Ben and Erin Napier, the beloved hosts of HGTV’s Home Town, are celebrated for their charming Southern hospitality and their talent for revitalizing historic homes in Laurel, Mississippi. Their on-screen chemistry and passion for preservation have endeared them to millions, creating a public persona built on authenticity and relatability.
This established foundation means that when more private, personal details about their lives come to light, they are not perceived as sensationalism but rather as further evidence of their genuine character. This deepens the connection audiences feel, reinforcing the core appeal of the Napier presence.
The Unseen Threads of Their Relationship
1. “Love Week” is More Important Than Their Anniversary
Ben and Erin celebrate a unique tradition called “Love Week,” a six-day period in December that marks the whirlwind week in 2004 when they first met, went on their first date, and quickly realized they were destined to marry. They consider this week even more significant to them than their wedding anniversary.
2. Erin Dated a Ben Lookalike
Before her relationship with Ben blossomed, Erin admitted to casually dating someone she worked with who “looked a little bit like Ben Napier,” her then-college crush. She was even exchanging texts with the real Ben while dating his doppelgänger.
3. Ben’s Daily Love Notes
Ben maintains a remarkably consistent romantic gesture: he leaves Erin a handwritten love note every single day. These are simple, heartfelt expressions, reinforcing his philosophy that one should do something daily to make their spouse fall in love with them again. Their eldest daughter, Helen, has even started contributing notes to Ben.
4. Their Constant Togetherness
Ben and Erin are famously “attached at the hip,” believing this constant togetherness makes them the “strongest team.” This deep integration extends to their family life, with their daughters reportedly acting out when one parent is alone.
5. Ben Creates Annual Anniversary Books
As a tradition stemming from their engagement, Ben creates a new book for Erin each year, with themed covers that correspond to traditional anniversary gifts like paper, cotton, or leather. This continues his creative and thoughtful approach to their relationship.
6. Ben’s Creative Proposal Involved a Custom Book
In 2007, Ben proposed to Erin by writing a leather-bound book he had written himself, detailing their love story. The final page instructed her to “Come upstairs for the rest of the story,” where he was waiting to propose.
7. They Weren’t Initially Planning Kids
Both Ben and Erin have openly shared that they were not actively looking to have children before their daughters, Helen and Mae, were born, making their shift to parenthood a surprising journey.
8. Helen Writes Notes to Ben
Their eldest daughter, Helen, has started contributing to the family tradition by writing notes to her dad, Ben, mirroring his daily practice of leaving love notes for Erin.
9. Ben’s Unique Memory Quirk
Ben possesses a peculiar memory quirk: he struggles significantly to remember people’s names but has an uncanny ability to recall incredibly specific and detailed anecdotes about them, such as the exact type of car they drove in high school.
10. Erin’s Decade-Long Journaling Habit
Erin maintained a rigorous daily journaling habit for a decade, from January 1, 2010, to January 1, 2020. She documented “the best thing that happened” each day to train herself to seek out the positive and manage anxiety.
11. Erin Experiences Significant Travel Anxiety
Erin has openly discussed her profound anxiety about traveling, particularly crossing oceans with her children, admitting she has to “disassociate” from the thought to cope with potential worries.
Personal Battles and Parenthood’s Path
12. Erin’s Decade-Long Mystery Illness
Erin quietly endured a debilitating “mystery illness” for over a decade. In 2014, she underwent surgery, discovering she had been living with a perforated appendix for more than ten years, which had caused extensive scar tissue to bind her organs.
13. Erin’s Post-Surgery Mental Health Struggles
The intense physical pain from her appendix issue led to ongoing mental health struggles for Erin, including a fixation on sickness, nausea, and panic attacks, even after the physical ailment was addressed.
14. Erin’s Other Recent Health Issues
Beyond her decade-long perforated appendix ordeal, Erin has faced other health challenges, including surgery for abscessed tonsils in 2022, multiple COVID diagnoses, and a back injury in early 2024.
15. Ben’s 95-Pound Weight Loss
Ben embarked on a significant health transformation, losing 95 pounds after a routine doctor’s visit revealed dangerously high blood pressure. He was motivated by the desire to be there for his wife and two daughters.
16. Ben Adopted Erin’s “Girl Dinner” Diet
As part of his health journey, Ben adopted Erin’s “girl dinner” eating habits, which primarily consist of crackers, cheese, fruit, and vegetables, contributing to his significant weight loss.
17. Ben’s Weight Loss Also Due to Shoulder Surgery
While diet was a major factor, Ben also attributed some of his weight loss to reduced weightlifting after shoulder surgery, noting that it’s “amazing when you can’t lift weights how much weight you lose really fast… it’s mostly muscle.”
18. Erin’s Deep-Seated Fear of Motherhood
Before welcoming her first daughter, Helen, Erin harbored a significant fear of becoming a mother, describing pregnancy as “insurmountable” and “impossible.” This apprehension was intensified by past health concerns.
19. Doctors Warned Erin About Full-Term Pregnancy
Erin’s apprehension about motherhood was exacerbated by her 2014 perforated appendix diagnosis, which led doctors to warn that carrying a baby full-term might be difficult, intensifying her fear of a “tragic loss.”
20. Security Before Mae’s Birth Due to Stalker
Before Mae’s birth, the Napiers had 24-hour security officers at their home due to a “terrifying” stalker incident that also involved court proceedings. Their eldest daughter, Helen, didn’t understand why the security was there.
21. The “Stormtrooper” Stalker Incident
The stalker incident involved a 54-year-old California man, dressed as a Star Wars stormtrooper, who moved a block from their home, claiming God sent him to protect their daughter Helen. The case was dismissed after he returned to California.
22. Controversy Over Ben’s Crib Design
Ben crafted a crib for their daughters that sparked controversy due to the inclusion of bumper cushions. While sentimental, the design raised safety concerns as bumper cushions were later banned.
Beyond the Screen: Business, Beliefs, and Backlash
23. Ben’s Youth Ministry Background
A lesser-known aspect of Ben Napier’s life is his ministry background; he served as the youth minister at Laurel First United Methodist Church before resigning in 2014 to pursue woodworking full-time.
24. Both of Ben’s Parents are United Methodist Ministers
Further shaping his values and upbringing, both of Ben Napier’s parents are United Methodist ministers.
25. Their Faith is Often Edited Out of the Show
Ben and Erin are open about their Christian faith, which they say profoundly inspires their work. However, Erin has noted that explicit discussions about their faith often “get edited away” from the show.
26. Their Individual Skills Reflect Their Faith
Erin, as an artist, sees God as the “ultimate artist,” believing believers strive to create beauty and meaning. Ben sees God’s presence in the details of wood, noting how natural processes are something only God could accomplish.
27. They Appreciate Salvation Army’s Charity Work
Ben and Erin view giving back as a significant aspect of their religious beliefs, appreciating how the Salvation Army’s red kettles and “Angel Trees” introduce children to the concept of charity.
28. HGTV Discovered Them via Instagram Hashtag
The Napiers’ journey to television stardom was unconventional, beginning when an HGTV executive discovered Erin’s Instagram account in 2014 through the hashtag “#ILiveinLaurel.”
29. Laurel Mercantile Co. is a Three-Couple Partnership
The Laurel Mercantile Co. was re-opened in 2016 not just by Ben and Erin, but as a collaborative partnership of three couples—the Napiers, the Nowells, and the Rasberrys—who are family and long-time friends.
30. Scotsman Manufacturing’s Job Creation Mission
Scotsman Manufacturing Co., founded in 2021, has a core mission beyond profit: it employs American makers in Laurel, Mississippi, to produce high-quality butcher blocks and countertops, emphasizing the responsibility of providing good-paying jobs.
31. Osprey Non-Profit’s “Censorship” Claims
Erin claimed that “big tech” platforms allegedly censored posts about their Osprey non-profit, which promotes social media-free childhoods, leading to suppressed views and reach for their message.
32. Ben’s Past Presidency of Main Street America Chapter
Ben served as a past president of Laurel’s Main Street America chapter, showcasing his early leadership and dedication to community revitalization efforts beyond television.
33. Home Town Takeover Funding Model
While HGTV features the show, renovations on Home Town Takeover are primarily paid for by the homeowners and businesses, supplemented by donations, grants, and waived fees from the participating towns.
34. Wetumpka Was Hit by a Tornado Before the Takeover
Prior to Home Town Takeover, Wetumpka, Alabama, had been severely impacted by a tornado, which destroyed or damaged over 170 buildings, adding urgency to the revitalization project.
35. Wetumpka’s Sales Tax Skyrocketed After Takeover
After Home Town Takeover, Wetumpka, Alabama, experienced a remarkable economic boost, with its sales taxes increasing by over 300% at the peak of its success.
36. Wetumpka’s Downtown Vacancy Reduction
The Home Town Takeover project significantly revitalized downtown Wetumpka, reducing its vacancy rate from 75% to a mere 14% (86% full) after the show aired.
37. Wetumpka Established a New Tourism Department
Following the success of Home Town Takeover, Wetumpka established a new tourism department and opened a visitor’s center, which had welcomed over 5,000 visitors by January of the current year.
38. Home Town Takeover Received Thousands of Applications
For Season 1 of Home Town Takeover, 2,600 applications came in, increasing to 5,000 for Season 2, and nearly 6,000 for Season 3, demonstrating the immense desire of towns to be featured.
39. Briefly Linked to a Mississippi Welfare Fraud Scandal
Ben Napier’s name briefly appeared in court documents related to a multi-million dollar welfare fraud scandal in Mississippi. Filings indicated Ben “assisted with locker construction” at a former governor’s request, though Erin clarified Ben merely recommended a cabinet maker and was not involved in fraudulent activities.
Design Aesthetic & Quirky Insights
40. Erin’s “Grandmillennial” Style Inspired by Movie Sets
Erin’s signature “grandmillennial” design style, which embraces a “lived-in comfort and collectedness,” draws significant inspiration from cozy movie set designs in films like The Family Stone, Father of the Bride, and Dan in Real Life.
41. Erin’s Strong Aversion to Painting Natural Wood
Erin has a particularly strong stance against painting over natural wood, viewing it as an “erasure” of its inherent beauty and believing that keeping wood in its natural state allows it to remain timeless.
42. Their Love for Collecting Antique Cars
Ben and Erin share a passion for collecting antique cars, reportedly owning a collection worth half a million dollars, preferring old cars because “they were just cooler.” Ben’s favorite is a baby blue Chevrolet pickup truck named Clint.
43. Ben is Restoring a Truck for Helen’s First Car
Ben is actively looking for a 1950s navy blue truck to restore with his eldest daughter, Helen, with the intention that it will be her first car one day, showcasing his long-term planning and sentimental side.
44. Erin’s Childhood on a 40-Acre Chicken Farm
Erin’s childhood was deeply rooted in Laurel, Mississippi, where she grew up on a sprawling 40-acre chicken farm. Her playtime involved outdoor adventures like picking pet chicks, climbing trees, and digging for arrowheads.
45. Ben’s Favorite Tool is a Pocketknife
Despite being a skilled woodworker, Ben’s favorite tool is surprisingly a simple pocketknife, a quirky personal detail that offers insight into his practical nature.
46. Ben’s Unique Naming Tradition
Ben is named after his mom, Bennie, who in turn was named after her father, Ben, creating a unique generational naming tradition.
47. Erin Owned a Wedding Stationery Company Before HGTV
Before her television career, Erin founded and successfully operated her own international wedding stationery company called Lucky Luxe, demonstrating her design and entrepreneurial skills prior to Home Town.
48. Erin Authored a Children’s Book
In 2022, Erin expanded her literary ventures by authoring a children’s picture book titled The Lantern House, a project she collaborated on with her friend and illustrator, Adam Trest.
49. Erin Opened a “Scent Library” Business
In 2022, Erin fulfilled a personal dream by opening “The Scent Library” in Laurel, a store dedicated to her passion for different smells and scent memories from her life, where each scent tells a story.
50. Their Home Has an “Analog Room”
The Napiers have an “Analog Room” in their own home, designed as a tech-free retreat. This space allows them to disconnect from digital distractions and enjoy quiet time, reflecting their philosophy on balanced living.
51. Both Graduated from Ole Miss
Both Ben and Erin are proud graduates of the University of Mississippi (Ole Miss). Erin holds a Bachelor of Fine Arts degree in graphic design, and Ben has a Bachelor of Arts degree in history.
52. Their Motto is “Same Team”
Ben and Erin prefer to be side-by-side in both work and home life, adhering to their motto of “same team,” which they believe strengthens their partnership and ensures they are always aligned.
53. Their Family is “Complete” with Helen and Mae
In December 2022, Erin publicly stated that their family is “complete” with their two daughters, Helen and Mae, and she “will not be expecting” more children, addressing fan speculation about expanding their family further.
54. They Renovated the “Big Fish” Movie House
As part of Home Town Takeover in Wetumpka, Alabama, Ben and Erin renovated the house used as a movie set for Tim Burton’s film Big Fish, which became a significant landmark for the town.
55. Erin’s Candidness About Feeling “Pathetic” Regarding Motherhood
Erin candidly shared her deep-seated fear of motherhood, admitting she felt “pathetic” and “hopeless” about her perceived lack of bravery regarding pregnancy before she had children.
56. Ben Napier was entangled brielfy in a fraud case.
Ben Napier’s name briefly surfaced in connection with Mississippi’s $77 million welfare fraud scandal due to court documents that mentioned he had “assisted” with locker construction at a volleyball facility funded with misused state money. However, Erin Napier later clarified that Ben never built anything himself—he simply recommended a cabinet maker when asked by former Governor Phil Bryant. The mention was tied to a text exchange, not to any direct involvement in wrongdoing. Ben faced no legal action, and his role was limited to offering a referral, not participating in the scandal.
