Jenny McCarthy and her husband, Donnie Wahlberg, surprised fans with their annual holiday card this year: a bold, festive photo of the couple in bright red swimwear. While Jenny appears slimmer than ever, she revealed her weight loss was due to a difficult year of medical setbacks, not dieting.
The Masked Singer judge, 53, wore a candy-red bikini and Santa hat for the shoot, while Donnie showed his muscular physique in matching red swim trunks. The pair also posted a playful Instagram video showing themselves transforming from winter coats to beach-ready outfits.
//www.instagram.com/embed.js
Nine Mouth Surgeries Led to Unintended Weight Loss
Jenny shared this week that her changed appearance followed a year-long struggle with severe dental complications.
“I’ve had nine surgeries this year on my mouth,” she told People. “One infection turned into another, and then I started getting these growths on my eyeballs.”
The health issues began after a ceramic implant failed, causing widespread infection. As the situation worsened, Jenny had to follow a soft-food diet for months.
“My teeth were falling out, implants falling out. They finally had to dig into my jawbone and found a deep bone infection,” she explained. “I’ve been on antibiotics for a year and could only eat soft foods.”
Unable to consume enough calories, Jenny lost significant weight unintentionally. She also revealed she underwent two more surgeries after the holiday-card photo was taken.
She added, “People should actually feel a little sorry for me! Every time we thought it had cleared, it came back again.”
//www.instagram.com/embed.js
Donnie’s Ripped Look Came from Months on Stage
While Jenny dealt with health struggles, Donnie Wahlberg stayed in top form thanks to his Las Vegas residency with New Kids On The Block.
Jenny joked that the secret to their yearly holiday card is timing. “We always shoot it right after Donnie gets off tour,” she said. “He’s been dancing for three months and is in great shape.”
She added that they rush to take photos before Donnie returns to his role in the Blue Bloods spinoff, where he plays a donut-loving detective.
Looking Forward to a Healthy, Quiet Holiday Together
Despite the long and painful journey, Jenny says she is finally past the storm and can chew normally again. She looks forward to enjoying holiday food and making up for lost time with her husband.
The couple has been working in different locations, with Jenny filming The Masked Singer in Los Angeles and Donnie shooting Boston Blue in Canada.
“It’s been tricky and difficult,” she said. “So Thanksgiving and Christmas will mean more to us than ever this year.”
Jenny and Donnie plan to spend the holidays quietly at home in Chicago, just the two of them, celebrating, cooking, and enjoying time together.
