“The Bachelorette” is switching things up. Instead of past “single” contestants, Season 22 is led by “The Secret Life of a Mormon Wife” star Taylor Frankie Paul.
The news was announced on Wednesday via Alex Cooper’s “Call Her Daddy” podcast. This is the first time ABC has chosen not to present its own platforms: late-night shows or “Good Morning America,” but instead it’s Cooper’s podcast.
Paul, 31, is best known for her role in the breakout full hits, following the big Tiktok. According to the ABC release, “As a single mother of three, Paul encourages her to embrace the mix of life and own the story with humor, resilience and fearless openness.”
After Season 2 debuted in May, Paul told Variety he was open to leading the ABC series unless he came between “The Wives of Mormon.” She also shared that she was “very scary” after being seen in the public eye.
“I can’t even really imagine it happening for me. I don’t know what people’s intentions are, or if they just want to date to be on a show, you have to question the intentions of people,” she said. “I have three kids, so who wants to come and take over that role? But I have a very good intuition. I can know when something is right and when it isn’t. Obviously, that’s why it’s not the same with my baby daddy.”
In an interview with Paul on “Call Her Daddy,” she shared that she thought the goal of attending a dating show was “unachievable.” Then, when she received the offer, she was not sure she could do it because of her situation at home. “I have dads of two babies, but not one,” she said.
“The Secret Life of a Mormon Wife” returned on November 13th with season 3. The new season of “The Bachelorette” will debut in 2026.
The announcement was originally considered to be the season 30 lead of “The Bachelor” due to timing. In the past, the season of “The Bachelorette” aired in the spring or summer, followed by “Bachelor in Paradise” and “The Bachelor” in January.
However, things have changed over the last few years. The season of Jen Tran’s “The Bachelorette” aired in 2024, followed by the first season of “The Golden Bachelorette.” In January 2025, the season of Grant Ellis’ “The Bachelor” aired, and ABC then skipped the season of “The Bachelorette.” Meanwhile, “Paradise” aired in the summer for season 2 of “The Golden Bachelor.”
“The Bachelorette” is produced by executive producers by Script Television from Warner Horizon, a Warner Bros. television group company.
