Next 'Fixer Upper?' Stars of HGTV's 'Home Town' aim to shine positive light on small-town America
{{#rendered}} {{/rendered}}HGTV's newest stars Ben and Erin Napier of "Home Town" are closely creeping in on "Fixer Upper" star's Chip and Joanna Gaines' territory.
The new show, which debuted March 21, had the second highest-rated series premiere in the network's history after fan-favorite "Fixer Upper."
However, the competition is friendly as the Napiers count the Gaineses as close friends and mentors.
{{#rendered}} {{/rendered}}"Chip and Joanna have been absolutely lovely mentors to us," Erin Napier told Fox News. The couple has also bonded with "Property Brothers" stars Jonathan and Drew Scott.
"We're in this really weird adventure, this same crazy journey... We're all doing our different thing, and our separate thing but it's not something like we can call our parents and ask for advice...because they've never been there," Erin said of reaching out to their fellow HGTV stars for advice.
She said the HGTV stars have bonded because they "care about the same thing.
{{#rendered}} {{/rendered}}"We care about home and we care about, you know, showing people in America that...home is the most special place in the world, wherever that home is for you," she said.
Ben, a woodworker and Erin, a designer and artist, turned their mutual love of art and history into a business of restoring historic homes in their small Mississippi town.
While the Napiers told us they aren't being treated any differently in their hometown, they have been recognized and stopped on the streets when they travel outside of their town. They said the hassle of fame is worth it in order to bring attention to their style of life.
{{#rendered}} {{/rendered}}"For us, we kind of felt like it was only worth it if it would shine a positive light on our town and on our state," Ben Napier shared with us.
"And on small town America in general," Erin chimed in. "We were tired of the stereotypes about small towns and the kind of future and career you can have in a small town. So we wanted to shine any kind of positive life over that kind of lifestyle."
"Home Town" airs Tuesdays on HGTV.