With all due respect to the Beatles, HGTV power couple Egypt Sherrod and Mike Jackson say it takes more than just love.
In the cover story for the Love Unapologetically issue of SwagHer Magazine, the co-hosts of “Married to Real Estate” discussed their formula for maintaining a strong relationship while also building successful careers and a healthy family. A big key, they say, is being 100% true about who they are 100% of the time.
“We’ve learned to take off the masks when we’re with each other,” Sherrod said. “There’s no point in pretending to be perfect when your partner is supposed to be your safe space.”
And while their path has had its share of bumpy stretches, they stress the importance of always remaining fully committed to each other.
“(I)t’s not always sunshine and rainbows – we have our moments like any couple,” Sherrod said. “But after more than 20 years of this journey together, what keeps us strong is knowing that we’re in this together no matter the curveballs. Even on our hardest days, we remind each other, ‘I everything you,’ because just saying, ‘I love you,’ doesn’t feel like enough to cover what we mean to each other.”
Sherrod Egypt, Mike Jackson Stress Importance of Laughter in Marriage
Laughter has been another crucial ingredient in making it all work, Jackson said.
“We laugh a lot! A lot, a lot!” he said. “Even when things are tough, we find a way to crack a joke or roast each other a little. It’s not easy balancing work and marriage, but we don’t take ourselves too seriously, and that helps keep things light when they could get heavy.”
The duo also shared the need to block outside influences from getting inside their bubble.
“People see the highlights but don’t always see the work that goes into protecting your peace and your relationship,” Sherrod said. “We’ve made our home our safe space – no egos, no outside drama.”
“And we never let the opinions of strangers affect what’s real between us,” Jackson added. “At the end of the day, it’s not about looking perfect for the world, it’s about building something real and unshakable for our family. Plus, we keep each other grounded – Egypt will roast me in a second if I get too big-headed, and I do the same for her.”
Sherrod Jackson, Mike Jackson Still Going Strong After 20-plus Years
GettyAs highlighted in a January 2024 article by People, Sherrod and Jackson got married in September of 2010 after a six-year relationship, but their paths crossed several times before they actually began dating.
They had both been working in the entertainment industry in New York City – Sherrod as a radio personality, Jackson as a DJ – but although there was a mutual attraction, the sparks didn’t begin to really fly until they randomly reconnected during a home renovation project in 2004. Sherrod was trying to flip an investment property, and Jackson was recommended to her as a fill-in contractor after she had fired a previous one.
“I certainly looked at him differently after that,” Sherrod said in an interview with Authority Magazine. “He was more than a DJ. He was also a businessman. Couple that with a tight t-shirt and toolbelt and I was intrigued.”
Twenty-plus years, two daughters – plus a third from Jackson’s previous relationship – and several successful business ventures later, Sherrod and Jackson continue doing the work to keep it all heading in the right direction.
“We’re proud to show that you can be a sexy, loving couple while building a family and empire together,” Jackson said to SwagHer Magazine. “We want people to see that you don’t have to choose between being successful and being passionate about each other. Through it all, remember to say, ‘I everything you,’ because love is just the start of what you’re building.”
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