmaker, on the phone with another woman. This moment marked a turning point for Jen, leading her to describe it as the “end of the life as she knew it.”
In an exclusive interview with *The New York Post*, Hatmaker recounted the shock of that night, stating, “To some degree, I almost disassociated. It was so outside the realm of what I would have ever considered a possibility for our life, our marriage, our story.” The emotional weight of her experience resonates throughout her memoir as she details the painful unraveling of their relationship.
The following morning, Jen made a decisive move after discovering what she describes as a “trail of betrayal” on her husband’s computer. Her recollections imply that Brandon’s infidelity spanned a “devastating time span,” during which he allegedly showered his girlfriends with “expensive and lavish gifts,” driving their family into “financial chaos.”
In an emotional response to the unfolding events, she made the difficult decision to ask Brandon to leave their home. “It was so shocking and stunning, and I almost could not process it,” she reflected. “I couldn’t even cry. I did not know if I was ever going to be happy again.” The fallout from their separation was not only personal but also impacted their community and the organization they founded, Austin New Church.
Hatmaker and Brandon’s partnership had always seemed like a fairy tale; they married when she was just 19 and built a family that expanded to five children. Their journey as a couple was further amplified through their appearances on HGTV’s *My Big Family Renovation*, showcasing their life and home renovations to a wide audience. However, as Jen writes, her disillusionment with the church’s patriarchal structure—the “men are the leaders” mentality—also contributed to the growing rift in their marriage.
After her divorce, Hatmaker found new happiness. She is currently dating Tyler Merritt and celebrated becoming a grandmother in August, a personal milestone that brings her joy amidst the turbulence.
Brandon, for his part, addressed the allegations publicly in a statement released on September 22, using Substack to share his reflections on the scandal that rocked their lives. “We are all bigger than our lowest moment,” he began, acknowledging the struggles he faced in coming to terms with his actions. He described his affair as “the lowest moment of my life” and expressed deep remorse for the pain it caused. “It was the culmination of a three-year personal spiral in which I had lost my anchor, felt no hope, and was the loneliest I’ve ever been in my life,” he admitted.
Brandon emphasized his journey of redemption and reconciliation, stating, “I’ve owned my mistakes, I’ve made amends, I continue to do the work, I’ve worked hard to restore relationships, and I’ve started over.” Despite his sorrow, he clarified that he did not wake up one day to choose infidelity; rather, he described their love as a “slow and painful ending,” having mourned the death of their marriage long before the divorce was finalized.
As fans respond to Hatmaker’s revelations, the broader conversation about forgiveness, healing, and the complexities of relationships continues. Her story brings to light the tumultuous realities many face in the wake of betrayal while offering a glimpse into a path toward recovery and personal growth.
With Jen’s memoir hitting the shelves, it’s a poignant reminder of the resilience inherent in stepping out from shadows of pain, and it poses questions many in the public sphere may ponder: How will this affect her public image and future projects? Will her candidness inspire a new wave of discussions about personal accountability and growth in relationships? As the world watches, Jen Hatmaker’s journey through heartbreak and healing could resonate with many, marking not just an ending, but also a new beginning.