Who’s The Golden Bachelorette? [Spoiler] From Gerry’s Season Could Be the 1st Lead
Now that first season of The Golden Bachelor is over and done with, Bachelor Nation fans have moved onto another dying question: Who will be The Golden Bachelorette? While The Golden Bachelorette hasn’t been confirmed, there are a few contestants from Gerry’s Golden Bachelor season who have emerged as the top contenders to be the next lead.
The Golden Bachelorette would be a spin-off of The Golden Bachelor, ABC’s spin-off of The Bachelor and The Bachelorette featuring a single man as he dates a group of women aged 65 and older. “Some of the casting interviews we got, they were just so touching,” ABC unscripted executive Rob Mill told Variety in 2020 about why the network wanted to create The Golden Bachelor. “It’s such a different way of doing The Bachelor because these people are just at a totally different place in their lives. There is an interesting thing about people who have hit the other end of the spectrum, who’ve lived their lives, they’ve raised their kids, some have been widowed or divorced and maybe some have never been in love. We thought that would be an interesting dynamic through the Bachelor prism.”
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Gerry Turner, a 71-year-old restaurant owner from Indiana, was announced as the Season 1 Golden Bachelor on Good Morning America in July 2023. “It’s never too late to fall in love again,” he said. Gerry is a father, grandfather, and widower. He married his wife and high school sweetheart, Toni, in 1974. They share two daughters, Angie and Jenny, and two granddaughters, Charlee and Payton. Gerry and Toni were married for 43 years until her death from an illness in 2017, six weeks after her retirement. “She got robbed,” Gerry told Good Morning America about Toni. “Every day that goes by, that’s the thought I have.”
The Golden Bachelor Season 1 finale aired in November 2023 as Gerry chose between his two finalists: Theresa Nist, a 70-year-old Financial Services Provider from Shrewsbury, New Jersey, and Leslie Fhima, a 64-year-old Fitness Instructor from Golden Valley, Minnesota. Now that the first Golden Bachelor season has concluded, Bachelor Nation fans are left to wonder: Who will be the Golden Bachelorette and will there even be a Golden Bachelor spin-off to begin with? Read on for what we know about who the Golden Bachelorette could be.
Will there be a Golden Bachelorette?
Will there be a Golden Bachelorette? ABC hasn’t a Golden Bachelorette yet. However, host Jesse Palmer told Entertainment Tonight in November 2023 that he’s in support of a Golden Bachelor spin-off with a female lead. “I really hope we do it. I’ve been clamoring for it as well,” he said. “I just love the group of women on Gerry’s season. I can’t single one out specifically. I think there’s a number that would be phenomenal Golden Bachelorettes, and that are very deserving of that opportunity.”
He continued, “I would also love to see a mansion full of 70-something-year-old guys just trying to fix everything around the mansion all day with their hands down their pants. Snoring and falling asleep on the couch during the da. I think it’d be pretty compelling, actually, to watch. I’m on the edge of my seat just like everybody else waiting to find out if this is something that’s going to happen or not.”
The Season 1 Golden Bachelor, Gerry Turner, for his part, is also in support of a Golden Bachelorette, though he couldn’t name a contestant from his season that he would want to be the lead more than another. “I don’t have a pick, because I believe any one of the 22 women that started this journey with me could do the job,” he said.
He continued, “They all have interesting personalities, different attributes that would be strong in a Golden Bachelorette situation. I can’t pick out a favorite.” He added that “you bet your ass” he’ll be watching The Golden Bachelorette if the show happens. “I’m hoping to be involved, not just watching,” he said. “I hope I’m there.”
Gerry also confirmed that he was “wholeheartedly in favor” of a Golden Bachelorette spin-off in an interview with People. “I have no say in it, just to be clear, but I think it would be exciting because it’s going to continue the theme that we’ve started of being hopeful and being visible at our age,” he said. “So hopefully it happens.” He continued, “There’s 22 women that stand out. I absolutely would not be able to single one out. Each one of them has a certain personality that would make a show interesting and charm, and they’re all intelligent, so there’s no bad choice.”
ABC executive Rob Mills also seemed to confirm that The Golden Bachelorette was in the works in an interview on the “Bachelor Party” podcast in 2023. “I think right now, it’s really important to get this season right,” he said. “We haven’t really dove deep into it. I mean, we haven’t even started casting yet.” He continued that he agreed with fans’ support of a Golden Bachelorette. “I don’t disagree. They’d all be very different stories. It’s really going to be difficult.”
Who is The Golden Bachelorette for 2024?
Who is The Golden Bachelorette for 2024? Read on for the top contenders to be the next Bachelor Nation lead and the first Golden Bachelorette.
Faith Martin
Went home: Third place
Faith Martin, a 61-year-old High School Teacher from Benton City, Washington, is the top contender to be the first Golden Bachelorette. Faith was sent home by Gerry in third place after Hometown Dates.
Faith confirmed she was open to being the first Golden Bachelorette in an interview with People in November 2023 after her elimination aired on The Golden Bachelor. “I really do believe in the process,” she said. “I feel like I’ve seen it work and I lived it. I know that in such a short time, you can have those kind of feelings, and I trust these producers.”
She continued, “It’s like they’re matchmaking gods or something because how do they put so many people in a situation where they are compatible and can find those feelings and actually find love on their shows? I mean, they’re really good at what they do. So I would’ve never believed that the process could work, but it does. So I think they should continue to do it with this age group, because I think that gives people hope. I think it’s really fun to watch, and I would definitely be into doing something like that.”
When asked if he had any advice for if Faith did become the Golden Bachelorette, Gerry told People, “I don’t think Faith needs any advice from me. I really don’t. She’s got her act together. She knows what she wants. She knows what she can and can’t do. Yeah, she doesn’t need advice from me.”
Faith, for her part, told Entertainment Tonight in November 2023 that she “can’t imagine” being the Golden Bachelorette, though she would be open to the opportunity. “I have learned [enough] to absolutely know that this can work. I mean, it’s crazy, but it does work and people find love. I found love,” she said. “… I absolutely trust the crew enough and the producers. I would do it. I’d be scared, but I would do it.”
Despite her interest in being the Golden Bachelorette, Faith told E! News that she was “going to need a minute” before she started dating again after her breakup with Gerry. “I would love to find out more about it,” she said when asked if she would be interest in being the Golden Bachelorette. “I mean, to have 25 men to choose from? I would have to say yes, I think.”
Ellen Goltzer
Sent home: Week 5
Ellen Goltzer, a 71-year-old Retired Teacher from Delray, Florida, is another top contender to be the Golden Bachelorette. Ellen was sent home by Gerry in Week 5 before Hometown Dates.
Ellen told E! News in November 2023 that she plans on watching the Golden Bachelorette whether it’s her or another woman as the lead. “I don’t want to think about anything in the future,” she said. “I just want to enjoy this moment and we’ll think about that tomorrow, like they said in Gone With the Wind. I’m just really taking it all in right now and enjoying it.”
She continued, “Regardless of who it is, it means that the public wants more. And that to me is very flattering in itself.” She also explained that having a Golden Bachelorette fans would be best “because then it shows that it was successful.” She continued, “And that people are looking for it and people want to see it. And that, to me, is the most exciting part of it.”
Ellen also told Entertainment Tonight that she’s learned to not predict the future after the death of her best friend, Roberta. “I learned through my friend Roberta never to jump ahead in the day and enjoy it. I’m enjoying every single minute right now. I can’t predict what’s gonna happen,” she said. “I will deal with whatever happens when it does, because life is great and I wanna take advantage of every second. That’s not being cheesy, that’s being real.” She added, “I’m really enjoying the moment right now, so I can’t even think about that now because I don’t want to jinx it.”
Joan Vassos
Went home: 12th place
Joan Vassos, a 60-year-old Private School Administrator from Rockeville, Maryland, is another a top choice to be the first Golden Bachelorette. Joan self-eliminated in 12th place in Week 3 due to a family emergency back home.
Though she went home early, Joan told E! News in November 2023 that she would be “open” to being the first Golden Bachelorette. “I would be open to it,” she said. “I believe in the process. Oddly, I kind of came into this as a little bit skeptical and I see how it worked. It’s like speed dating on steroids. And people find love on the show and I want to find love still.”
Joan also told Business Insider that she wouldn’t mind seeing more than one Golden Bachelorette, similar to The Bachelorette Season 19 with Gabby Windey and Rachel Recchia. “I also wouldn’t hate more than one Bachelorette. I think that we’d be good together. I mean, it’s obvious that we’re very supportive of each other and there’s no animosity when something great happens to each other,” Joan said.
Susan Noles
Sent home: Week 5
Susan Noles, a 66-year-old Wedding Officiant from Aston, Pennsylvania, was a fan favorite on The Golden Bachelor. She was sent home by Gerry in Week 5 before Hometown Dates. Could she be the first Golden Bachelorette?
Susan told E! News in November 2023 that she would “love” to be The Golden Bachelorette after her failed to find love with Gerry. “We came out to find love and I didn’t,” she said. “I got friendship. But I want a man. So yes, they should give us another chance.”
Though she would like the opportunity for herself, Susan also told Business Insider that any contestant from The Golden Bachelor Season 1 would make a good Golden Bachelorette. “I think all of us would like that job,” Susan said. Susan also joked to Entertainment Tonight that she thinks she would fall in love with multiple men if she was The Golden Bachelorette. “Hell yeah,” she said. “Give me 20 or 22 men, I’m bound to fall in love with a couple of them.”
Kathy Swarts
Went home: 9th place
Kathy Swarts, a 70-year-old Retired Educational Consultant from Austin, Texas, was a villain on The Golden Bachelor Season 1. She was sent home by Gerry in ninth place in Week 4. Villains have been the Bachelor and Bachelorette before (see Nick Viall), so could Kathy be the first Golden Bachelorette?
“Let me just say this to you so you don’t have to ask it again with everyone that comes up,” Kathy told E! News in November 2023. “Everyone would want to be the Golden Bachelorette.” She continued, “I don’t think they could find 22 guys who could keep up with me, so there’s that. But who wouldn’t want to be? I mean, the chance to find love, the chance to meet great people. Who wouldn’t want that?”
Kathy also claimed Business Insider that almost every contestant from Gerry’s Golden Bachelor season would like to be the first Golden Bachelorette. “I think if you honestly asked any of the women that were here on this show, we would all say, ‘Yeah, absolutely.’ This has been an adventure of a lifetime,” she said. Susan Noles, another contestant from The Golden Bachelor Season 1, also told Entertainment Tonight that she would like her and Kathy to do a joint season of The Golden Bachelorette.
Sandra Mason
Went home: Week 5
Sandra Mason, a 75-year-old Retired Executive Assistant from Doraville, Georgia, was another fan favorite from The Golden Bachelor Season 1. She was sent home by Gerry in Week 5 before Hometown Dates. Could Sandra, who skipped her daughter’s wedding to be on The Golden Bachelor, be the first Golden Bachelorette?
In an interview with E! News in November 2023, Sandra referred to herself in the third person when asked who from The Golden Bachelor should be the first Golden Bachelor. “Well, I think Sandra would be a great fit,” the retired executive assistant cheekily told E! News when asked for her pick, “so the answer’s emphatically yes.”
If not for her, Sandra voted Edith Aguierre, another Golden Bachelor contestant who was sent home in Week 3, as her choice to be the first Golden Bachelorette.
Sandra also told Entertainment Tonight that she would “highly consider” being the Golden Bachelorette. In another interview with the site weeks later, Sandra told Entertainment Tonight that would say yes to the role “tomorrow” if it was offered to her.
Natascha Hardee
Went home: Week 2
Natashha Hardee, a 60-year-old Pro-Aging Coach and Midlife Speaker, went home early on The Golden Bachelor Season 1, but she made an impact. Natascha was sent home by Gerry in Week 2. After she was eliminated, Natascha became a fan favorite after asking producers for a chair during the Rose Ceremony.
“I would love for them to do a Golden Bachelorette,” Natascha told E! News in November 2023. “I feel like Bachelor Nation should decide on who the next Golden Bachelorette is.” She continued, “My niece told me, ‘Enjoy the moment, Natasha, where you are. Don’t think about the future. Enjoy now,’” she shared. “And I’ve been taking that in since she said that.”
She told Entertainment Tonight that she doubts anyone from Gerry’s Golden Bachelor season would turn down the opportunity to be the first Golden Bachelorettte. “Who’s who’s gonna say no? Yes. Heck yes, baby!” she said. “I’m in the year of yes, so I’m saying yes. That’s why I’m doing this. That’s how I got to be the woman of The Golden Bachelor, because I said yes. I’m gonna say yes until I can’t say yes anymore.”
April Kirkwood
Sent home: Week 4
April Kirkwood, a 65-year-old Therapist from Port St. Lucie, Florida, was another Golden Bachelor contestant who threw her hat into the ring to be the first Golden Bachelorette. April was sent home by Gerry in Week 4. She’s infamous for a Group Date where the cast played pickleball and she faked an ankle injury to have more time with Gerry.
“I am exercising. I am getting my body ready. I am getting the kitchen area ready, OK?” she said. “… I’m gonna flirt with these guys so much! I want to have them at each other’s throats. I’m gonna go, ‘Show me what you’re about, boys,’” April told Entertainment Tonight about the possibility of becoming the Golden Bachelorette.
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