Donnie Wahlberg Sings, Jenny McCarthy Plays ‘Questions’—The Surprising Ritual Behind Their Lasting Marriage
OPINION: This article may contain commentary which reflects the author's opinion.
Jenny McCarthy is revealing the secret to maintaining the excitement and curiosity in her 11-year marriage to husband Donnie Wahlberg. In an exclusive interview with PEOPLE at the 2025 iHeartRadio Music Awards, McCarthy, 52, opened up about the practices that help keep their relationship fresh, despite the passage of time.
“We continue to date each other, because I think we get really complacent and it can become a brother and sister relationship real quick, unless you do the work,” McCarthy shared. She emphasized that the key to their enduring bond is making an active effort to maintain connection and intrigue.
One of the couple’s favorite ways to keep their curiosity alive is through a game they play called “Questions.” “Every once in a while we’ll play this game and we have to ask questions that we don’t know the answer to because you already know what you think are answers to everything after 10 years,” McCarthy explained. “It allows us to actually do work and get introspective and get curious about each other.”
The game, which McCarthy says helps them reconnect, not only fosters deeper conversations but also encourages them to rediscover one another. “When you get curious about each other, it feels like you’re dating again,” she added. “So we always make sure we play ‘Questions’ to keep that curiosity going in our relationship.”
McCarthy also discussed what it’s like being married to a musician, as Wahlberg, 55, is a founding member of the iconic boy band New Kids on the Block. “Donnie sings around the house all the time. Me, not so much because I’m a little embarrassed, I’m a little tone deaf,” McCarthy admitted with a laugh. “But being married to a musician is one of the greatest extra cherry on tops in a relationship because you get to go to his job and it’s a concert of the music you love and then you’re at home and he’s in the shower and he’s singing a song.”
She continued, “And I’m like, ‘Woo, this is awesome.’ I’m very lucky.”
As for her favorite New Kids on the Block song, McCarthy didn’t hesitate to name “Come Back” from the band’s latest album. “If you haven’t heard it, listen to ‘Come Back’ on the new album,” she enthusiastically recommended.
The couple was seen enjoying the iHeartRadio Music Awards together, sharing a sweet moment on the red carpet. McCarthy and Wahlberg looked every bit the picture of happiness, linking arms and even sharing a kiss in front of the cameras. Wahlberg sported a dapper baby blue suit, while McCarthy shimmered in a gold chainmail cowl-neck dress.
The pair first met during a 2012 appearance on Watch What Happens Live with Andy Cohen, but it was their reconnection on The Jenny McCarthy Show in 2013 that marked the beginning of their romance. They married in 2014 and have since built a relationship rooted in both love and playfulness, proving that even after 11 years, there’s always room for more curiosity and connection.
McCarthy’s insights into their enduring marriage serve as a reminder that keeping a relationship exciting and meaningful often requires intentional effort—and for McCarthy and Wahlberg, it’s a game that never gets old.
