Susan Lucci Was Approached to Become The Golden Bachelorette
Before ABC officially chose the star of The Golden Bachelorette, producers reportedly considered a very familiar face from daytime television: Susan Lucci.
The 77-year-old actress, best known for her unforgettable role as Erica Kane on All My Children, revealed that ABC had approached her about becoming the first woman to lead the new senior-focused dating series.
For Lucci, however, the possibility of searching for love on television came during an especially emotional chapter of her life.
Her husband, Helmut Huber, passed away in March 2022 at the age of 84. The couple had shared more than five decades together after marrying on September 13, 1969. During their 52-year marriage, they welcomed two children and later enjoyed becoming grandparents.
Huber, an Austrian-born chef and businessman, had remained an important presence beside Lucci throughout her long and highly successful television career.
Speaking with People, Lucci confirmed that she had been contacted about The Golden Bachelorette. Although she appreciated the invitation, she ultimately decided that appearing as the show’s lead was not the right choice for her.
Interestingly, Lucci admitted that she had become a fan of the franchise herself.
She described The Golden Bachelor as something of a new addiction, showing that although she did not want to participate personally, she understood why millions of viewers had become invested in the emotional stories of older adults searching for companionship.
ABC eventually went in another direction.
On May 14, the network announced that Joan Vassos would become the first official Golden Bachelorette. Viewers already knew Vassos from the first season of The Golden Bachelor, where she quickly became a fan favorite.
The 61-year-old widow later spoke openly about what she hoped to find through the experience.
During an appearance on the Bachelor Happy Hour: Golden Hour podcast, Vassos explained that she genuinely wanted another chance at love and hoped to find someone with whom she could share everyday life.
She also admitted that the structured experience of the television show felt more appealing to her than trying to navigate dating apps.
For Susan Lucci, declining the opportunity meant keeping her personal life away from reality television. For Joan Vassos, however, the offer opened the door to an entirely new chapter.
And the fact that ABC initially considered one of television’s most recognizable soap opera legends shows just how different The Golden Bachelorette could have looked.
