'Fixer Upper' Stars Top List of Most Popular Celebs Among Faith-Based Audiences
Research blog E-Poll published this week the results of its "Faith and Fandom" poll which lists A-list celebrities among Christian audiences. By listing down the most popular celebrities that appeal to faith-based audiences, the demographic research helps products identify their target consumer market.
Topping the list is Chip Gaines while his wife and business partner, Joanna, settled in eighth place. The couple stars in HGTV's home renovation program "Fixer Upper" which has been described as giving viewers a glimpse into "everyday Christian living" without proselytizing.
A World write-up praised the Gaines for consistently reflecting an unassuming recognizable Christianity without being dogmatic about it. "Joanna sports the trendiest nail polish color," it said. "In other words, they look and act like people you might actually meet in your church."
BuzzFeed's attempt to discredit the couple by linking them to their pastor's anti-homosexual views may have worked in their favor. Chip wrote an intelligent reply in his blog saying that they "refuse to be baited" and "disagreement is not the same thing as hate."
Other Hollywood favorites in the top 20 list are "Fast and Furious" stars Tyrese Gibson (2), Dwayne Johnson (4) and Jason Statham (13), as well as Sean Connery (5), Harrison Ford (11), Betty White (9), Michael J. Fox (15), Dick Van Dyke (16) and Sandra Bullock (19).
E-Poll recognized the power of Christians as consumers and a political force as demonstrated in the last election. It also credited churchgoers as the driving force behind the box office success of "The Shack."
"The race is on to create new programming aimed at these faith-based viewers," the blog said. "Targeted sub-groups like faith-based consumers can provide a powerful channel for reaching an audience... As the impact of faith-based consumers increases, it is imperative that agencies and studios understand which celebrities to utilize in campaigns, as they increasingly target this audience."
