NKOTB Singer Jonathan Knight Is Now a 'Farmhouse Fixer' in New HGTV Series

Singer Jonathan Knight is best-known as a member of New Kids on the Block, the Grammy-nominated/American Music Award-winning boy band who sold 80 million records worldwide some thirty years ago. They disbanded in 1994 and reunited in 2008 with a new album and a concert tour with another boy band phenomenon the Backstreet Boys.

After leaving the band, the 52-year old Knight bought a farm in a suburb outside of Boston where he grew up that he renovated, and stepped out of the public eye. He was public about suffering from a generalized anxiety disorder caused, he said, from his experiences with the band. In 2009 he was outed by an ex-boyfriend in the National Enquirer, but later said: "I have lived my life very openly and have never hidden the fact that I am gay," adding that he perhaps should have been more public about it. "Apparently the prerequisite to being a gay public figure is to appear on the cover of a magazine with the caption 'I am gay'. I apologize for not doing so if this is what was expected!"

Knight and his boyfriend personal trainer Harley Rodriguez met in 2008 and appeared on the 26th season of "The Amazing Race" in 2015, finishing 9th. They became engaged the following year.

Now Knight pivots back to real estate as the host of the new HGTV series "Farmhouse Fixer," where he will share with audiences his expertise in meticulously restoring New England farmhouses. "I love a good old farmhouse," he says in the clip. "These are American treasures."

Having been involved in the renovation of more than 200 houses, Knight shows that this more than a hobby for him. On the show, which airs Wednesdays at 9pm on HGTV, he is joined by his friend and designer Kristina Crestin.

EDGE spoke to Knight about the show and his career.

EDGE: Why farmhouses?

Jonathan Knight: There are so many reasons why. I remember being a kid and always going to my uncle's farm and loving the lifestyle. I just knew I wanted one some day.

EDGE: Growing up in Boston, where did your love for farm life come from?

Jonathan Knight: It started while I was growing up in Dorchester, MA. There was a carriage house behind our house and we had goats and chickens. I also had a pony. I created my own urban farm back there. When I turned 20 and could finally buy my own place, I bought a farm on the North Shore.

EDGE: How are the families chosen that are on the show?

Jonathan Knight: They submit an application on the HGTV website. I then go to the house and meet the family to see if it is a project that inspires me.

EDGE: So, then do you have either an emotional connection to the house or the family?

Jonathan Knight: It's definitely 50/50. I get more satisfaction working on old houses instead of new construction. There is a lifetime of stories in an older house and the family that lives there.

EDGE: First thing that captures your attention when entering a house?

Jonathan Knight: A front door that is elaborate and welcoming and the front staircases. They always get me. They will either excite you or disappoint you when entering.

EDGE: Do you and your cohost Kristina have similar or different tastes in houses and decor?

Jonathan Knight: When Kristina was fresh out of college, I had renovated an old carriage house and she was working for the architect as a designer. We just hit it off so well. She has the same taste as I have, and she is not afraid to think outside of the box. It was just a match made in design heaven.

EDGE: What happens behind the scenes of a design show that the audience doesn't get to see?

Jonathan Knight: They don't get to see the subcontractors get pissed off when we tell everyone to be quiet on set so we can film. By the end of a project, they are like, we hate you.

EDGE: Are there trends in home renovation that should be embraced or avoided?

Jonathan Knight: You can walk into house and see a kitchen and know when it was last remodeled, whether it be from the 80s or the 90s. A lot of trendy designs become dated and it is really hard to balance a classical look that doesn't look too trendy. I want people to walk into one of our renovations and feel that the house is timeless.

EDGE: I know it's only your first season, but has anyone been upset with the outcome of the renovation?

Jonathan Knight: None that was said to my face. The families sit down with us and have a design meeting and then they just walk away from their house, which really intrigues me. It is nice to know that there are people out there who trust you enough to take over the design of their home. As fun as it would be, we don't have free range when it comes to the renovation. We do run any major design decisions by them. We find out the simple things they like such as colors, but we also make sure we know what they dislike. Once we have all the information, we work within guidelines.

EDGE: NKOTB are just as popular as they were when you first hit the music scene. Why has your music endured for so long?

Jonathan Knight: They say music is the soundtrack to your life. When NKOTB entered the lives of many of our fans, they were first discovering boys or girls and falling in love. Our music now is comfort for them. It brings them back to those memories and makes them so happy.

"Farmhouse Fixer" airs Wednesdays at 9 p.m. on HGTV.
For more information on Farmhouse Fixer visit, www.hgtv.com