The Golden Bachelorette Announced

Joan Vassos, a 61-year-old grandmother and school administrator from Rockland, Maryland, has been announced as the Golden Bachelorette for ABC. She made a surprise appearance at Disney’s upfront presentation to reveal her new role. Vassos will follow in the footsteps of Gerry Turner as the lead in the Golden franchise, marking the network’s first Golden Bachelorette star.

The spinoff series will air in the fall on Wednesdays and will feature a different casting process. While the Golden Bachelor became a hit for ABC, Turner’s marriage to winner Theresa Nist was short-lived, leading to their divorce three months after their televised wedding, which they attributed to long-distance challenges and dedication to their families.