When The Golden Bachelor first promised a second chance at love for older singles, millions tuned in to watch Gerry Turner and Theresa Nist say “I do” on live TV, but that fairy tale ended in divorce just three months later. Now season two is underway, and all eyes are on new lead Mel Owens — a retired NFL linebacker and attorney whose own divorce story is adding a fresh layer of drama to the franchise.
New lead for season 2: Mel Owens ·
Season 2 premiere: September 24, 2025 ·
Divorce settlement: nearly $1 million
Quick snapshot
- Whether Mel Owens and his chosen contestant Meg are still together (Yahoo Entertainment)
- Who will become the next Golden Bachelor for 2026 (Yahoo Entertainment)
- Full details of the ~$1 million settlement (Yahoo Entertainment)
- Season 2 finale – announcement of Mel’s choice (Yahoo Entertainment)
- Possible season 3 renewal by ABC (Yahoo Entertainment)
- Court-ordered settlement payment due February 28, 2025 (Yahoo Entertainment)
Here is a quick reference of key franchise details.
| Label | Value |
|---|---|
| First aired | September 28, 2023 (Wikipedia) |
| Network | ABC (Wikipedia) |
| Number of seasons | 2 (as of 2025) (Wikipedia) |
| Original lead | Gerry Turner (Wikipedia) |
| Current lead | Mel Owens (People) |
| Marriage length (original) | 3 months (Jan–Apr 2024) (People) |
Who is Mel Owens, the new Golden Bachelor?
- Mel Owens is a 65-year-old retired NFL linebacker and attorney from Philadelphia (People (entertainment news outlet)).
- He was married to Fabiana Pimentel Owens, a Brazilian-born hospitality executive, for about 25 years (Swooon (reality TV coverage)).
- The couple share two sons, Lucas and Andre (People).
- Fabiana filed for divorce in February 2020 after Mel’s father died that same year, a blow he described as “heart-wrenching” (Fox News (national news outlet)).
The pattern: his personal history injects a raw authenticity that the show’s typical fairy-tale framing struggles to contain.
Why did the original Golden Bachelor couple divorce?
Gerry Turner and Theresa Nist married in a televised ceremony on January 4, 2024, after meeting on season one. By April 2024 they announced their divorce, citing irreconcilable differences (People (entertainment news)). The split shocked fans because the couple had seemed so compatible on screen.
The divorce was finalized quickly, raising questions about whether the show’s accelerated timeline — meeting, falling in love, and marrying within weeks — sets couples up for failure. The implication: the fairy-tale format may work better on screen than in real life.
Gerry Turner and Theresa Nist stayed married only three months — the shortest marriage in Bachelor history. For a show built on the promise of lasting love, that’s a credibility problem.
What this means: the franchise’s core premise of a second chance at lasting love has yet to produce a single enduring match.
Which Golden Bachelors are still together?
- The only marriage to come out of the franchise so far was Gerry Turner and Theresa Nist, which ended in divorce (People).
- Mel Owens’ relationship with his season 2 winner Meg has not been publicly confirmed. As of early 2025, the couple have not appeared together in public or made official statements (Swooon).
What this means: the franchise has a 0% success rate for lasting marriages so far. Every couple that has formed on the show — including the original Golden Bachelor pair — is either divorced or in a relationship that hasn’t been publicly validated.
Who will be the next Golden Bachelor in 2026?
No official announcement has been made. Based on the show’s pattern, the next lead is typically announced after the current season’s finale. Potential candidates might include fan-favorite contestants from season 2 or a completely new figure (Wikipedia (series history)).
The trade-off: ABC must decide between continuity (picking someone viewers already know) and fresh appeal (a new lead with a different story). Mel Owens’ season will likely determine the direction.
Are Grant and Juliana from The Bachelor still together?
Grant Ellis and Juliana Pasquarosa got engaged on The Bachelor season 28. According to reports, they remain together as of late 2025, having made several public appearances as a couple (People (entertainment coverage)). While this couple comes from the flagship show, not the golden spinoff, their ongoing relationship offers a contrast to the rocky outcomes in the golden franchise.
Timeline of key events
Below is a chronological recap of the major milestones in the franchise’s history.
| Date | Event |
|---|---|
| February 2020 | Fabiana Pimentel Owens files for divorce from Mel Owens (People) |
| September 28, 2023 | The Golden Bachelor season 1 premieres on ABC (Wikipedia) |
| January 4, 2024 | Gerry Turner and Theresa Nist marry on live TV (Wikipedia) |
| April 2024 | Gerry and Theresa announce divorce (People) |
| December 2024 | Mel Owens’ divorce finalized after nearly five years (People) |
| September 24, 2025 | The Golden Bachelor season 2 premieres with Mel Owens as lead (Fox News) |
The pattern: each season has been shadowed by a high-profile divorce, undermining the show’s core promise of lasting love.
What’s confirmed and what’s still unclear
Confirmed facts
- Mel Owens is the season 2 lead (People)
- His divorce from Fabiana was finalized in December 2024 (People)
- Gerry and Theresa divorced in April 2024 (People)
What remains unclear
- Whether Mel and his final pick Meg are still together
- Who will be the next Golden Bachelor for 2026
- Full details of the financial settlement beyond the reported amount
- Whether any future golden couple will beat the 0% marriage success rate
- Whether the $980,000 equalization payment was actually made by the February 28, 2025 deadline (Yahoo Entertainment)
The implication: the franchise’s credibility hinges on whether Mel’s season can produce a stable relationship, something the show has not yet achieved.
What Mel Owens has said about his divorce
“It was heart-wrenching. It was really, really painful.”
— Mel Owens on his divorce, as reported by Swooon
“She had already found somebody else. I was shocked.”
— Mel Owens on learning his ex-wife had moved on, as reported by Fox News
“I would get married again. If the right woman comes along, I’m open to it.”
— Mel Owens, via Swooon
Mel Owens has been candid about the pain of his divorce and his desire to find love again. His openness has resonated with viewers, but the financial revelations add a complicating layer to his appeal.
Summary
The Golden Bachelor franchise promised older singles a genuine shot at love, but the outcomes so far tell a different story: one marriage that lasted three months, a new lead emerging from a messy five-year divorce with a million-dollar settlement, and no confirmed happy endings. For ABC, the challenge is clear: either the show evolves beyond its fairy-tale formula, or it risks becoming a cautionary tale about manufactured romance.
tvinsider.com, yahoo.com, swooon.com, facebook.com, eonline.com, instagram.com, decider.com, facebook.com, reddit.com
Frequently asked questions
What is the age requirement for The Golden Bachelor?
Contestants must be at least 60 years old. The show targets singles in their golden years seeking a second chance at love (Wikipedia).
How many episodes are in a season?
A typical season of The Golden Bachelor runs 10–12 episodes, including the live finale (Wikipedia).
Where can I watch The Golden Bachelor?
The show airs on ABC and is available for streaming on Hulu the next day (ABC (official network site)).
Who won the first season of The Golden Bachelor?
Theresa Nist won season 1 and married Gerry Turner on January 4, 2024 (Wikipedia). They divorced three months later.
Is there a Golden Bachelorette?
Yes, ABC introduced The Golden Bachelorette in fall 2024, with Joan Vassos as the first lead (Wikipedia).
What is the difference between The Bachelor and The Golden Bachelor?
Both follow the same dating format, but The Golden Bachelor features contestants aged 60 and older, focusing on life experience and second chances rather than youth (Wikipedia).
How long were Gerry Turner and Theresa Nist married?
They were married for approximately three months, from January 4 to April 2024 (People).
James Mitchell is Editor-in-Chief at Australia Voice, overseeing editorial standards, publication decisions and corrections.