After more than a decade together, Donnie Wahlberg says the success of his 11-year marriage to Jenny McCarthy is built on intention, honesty, and lessons learned from past relationships.
In an exclusive conversation with Fox News Digital, the “Blue Bloods” and “Boston Blue” star opened up about how he and McCarthy approached their marriage differently the second time around — this time with maturity, self-awareness, and faith at the center.
“We’ve both been divorced before,” Wahlberg shared. “We did a lot of individual therapy, and when we got together, we decided to do some together—preemptively. New relationships uncover new vulnerabilities.”
Learning From the Past
Wahlberg, who was previously married to Kimberly Fey, and McCarthy, who divorced John Asher in 2005, both came into their relationship with children and emotional history. Wahlberg has two sons, while McCarthy has a son, Evan, whose autism diagnosis deeply affected her first marriage.
McCarthy had previously spoken about that time in her life, telling Oprah Winfrey she felt alone in her marriage due to a lack of emotional connection.
Wahlberg says that understanding their past mistakes — particularly putting everything, including parenting, ahead of their partnership — changed how they built their new life together.
“I think both of us put kids before our marriage in our first relationships,” he said. “We’re not going to make that mistake again.”
“Put the Relationship First”
The actor explained that while prioritizing children is instinctive, it’s easy for couples to lose connection in the process.
“On an airplane, they tell you to put your mask on first before helping your children,” he said. “It sounds strange — but if you’re not okay, you can’t care for your kids the way they need. The same is true in marriage.”
Wahlberg says he and McCarthy are intentional about maintaining energy, romance, and curiosity in their relationship — something many couples forget after the early stages of love fade.
“Dates are fun,” he said. “When we first meet someone, we send flowers, we ask questions, we’re curious. Then we stop. We get comfortable. But if you keep feeding that connection, it keeps the fire going.”
Faith and Fun — The Wahlberg-McCarthy Formula
Wahlberg credits faith and consistent effort as the foundation of their marriage. And for all their structure and communication, he says one thing remains essential: joy.
He also recalls the moment he knew McCarthy was the one — when she embraced his life on tour with New Kids on the Block, even when large crowds and fan culture were part of the package.
“I told her, ‘There are going to be fans screaming outside hotels. I can’t just walk past them.’ And she never made me feel guilty about it. That told me a lot about who she is.”
A Marriage Built on Growth, Not Perfection
More than a decade in, Donnie Wahlberg and Jenny McCarthy credit their stability not to luck, but to deliberate work, mutual respect, and choosing love daily.
“We do the work to protect and fortify the relationship,” Wahlberg said. “It doesn’t just happen. You have to choose it.”
From past missteps to present clarity, their story is less about perfection — and more about growth, humility, and learning to love on purpose.
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