• Video
  • Shop
  • Culture
  • Family
  • Wellness
  • Food
  • Living
  • Style
  • Travel
  • News
  • Book Club
  • GMA3: WYNTK
  • Newsletter
  • Privacy Policy
  • Your US State Privacy Rights
  • Children's Online Privacy Policy
  • Interest-Based Ads
  • Terms of Use
  • Do Not Sell My Info
  • Contact Us
  • © 2025 ABC News
  • Culture

Katie Thurston and Michelle Young each given their own seasons of 'The Bachelorette'

3:49
Meet the next ‘Bachelorettes’
Craig Sjodin/ABC
ByCarson Blackwelder
March 16, 2021, 8:31 PM

Bachelor Nation will be getting a double dose of romance this year, as both Katie Thurston and Michelle Young have been given their own seasons of "The Bachelorette."

ABC ordered two new seasons of "The Bachelorette," with season 17 starring Thurston and season 18 starring Young. Thurston's season will premiere this summer while Young's season will premiere this fall.

The news was made toward the end of the "After the Final Rose" special, which brought Matt James' historic -- and controversy-filled -- season of "The Bachelor" to an end.

Related Articles

MORE: Matt James reflects on 'Bachelor' season, Rachael Kirkconnell controversy

Thurston, a 30-year-old marketing manager from Washington, said she is excited to start looking for her perfect match.

"I'm ready to find love, and not just, like, the temporary kind. I'm talking forever, my husband, and I'm in a place in my life where I feel like I'm the best version of me," Thurston, who made it about halfway through James' season, said. "Honestly, I've seen it work before, why can't it work for me."

Michelle and Katie on The Bachelor "After the Final Rose," March 15, 2021.
Craig Sjodin/ABC

Young, a 28-year-old kindergarten teacher from Minnesota who was runner-up on James' season, thought they were going to share a single season but was happy to find out she gets her own journey.

"I would be lying if I didn't say, when they first told me I thought we were gonna be the Bachelorette at the same time, and so I was a little nervous," she said of her initial reservations.

Related Articles

MORE: 'Bachelor' recap: Everything to know about how Matt's season ended

"But once I found out it was two different seasons, I was here for it," Young -- who follows in the footsteps of Rachel Lindsay and Tayshia Adams as the show's third Black Bachelorette -- added. "I'm excited that I get to have somebody to bond over with this and share notes as we go."

ABC made an announcement over the weekend that Chris Harrison will not be hosting the next season of "The Bachelorette" amid recent drama. While it sounds like he won't return for Thurston's season this summer, it's unclear if he will return for Young's season this fall.

In Harrison's stead, former Bachelorettes Kaitlyn Bristowe and Adams will "support" the new Bachelorette throughout her season as she doles out roses to potential suitors.

"As we continue the dialogue around achieving greater equity and inclusion within 'The Bachelor' franchise, we are dedicated to improving the BIPOC representation of our crew, including among the executive producer ranks," production company Warner Horizon and ABC Entertainment said.

Related Articles

MORE: Chris Harrison won't host next season of 'The Bachelorette'

They continued: "These are important steps in effecting fundamental changes so that our franchise is a celebration of love that is reflective of our world."

Harrison made waves after defending Rachel Kirkconnell, the winner from James' season, amid photos of her attending an "Old South" antebellum plantation-themed party in 2018 going viral and the revelation that she had "liked" a social media post that showed a Confederate flag. He defended Kirkconnell to Lindsay in an interview, asking for "some grace" after Kirkconnell was potentially "canceled."

Harrison has since apologized and said he was "stepping aside" from "The Bachelor" hosting duties, getting replaced by Emmanuel Acho for the "After the Final Rose" special. He then told "Good Morning America" earlier this month that he "sought out leading scholars, teachers, faith leaders [and] people like Dr. Michael Eric Dyson" to better understand issues of race.

Related Topics

  • The Bachelorette

Up Next in Culture—

Jon Bernthal reported to join Tom Holland in upcoming 'Spider-Man: Brand New Day'

June 21, 2025

Prince William turns 43! Royal family shares sweet tributes and family photo with the puppies

June 21, 2025

Fat Joe accused of sex trafficking, fraud in new lawsuit

June 20, 2025

'Bridgerton' season 4 marks end of production

June 20, 2025

Shop GMA Favorites

ABC will receive a commission for purchases made through these links.

Sponsored Content by Taboola

The latest lifestyle and entertainment news and inspiration for how to live your best life - all from Good Morning America.
  • Contests
  • Terms of Use
  • Privacy Policy
  • Do Not Sell My Info
  • Children’s Online Privacy Policy
  • Advertise with us
  • Your US State Privacy Rights
  • Interest-Based Ads
  • About Nielsen Measurement
  • Press
  • Feedback
  • Shop FAQs
  • ABC News
  • ABC
  • All Videos
  • All Topics
  • Sitemap

© 2025 ABC News
  • Privacy Policy— 
  • Your US State Privacy Rights— 
  • Children's Online Privacy Policy— 
  • Interest-Based Ads— 
  • Terms of Use— 
  • Do Not Sell My Info— 
  • Contact Us— 

© 2025 ABC News