‘The Golden Bachelorette’: ABC Taps Joan Vassos To Lead Inaugural Season

Joan Vassos is getting another shot at love.

The 61-year-old school administrator has been cast as the inaugural Golden Bachelorette, ABC announced Tuesday during Disney’s Upfront presentation.

Vassos was an early frontrunner during Gerry Turner’s season of The Golden Bachelor. She unfortunately had to voluntarily leave the show during Week 3 due to a family emergency. During the Women Tell All, Vassos admitted that she felt there was some unfinished business between her and Turner. At times, she said it was hard not to wonder what may have happened if she’d stayed.

ABC also announced that The Golden Bachelorette, which debuts this fall, will air on Wednesdays at 8 p.m. ET/PT before new episodes of Abbott Elementary.

The Golden Bachelorette joins a robust slate for the franchise that includes The Bachelor, The Bachelorette, Bachelor in Paradise and The Golden Bachelor. 

This year, ABC forewent a new season of Bachelor in Paradise, instead opting to move straight into The Bachelorette Season 20, which is set to premiere July 8.

The entire franchise is produced by Warner Bros. Unscripted Television in association with Warner Horizon.