Who is ‘The Golden Bachelorette’? What to know about Joan Vassos

It’s “The Golden Bachelorette’s” time to shine.
Almost a year after “The Golden Bachelor” premiered and became a favorite with audiences, “The Golden Bachelorette” is now set to hand out roses and “take a second chance at love,” says ABC.
“For the first time in Bachelor franchise history, 24 seasoned men in the prime of their lives will roll up their sleeves and step into the spotlight, all vying to make a lasting impression on Golden Bachelorette Joan Vassos,” ABC says about the upcoming season. “The men vying for her final rose have journeyed through the highs and lows of love, navigating moments of joy and heartbreak, and they arrive with anticipation, eager to foster a connection that sparks a future of limitless possibilities.”
Here’s what to know about the first season of “The Golden Bachelorette,” including contestants, trailer and how to watch it.
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 “The Golden Bachelor” alum Joan Vassos is ABC’s inaugural leading lady on the first-ever “The Golden Bachelorette.”
A private school administrator from Rockville, Maryland, Vassos, 61, was among the top picks for the show following the success of “The Golden Bachelor,” USA TODAY had exclusively revealed in February.
Vassos spent a romantic evening with Golden Bachelor Gerry Turner in last year’s show and became a fan favorite after her heartbreaking decision to leave “The Golden Bachelor.” Vassos eliminated herself due to a medical concern with her daughter that required her care out in the real world.
During her time on Turner’s season, Vassos had passionately talked about her husband, John, who died after 32 years of marriage from pancreatic cancer. “He was the husband that always made me feel safe and cherished,” Vassos had written on Instagram in January.
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Season 1 of “The Golden Bachelorette” will premiere with a 2-hour episode on Wednesday, Sept. 18, at 8 p.m. ET, with new episodes dropping weekly every Wednesday.
ABC has not released the full schedule for “The Golden Bachelorette” Season 1, and it not yet clear how many episodes the season will have. “The Bachelor” franchises typically have 9 to 13 episodes per season. “The Golden Bachelor” had 9 episodes followed by a special wedding episode that aired a little more than a month after the finale.
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“The Golden Bachelorette” will air on ABC every Wednesday and will be available to stream on Hulu the next day.
Previous seasons of “The Bachelor,” “The Bachelorette” and “The Golden Bachelor” are currently available to stream on Hulu.
Watch ‘The Golden Bachelorette’: Subscribe to Hulu
The 24 men vying for Joan’s heart include:
‘Golden Bachelorette’ trailer:Joan Vassos meets Kelsey Anderson’s ‘Hot Dad’ Mark
Canadian-born TV personality and ex-football commentator Jesse Palmer will host the show.
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Contributing: Gary Levin, Bryan Alexander, USA TODAY
Saman Shafiq is a trending news reporter for USA TODAY. Reach her at [email protected] and follow her on X and Instagram @saman_shafiq7.