It sounds like something straight out of a cheesy early-2000s rom-com. A boy band superstar walks into a real estate office in Venice, California. He's looking for a place to rent. The woman who helps him isn't a seasoned veteran of the Los Angeles housing market; she’s actually on her very first day. She’s never had a client before.
That client was Joey McIntyre. The agent was Barrett Williams.
That was 2002. Today, they are one of the rarest sights in the entertainment industry: a celebrity couple that actually lasted. When people search for Joey McIntyre and wife, they usually expect to find some drama or a secret "how-they-met" story. The truth is actually much more grounded, even if the beginning felt like destiny.
The Numbers That Defined Their Marriage
Most people have a "lucky number," but for Joey and Barrett, the number 809 is basically the blueprint of their entire lives together.
It started on August 9, 2002. (8/09). That was the day they met at that real estate office. Barrett was showing him a house located at 809 Nowita Place.
Joey didn't just rent the house. He fell for the woman who showed it to him. Exactly one year later, on August 9, 2003, they tied the knot at the Plaza Hotel in New York City. Talk about commitment to a theme.
Why Joey McIntyre and Wife Barrett Williams Stay Grounded
Living in the public eye is a grind. We’ve seen a thousand celebrity marriages crumble under the weight of tour schedules and "creative differences." But Barrett wasn't a singer or an actress looking for a spotlight. She was a professional who eventually transitioned into the world of interior design, which explains why their homes always look like they belong in a magazine.
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Actually, they literally did end up in a magazine. In late 2023, the couple opened the doors of their 1939 French Normandy Revival home in Los Angeles for Architectural Digest.
It’s not some sterile mansion. It’s got personality. They moved there from New York in 2020, seeking that "storybook" vibe for their three kids.
A Family Built on Resilience
You can’t talk about Joey and Barrett without talking about their three children:
- Griffin Thomas: Born in November 2007. He’s the oldest, now 18, and apparently inherited the performance gene early.
- Rhys Edward: Born in December 2009.
- Kira Katherine: Born in May 2011.
Life isn't always red carpets and home tours. When their middle son, Rhys, was born, they discovered he had severe congenital hearing loss.
A lot of couples might have kept that private. Instead, Joey and Barrett became massive advocates for the hearing loss community. They’ve been incredibly open about the journey of getting Rhys fitted with hearing aids and navigating a world that isn't always built for kids with hearing challenges. Joey has even done PSAs for Hear the World to encourage early testing for infants.
Balancing the "New Kids" Fame with Real Life
It’s gotta be weird being married to a man who still has thousands of grown women screaming his name every time he steps on a stage with New Kids on the Block. Honestly, Barrett seems to handle it with a level of grace that most of us wouldn't have.
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Joey has joked in interviews about how hard it is to actually get a date night on the calendar. Between the NKOTB residencies, his solo projects, and three teenagers with their own schedules, it’s chaos. He told People a while back that his ideal date with Barrett is just "us at a bar. Any bar... anywhere."
There’s a relatable quality there. They aren't trying to be "The McIntyres™." They’re just two people who have been through the ringer of the 2000s, 2010s, and 2020s and managed to keep their sense of humor.
Working Together (Literally)
In 2017, the family actually worked together on a scripted comedy called Return of the Mac. Barrett and the kids played versions of themselves. While the show was a comedy, it gave fans a glimpse into their dynamic. Joey has always said that his family is his "lightning in a bottle"—a phrase he also uses for his bandmates, which tells you how much he values those deep-rooted connections.
The Secret Sauce of a 20-Plus Year Marriage
So, what’s the takeaway here? If you're looking for the "scandal" in the relationship between Joey McIntyre and wife Barrett, you’re going to be disappointed.
Their longevity seems to stem from a few specific things:
- Privacy when it counts: They share the "storybook" house and the occasional cute Instagram post, but they keep the heavy stuff for themselves.
- Shared values: Both have spoken about their Boston roots and their love for "old souls" and historic homes.
- Support through crisis: Navigating Rhys’s hearing loss diagnosis clearly bonded them rather than breaking them.
Practical Steps for Keeping a Long-Term Relationship Strong
If you're looking at Joey and Barrett as "relationship goals," there are some actual habits you can steal from their playbook, even if you aren't a pop star.
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1. Create your own "809" moments
You don't need a specific number, but you do need shared milestones. Celebrate the "first met" date as much as the wedding anniversary. It keeps the origin story alive.
2. Lean into the chaos
With three kids, the McIntyres stopped looking for "perfection" a long time ago. Joey often talks about how his kids are a "pain in the butt" but also "inspiring." Accept that life with a partner is going to be messy and loud.
3. Advocate for something bigger
Finding a cause—like the McIntyres did with hearing health—gives a couple a shared mission outside of just "paying the bills" or "raising the kids." It builds a legacy together.
4. Keep the "Date Night" simple
Don't overthink it. Like Joey said, sometimes just being at a bar—any bar—is enough to reconnect after a long week of work and parenting.
The story of Joey and Barrett isn't about a celebrity finding a "trophy wife." It's about a guy who found a real estate agent on her first day of work and decided he never wanted to look for another house—or another partner—again.