HGTV Star Opens Up About Being a Caregiver to His Mother: ‘You Really Get Closer’

Published: May 19, 2026

By India McCarty

Most people know Ty Pennington for his work as a home renovator on HGTV, but offscreen, the reality star has an even more important job — serving as a caregiver for his mother Yvonne.

“My mom has been dealing with respiratory issues for almost as long as I can remember. She was diagnosed with bronchiectasis almost 20 years ago. But for nearly 40 years, we weren’t even sure,” he told TV Insider. “She basically had COPD and asthma. But what’s kind of crazy is sometimes you may have something more than you even realize. And so, what I didn’t realize is that my mom actually had bronchiectasis.”

Bronchiectasis is a condition that causes the tubes in your lungs to widen and develop pouches that make it difficult to clear out mucus. This can lead to pain and infections.

Today, Pennington has taken on the role of caregiver, even building a home for Yvonne near him in Florida. He sees it as an opportunity to spend time with her — something he has often missed out on over the years.

“There were so many years I was on television that I really only saw my mom once every Christmas, so basically, one time a year,” he said. “There are lots of drawbacks, but I think the big plus to being a caregiver is you really get closer to them again, and my mom is one of the funniest humans I know. That’s what’s crazy, she starts laughing too hard, she starts coughing. And so, you almost don’t want her to laugh, but it’s her best quality…It just sucks that when you have a condition that makes you cough when you laugh, it’s like it takes the joy out of life.”

Pennington continued, “My mom, that’s why I think she inspires me, because she does find the joy in life. And I think laughter is the key to life. That’s why we want to constantly laugh about it. But yeah, living with her is never a dull moment, that’s for sure.”

Additionally, Pennington is raising awareness for bronchiectasis through his partnership with Insmed’s Suspect BE campaign.

“When I begin a renovation, I start by scanning the home – the foundation, the walls, and the attic – because looking deeper can give you a full picture. I believe the same is true with your health – taking a closer look could help with getting the answers you need,” the HGTV star said in a press release. “Watching my mom cope with breathing challenges, hospital visits, and the uncertainty of not always knowing what was going on had a big impact on our family. Through Suspect BE, I hope to encourage people to have deeper conversations with their healthcare providers and suspect bronchiectasis.”