Yahoo Lifestyle ABC Makes Shocking Announcement About 'The Bachelorette' This Year
We've just kicked off the latest season of The Bachelor. However, fans of the ABC reality franchise will need to wait longer than usual for its female counterpart, as Deadline revealed ABC will be pausing production on The Bachelorette for this year.
The series, which started as a spin-off of the original male-fronted version, first premiered in 2003. A typical season of The Bachelorette films in the spring, airing over the course of the summer and fall. Unfortunately, with any planning for a season being put on hold, that means the show will be unlikely to air in 2025. However, Deadline does note that the possibility of it filming and airing late in the year has not been completely ruled out.
The Bachelorette has aired 21 seasons since its debut in 2003. This is not the first time the show has skipped an annual edition, as the series did not air in both 2006 and 2007. Since then, however, a version of The Bachelorette has come out every year, including two seasons in 2021. The 2024 edition was led by Jenn Tran, the first Asian-American lead in franchise history. She coupled up with Devin Strader by the end, though Strader ended up nullifying their engagement in August of that year.
Related: Everything We Know About The Bachelor Grant Ellis and Season 29
At the time of ABC's announcement, there were no confirmed leads for the upcoming season of The Bachelorette. The most-talked-about choice from a fan perspective, interestingly, was of someone completely outside of the universe, a rarity in Bachelor Nation. Ilona Maher became one of the breakout stars of the 2024 Paris Olympics. And the rugby player only increased her spotlight in the fall, becoming a fan favorite on Dancing with the Stars and ultimately finishing in second place (ironically, behind a former Bachelor Joey Graziadei). Ilona said at the time that she would be interested in being the lead, though she now currently resides abroad, playing for the Bristol Bears in England's Premiership Women's Rugby.
While fans will certainly miss their dose of Bachelorette this year, there will be plenty to keep their hunger for roses at bay. This year's version of The Bachelor, featuring Grant Ellis–a former Bachelorette suitor himself–is currently two episodes in and picking up steam. Additionally, this summer will see the return of Bachelor in Paradise after a one-year hiatus, and with a new showrunner in tow. Until 2026, however, those limos carrying the men will have to keep circling the block.
