Donnie Wahlberg Gushes Over Spending First NYE With Jenny McCarthy ‘Not on TV’: ‘It’s Amazing’

It’s been 10 years since Jenny McCarthy began hosting Dick Clark’s New Year’s Rockin’ Eve TV special and 2020 marks the first year she’s taking the night off. Although fans are heartbroken they wont be seeing the blonde beauty on their TV screens, husband Donnie Wahlberg couldn’t be more excited to spend some time off with his wife of five years.

“It’s amazing,” Donnie, 50, exclusively gushed to Closer Weekly at the 10-year milestone of Target’s annual holiday Heroes & Helpers program in early December. “To be able to spend some time together this Christmas and not have to think, ‘We have to leave tomorrow for Times Square for New Year’s Eve.'”

The beloved Blue Bloods actor — who tied the knot with Jenny, 47, in August 2014 — revealed NYE is extra special for the couple considering they started and finished out Jenny’s epic run. “The first New Year’s Eve she hosted I performed with New Kids on the Block and Backstreet Boys,” he explained. “The last one she hosted, I performed again with New Kids on the Block.”

He adorably continued, “So her 10-year run of hosting NYE was book-ended with the first day I met her and I got to spend it with her again performing both times, so it’s really … it’s kind of cool. If she wants to do it again next year, I’ll have to perform again,” he jokingly added.

The “I’ll Still Be Loving You” singer — who is the proud dad of sons Xavier, 26, and Elijah, 18, as well the doting stepdad to Jenny’s 17-year-old son, Evan — even teased Closer about his and his wife’s annual NYE smooch. Fans sure are going to miss seeing the longtime lovebirds lock lips on live TV after the ball drops at midnight.

“You know, it’s going to be the first New Year’s since we’ve been together that we don’t have to stop kissing at midnight,” he hilariously shared. “We won’t have Ryan Seacrest in our ear saying, ‘Donnie, Jenny, what do you have to say?'” he continued. “We’ll kiss this year, we may or may not broadcast it live.” LOL!

While attending the Heroes & Helpers program, which teams up over 15,000 underprivileged children with local police officers and firefighters across the country to help the kids shop for holiday gifts for their families, Donnie explained why he’s especially thrilled for the holiday season.

“We’re going to be home for Christmas with our kids,” he enthusiastically shared. “We’re going to spend the holidays together, not on television, for the first time in a long time. It’s just going to be great.” Aww!

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There’s no doubt Donnie and Jenny have become one of Hollywood’s strongest power couples. Although it’s easy to get caught up in parenthood and busy schedules, the Wahlburgers star revealed how they maintain their strong bond while juggling their careers.

“It’s constantly treating the relationship like it’s new,” he told Closer. “People say, ‘What’s the secret to keeping the spark alive?’ It’s that you constantly have to light a spark. You have to put oxygen on it.”

We hope Donnie and Jenny have the best New Year’s Eve ever!

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