Scott Hoying’s Emotional Journey: How the Pentatonix Star and His Husband Mark Welcomed Their First Child

For Pentatonix star and Dancing With the Stars contestant Scott Hoying, this year has been nothing short of life-changing.

Between dazzling fans on the dance floor and embracing fatherhood for the first time, the singer’s world has been filled with emotion, excitement, and gratitude.

In an exclusive interview, Hoying opened up about becoming a dad with his husband, Mark Manio, and the beautiful journey that led them to this moment.

“I can honestly say I’ve never felt a love like this,” Scott began, smiling as he talked about their newborn son.

“When you hold your child for the first time, the whole world kind of stops.

All the things you thought were important just fade away—it’s like your heart grows ten sizes.”

Scott and Mark, who tied the knot in 2023 after a stunning oceanfront ceremony in Santa Barbara, had been open about their desire to start a family.

“We talked about it on our first date,” Scott admitted.

“We both knew that someday we wanted to be dads.

It just took time, patience, and a lot of hope.”

The couple welcomed their baby boy through surrogacy earlier this year—a process Scott described as both “magical and humbling.

” “Our surrogate was incredible,” he said.

“We’re so grateful to her and her family for giving us the greatest gift imaginable.

We stayed in touch throughout the pregnancy, and when he was finally born, we were both in tears.”

Since then, fatherhood has brought new meaning to their lives.

Between rehearsals for Dancing With the Stars and long nights with the baby, Scott has learned to balance fame and family.

“It’s wild,” he laughed.

“I’ll go from practicing a rumba with [dance partner] Peta Murgatroyd straight to changing diapers.

But honestly, I wouldn’t trade it for anything.”

Mark, who has been by Scott’s side throughout the DWTS competition, is equally smitten with their new role as parents.

“He’s the calm one,” Scott said fondly.

“When I get stressed about the show or touring, Mark’s the rock.

He’s already the best dad.

Seeing him hold our son—it just melts me.”

Their love story, which began during the height of the pandemic, has become an inspiring example for LGBTQ+ couples around the world.

“We met through mutual friends and connected instantly,” Scott recalled.

“There was this sense of peace between us, like we’d known each other forever.

From the beginning, we wanted to build a life rooted in love and authenticity.”

That authenticity shines through in how openly Scott and Mark share their family journey with fans.

Social media has become a space where they post joyful updates—tiny baby socks, first smiles, and the occasional bleary-eyed parenting moment.

“We don’t want to just show the perfect stuff,” Scott said.

“Parenting is beautiful, but it’s also messy and exhausting.

We want people to know that’s okay.”

For Scott, his experience on Dancing With the Stars has mirrored this new chapter in life—full of vulnerability, challenge, and discovery.

“Dancing was way outside my comfort zone,” he admitted.

“But just like parenting, it teaches you patience and connection.

You have to trust your partner, communicate, and keep showing up even when it’s hard.”

The DWTS cast and crew have rallied behind Scott, celebrating his milestone as a new dad.

Peta Murgatroyd, his dance partner, shared that Scott often lights up rehearsals with baby stories.

“He’ll walk in grinning, saying, ‘Guess who smiled for the first time last night?’ It’s the sweetest thing,” she said.

Fans, too, have flooded social media with messages of love and congratulations.

“Scott deserves all the happiness in the world,” one fan wrote.

“He’s been such a light in the music industry for years, and seeing him become a dad feels so right.”

Behind the spotlight, Scott admits that fatherhood has also shifted his perspective on fame and success.

“I used to measure my achievements by career milestones—awards, tours, projects,” he said.

“Now, it’s about being present.

Success is seeing my son’s face light up when I walk into the room.

That’s everything.”

Mark and Scott have also started documenting their parenting journey privately through journals and video diaries, hoping to share them with their son one day.

“We want him to know how much love surrounded his arrival,” Mark said in a joint message posted to their Instagram.

“He came into this world with more support and joy than we could’ve imagined.”

Looking ahead, Scott hopes to balance his growing family life with future creative projects.

“Pentatonix is still my home, and I’m so proud of what we’ve built,” he said.

“But now, I think my next big project is being the best dad I can be.”

The couple has already received plenty of advice from fellow parents—some of it useful, some of it hilarious.

“Everyone says sleep when the baby sleeps,” Scott joked.

“But between rehearsals and feeding times, I’m not sure when that’s supposed to happen!”

As for the kind of father he hopes to be, Scott’s answer was simple.

“I want him to grow up feeling safe and loved,” he said softly.

“I want him to know that families come in all shapes and forms—and that love is what defines them.”

It’s clear that for Scott Hoying, this new chapter is about more than just parenthood—it’s about growth, gratitude, and grounding.

From sold-out arenas to late-night lullabies, he’s embracing every note of life’s newest melody.

“I’ve sung on the biggest stages in the world,” he said, “but nothing compares to hearing your baby laugh for the first time.

That’s the real music.”