Johnny Jett Dead or Alive [Barnwood Builders] wiki, bio, wife, net worth.

At 76 years old, Johnny Jett remains one of the most intriguing and beloved cast members of Barnwood Builders. With his weathered cap, quiet humor, and unmatched skill behind heavy machinery, Johnny has spent decades helping preserve America’s oldest barns and cabins—many of which would’ve crumbled without his steady hand. A Vietnam veteran, restoration expert, and talented folk artist, Johnny’s journey from rural Kentucky to reality TV has captured the hearts of viewers across the country.

But off-camera? That’s where the mystery deepens. Fans search endlessly for updates about his age, wife, obituary, and whether he passed away—only to find the man himself still showing up, tools in hand, doing what he does best. With a modest net worth, a passion for paintings inspired by Appalachian life, and a fiercely private personal life, Johnny Jett is proof that legends don’t need to speak loudly—they just build.

Wiki/Bio Facts

Fact	Description
Full name	Johnny Jett
Date of birth	April 28, 1949
Parents	Eugene “Gene” Jett and Leota Jett.
Age	76 (as of 2025)
Place of birth	Fleming County, Kentucky, USA
Nationality	American
Ethnicity	White
Zodiac sign	Taurus
Religion	Christian
Gender	Male
Sexuality	Straight
Marital status	Married
Wife	Donna Jett
Children	Johnny Gene Jett
Education	Unknown
Profession	Reality TV star, barn builder, machinery operator
Famous for	Appearing on Barnwood Builders
Career start	1998 (as a cabin builder)
TV debut	2013 (Barnwood Builders)
Website	No longer active (formerly johnnyjettart.com)

Early Life and Career Beginnings

Johnny Jett was born on April 28, 1949, in Fleming County, Kentucky. He is the son of Eugene “Gene” Jett and Leota Jett. Gene Jett was a long-serving superintendent of the Fleming County Water Association and operated Jett Heating and Plumbing. Leota and Gene were married for 62 years. Johnny’s upbringing in rural Kentucky, alongside his family’s deep involvement in local infrastructure and community service, greatly shaped his work ethic and character.

He served in the Vietnam War and later spent 25 years working for the Fleming County Water Department. Throughout his career, Johnny built a strong reputation as a dependable and skilled worker. He began restoring log structures well before the advent of Barnwood Builders, often working alongside close friend Sherman Thompson.

Johnny had already been dismantling and restoring historic cabins for decades. By the mid-1990s, he and Sherman were known for their restoration work throughout the region. In 1996, while scouting for cabins in Goddard, Kentucky, Mark Bowe met Johnny for the first time. Bowe recalled the moment:

“He said he [Johnny] was thinking about getting out of the cabin restoration business and Sherman had been involved in for several years, and I said I was thinking about getting into cabin restoration. That’s how it started.”

Their collaboration formally began in 1998 when Johnny and Sherman joined Mark Bowe’s newly formed company, Antique Cabins and Barns. Johnny contributed years of hands-on experience operating equipment and dismantling structures, becoming one of the original pillars of the team. His work helped the company gain regional traction and ultimately laid the groundwork for the show’s future success.

One project that held personal significance brought Johnny back to a barn in Goddard, Kentucky—a structure he had driven past for years. The barn, which held historical value in the region, became a full-circle moment when it was selected for restoration. Including it in his biography illustrates the longevity of Johnny’s commitment to preserving local architecture and his deep roots in the community.

Rise to Fame on Barnwood Builders

In 2013, Johnny joined the cast of Barnwood Builders, a show that follows a tight-knit crew as they salvage and rebuild antique structures across the U.S. The crew—including Mark Bowe, Sherman Thompson, Graham Ferguson, Tim Rose, Max Hammer, and later Alex Webb—quickly built a strong fanbase. Johnny was known for his steady hand with heavy equipment, and as Mark Bowe once said, “Johnny runs equipment best.”

Johnny became a beloved figure not just for his skills but also his humble personality. In a 2015 Reddit AMA hosted by his grandson, he charmed fans with his humor. When asked how he became so skilled with a forklift, Johnny joked: “Years of experience and I’m lazy and don’t want to get off it and do anything. lol.”

He named the Four Corners region as one of the most fascinating places he had visited during the show, remarking on the diversity of the desert landscape compared to his Appalachian roots.

In a heartfelt tribute shared by the Barnwood Builders Facebook page in 2019, the show described Johnny as “an artist, a man of faith, an incredible equipment operator, and so much more. Above all, he’s the best friend a man could ask for.” This public acknowledgment highlighted his importance not just to the crew, but to the viewers who admire his humility and dedication.

He is also known to have hosted friends and cast members at his cabin in Fleming County. Mark Bowe once said,

“I’ve spent many nights in Fleming County, usually staying at Johnny’s cabin. I love the community of Goddard and the people of Fleming County. It feels like home.”

This comment underscored Johnny’s central role in building camaraderie off-camera and his deep ties to the local community

Wife and Children

Johnny Jett has been married to Donna Jett and has a son, Johnny Gene Jett. He is also a grandfather to Jonathan and Nicholas Jett, and a great-grandfather to Gideon Creed Jett and Raylynn Grace Jett. Despite his fame, Johnny values privacy and prefers to keep much of his personal life out of the public eye.

Health and Death Rumors

Given his age and the demanding nature of his work, occasional rumors about Johnny’s health or passing have circulated. These have been consistently debunked. Most of the confusion stems from obituary results for another person named Johnny Jett in Texas. As of 2025, Johnny remains active in restoration work and connected to the Barnwood Builders community.

Johnny’s Artwork

Beyond the show, Johnny is a respected visual artist. He previously operated the website johnnyjettart.com, where he showcased and sold rustic-style paintings inspired by Appalachian life, landscapes, and historic structures. Although the website is no longer active as of 2025, his artwork remains cherished by fans who collected it over the years. His creative work reflects the same dedication to preservation and storytelling seen in his restoration projects.

Net Worth

Johnny Jett’s estimated net worth stands at over $400,000. His earnings stem from his appearances on Barnwood Builders, as well as his artwork sales. He has maintained a modest lifestyle despite his TV fame, grounded in faith and craftsmanship.

Physical Traits

Trait	Description
Height	About 5 ft 6 in (167 cm)
Weight	About 50 kg
Hair color	Gray
Eye color	Blue
Facial hair	Beard and mustache
Skin tone	Fair
Body type	Fit
Tattoos	None visible
Piercings	None visible
Clothing style	Casual and comfortable

Johnny Jett remains a central figure in the legacy of Barnwood Builders, admired not just for what he builds, but for who he is—a craftsman, a mentor, and a quiet force of dedication behind decades of preservation work.