Donnie Wahlberg, once the heartthrob of countless teenage girls during the heyday of New Kids on the Block in the late ’80s and early ’90s, has evolved into a devoted family man over the years.
Although he was initially labeled the “bad boy” of New Kids on the Block, Donnie gradually dispelled those notions. He proved to be more than just eye candy; he revealed a kind and caring heart.
In August 1999, Donnie exchanged vows with Kimberly Fey. Their union brought forth two sons: Xavier Wahlberg, born in 1993, and Elijah Wahlberg, welcomed in 2001. Regrettably, their marriage came to an end, and they filed for divorce in 2008, nearly a decade after they had first tied the knot.
Donnie’s path crossed with actress and TV personality Jenny McCarthy in 2012, though it wasn’t until a year later that they rekindled their connection. Their romance started making headlines in July 2013, following a report from Us Weekly, after Donnie’s appearance on Jenny’s talk show, “The Jenny McCarthy Show,” in March 2013.
By April 2014, the couple publicly announced their engagement on “The View” and, just four months later, exchanged vows in a heartwarming ceremony in August 2014.
Upon their marriage, Donnie and Jenny each brought their own children into the fold, creating a harmonious blended family. They found joy in this unique family arrangement.
In a November 2019 interview with Us Weekly, Donnie praised Jenny as an extraordinary mother and stepmother to their children. He stated, “Besides being the best wife that I could have ever imagined having, she’s also the best stepmom and mother.”
Jenny’s son, Evan Joseph Asher, whom she had with her ex, John Asher, was diagnosed with autism after birth. Despite being from another man, Donnie embraced the role of a father figure and treated him as his own, illustrating his unwavering commitment to their blended family.
Donnie takes immense pride in being a father to Evan, whom he affectionately describes as a fascinating individual.
“One of the intriguing aspects of our parenting dynamic is that my son is remarkably cerebral and reserved. He’s not the type to say, ‘Hey, dad, let’s go out and play,’ or ‘I love you, dad.’ However, he excels at engaging in meaningful conversations,” Donnie explained.
Donnie also developed a profound bond with Jenny’s son, a connection that he hadn’t experienced with his own children. Likewise, Jenny formed a close relationship with Donnie’s son.
“We’ve seamlessly integrated into each other’s lives, finding unique connections with each other’s children that we hadn’t quite established with our own. With Evan, Jenny’s son, I’ve discovered numerous wonderful ways to connect that differ from my relationship with my own child. Similarly, Jenny can now engage in heartfelt conversations with my son,” Donnie observed.
Jenny openly acknowledged how Donnie’s presence transformed their lives, particularly in the context of her role as a single mother, which was already challenging, and raising a child with special needs added an additional layer of complexity.
“Before I met Donnie, it was incredibly tough… Being a single mom is a significant challenge, and being a single mom with a child with special needs compounds the difficulty,” McCarthy shared with Page Six.
Recalling their engagement on “The View,” Jenny, with tears of emotion, disclosed that Donnie had included Evan in his proposal. After she had said “yes,” her son jubilantly exclaimed, “I have another dad!”
Donnie’s commitment to Evan extends beyond mere words. He has already taken on the financial responsibility of Evan’s college tuition, a heartfelt Christmas gift that Jenny gratefully revealed.
Donnie even took to Instagram to extend his heartfelt wishes to his stepson as he marked his 20th birthday.
In an Instagram post, he expressed, “Happy 20th Birthday to my remarkable stepson @evanjasher! May your day overflow with happiness, Evan.”
Jenny, however, isn’t the sole beneficiary of their good fortune. Donnie himself acknowledged his profound gratitude for having found a partner like her.
“She’s an incredible companion, and to put it simply, having someone with whom to create lasting traditions with my children, and that someone being Jenny, is perhaps the thing I’m most thankful for,” Donnie emphasized.
Although the idea of expanding their family was contemplated for a while, Jenny clarified that they have decided not to have another child. During an interview with Entertainment Tonight, she articulated their desire to invest their time and energy into their children from previous relationships while savoring their time together.
“I’m at a point where I’m really, like, ‘Oh my god, I kind of still’— I’m at that age where it’s like, really, time is ticking,” Jenny shared. “And we both feel that we cherish each other’s company so much, and we already have three kids (from prior relationships)! So, we want to channel all our devotion towards them while savoring our golden years,” she added.
In the same interview, Donnie reiterated their decision not to have more children and emphasized their focus on caring for their puppies.
“We’re in the process of naming our puppy,” Donnie mentioned. “We ultimately settled on DJ, which stands for Denny and Johnny, as it’s somewhat like our little one. We won’t be adding any more babies to the mix,” he concluded.
Jenny revealed to People magazine that her marriage to Evan’s father reached its “inevitable end” shortly after her son’s autism diagnosis at the age of three. This left Jenny as a single mother, tasked with raising a son with special needs on her own. Nevertheless, Donnie stepped in to fill the void for Evan, and their connection has since grown as robust as that of a biological father and son.
On June 18, 2023, Father’s Day, Jenny shared a rare family photograph on her social media, capturing herself, her sister Lynette McCarthy, and Evan celebrating the day alongside both Donnie and her father, Dan McCarthy, with a round of golf. The five of them stood side by side on the golf course, radiating happiness in each other’s company. Jenny captioned the image:
“A perfect Father’s Day with 2 daddy GOATS @donniewahlberg @chicagomacky ❤️❤️ Alongside my son @evanjasher and sis @lynettemcphoto. Happy Father’s Day to all the dads out there.”
In response, Donnie simply added a red heart emoji, as fans couldn’t help but swoon over the heartwarming family portrait.
“Such a cute picture, you guys!” one comment raved, while another user chimed in, “A wonderful picture of an amazing family ❤️.”
Meanwhile, Evan also shared photos and a video clip from the joyous day, showcasing his golf skills as he teed off a ball into the distance. However, it was Evan’s caption that stole the spotlight. He wrote:
“I had an exceptional Father’s Day at the country club last Sunday with my incredible stepdad.”
The profound connection between Donnie and Evan is evident, rooted in love, trust, and admiration. The time they spend together and the shared activities they enjoy will undoubtedly strengthen their bond even further.
How do you feel about Donnie Wahlberg and his stepson’s bond? Did their journey touch your heart? Share your thoughts and be sure to pass this story along to anyone who would appreciate it!
