Fake HGTV drama applies here, rest assured this show keeps it real. Its stars, husband-and-wife duo Mike Jackson and Egypt Sherrod, are also one of the network’s most popular couples, even though something has always seemed a little off about their marriage.
The two seem as in love with each other as their fans are with them. In fact, Sherrod took to Instagram in September 2024 to celebrate their 14th wedding anniversary. “We did it!” We do it! And there is no doubt in my heart whether I made the right choice in marrying you,” she wrote. “The answer is always YES a thousand times over. 14 years of marriage and 20 years of living together, 3 beautiful daughters, a tribe of friends and family and an unwavering friendship.
However, things have been far from perfect for Jackson and Sherrod behind the scenes, and unlike some celebrity couples, they have never pretended otherwise. Over the years, the couple has spoken openly about some of the struggles they endured before and after getting married. For example, they get tired of each other from time to time. “We are also best friends. So we have a lot of fun together,” Sherrod shared with Inman in March 2023. “There are days where I’m like, ‘Oh my God, I need a break from you!’ » She added: “It’s just as you would imagine with someone who lives and works with someone. You have your days, you have your moments, but most of the time it’s pretty fantastic. But that’s not the only flawed aspect of their relationship.
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Mike Jackson confronted Egypt Sherrod about his luggage
Egypt Sherrod and Mike Jackson may be happy today, but they struggled early in their relationship, in part because of Sherrod’s pre-existing relationship baggage. During an episode of “Black Love,” Sherrod, who worked in the radio industry before joining HGTV, revealed that she let negativity from her previous suitors color her romance with Jackson. “Even when we are done with our relationship, we still carry these bruises with us,” Sherrod shared during the episode, XO Necole wrote. “It wasn’t until he called me out on my mess and said, ‘You take it out on me – everything all the other guys who hurt you and you’re going to chase Mr. Right.'”
Mike and Sherrod also struggled to prioritize their relationship and family. “That’s the tricky part and we’re still honestly trying to figure it out because it’s all so integrated,” Sherrod told Her Agenda. “We’re always trying to find that delicate balance instead of getting to a point where we have to compartmentalize things. Because sometimes when you’re in the workspace and you’re both perfectionists, things can get tense sometimes, which is natural because you want to make sure you deliver a good product. And even though they’ve managed to leave professional discussions at work, business still finds its way into their dinnertime conversations, forcing the two to temporarily put their work on the back burner.
They postponed their wedding
Egypt Sherrod and Mike Jackson had ticked all the boxes for their big day, like paying their deposits, when they decided to postpone their wedding just two weeks before the date. “Talk about being embarrassed,” she said during “Black Love.” After speaking to her pastor, who advised the couple to avoid rushing into their nuptials if they weren’t ready, they took a step back and married a year later. As for one of their problems? Jackson’s ex-wife. “He had to learn to deal with her under conditions where she did not dictate to him when, how and why he would behave when he could see and when he could talk to their daughter,” she explained. However, she also had stage fright that was unrelated to Jackson’s previous marriage. “I couldn’t release all that baggage until we prayed together.”
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Even though the couple has obviously come a long way, their relationship is still not perfect. In an October 2024 Instagram video, Sherrod revealed one of the most trivial topics they disagreed on during their marriage: surprises for their children. According to Sherrod, the plan was for her and Jackson to surprise their children with a special outing. However, she learned during the ride to their destination that Jackson had already told one of their daughters about the plan she had behind his back. “Moms!!! Has anyone else experienced this? After a week of planning a surprise for the kids, we both agreed it would be a surprise,” she captioned the post. Worse yet, he decided to give her the silent treatment.
Luckily, Sherrod defused the tension with a laugh.