Romance gets a second chance this fall as ABC brings back The Golden Bachelor for Season 2. Twenty-three women from across the country will step into the spotlight to pursue a meaningful connection with the new leading man. Among them is a Louisiana standout—Tracy Thompson of Lafayette—who is ready to dance her way into viewers’ hearts and, perhaps, into a lifelong match.
Who Is the Golden Bachelor This Season?
This season’s Golden Bachelor is Mel Owens, a 66-year-old former NFL player who is now a practicing lawyer in Orange County, California. He brings a rare combination of professional grit and life wisdom to the role, setting the tone for a season centered on authenticity, resilience, and real-world romance. As a senior-focused spinoff of ABC’s storied dating franchise, The Golden Bachelor prioritizes mature relationships built on compatibility, humor, and shared life experiences.
What Makes This Spinoff Stand Out
Unlike traditional dating shows, The Golden Bachelor celebrates love later in life. While there’s no strict minimum age, contestants typically hover around 60 and up. This season’s cast ranges from 58 to 77, a testament to the show’s commitment to representing love stories at every stage. Expect heartfelt conversations, joyful breakthroughs, and the kind of vulnerability that only comes with time.
Meet Louisiana’s Tracy Thompson
Representing Louisiana with spirit and style, Tracy Thompson, 62, is an interior designer from Lafayette who currently lives in Houston. Known for her upbeat energy and love of movement, Tracy lights up the screen. As she shares in ABC’s “The Golden Bachelor Season 2 – Meet the Women” video: “I love to jitterbug, I love to dance.” With her creative career, grounded outlook, and warm personality, she’s poised to be a memorable presence in the mansion—and a strong contender for Mel Owens’ heart.
Tracy’s journey also highlights the show’s broader appeal: it’s not only about finding love; it’s about embracing new chapters with courage. Whether on elegant one-on-one dates or spirited group activities, she’ll be part of the weekly rose ceremonies where choices become more emotional as connections deepen.
How the Senior Dating Format Works
This season continues the franchise’s signature format with a refined, older twist. Contestants live together in a California mansion throughout filming, where they participate in romantic dates, group outings, and candid conversations that reveal their values and chemistry with Mel. Each week culminates in a rose ceremony—still one of reality TV’s most suspenseful rituals—where relationships progress, and goodbyes carry the weight of experience.
Behind the champagne toasts and ballroom-ready attire lies the show’s central promise: love doesn’t fade with age. Instead, it can emerge richer and more nuanced, shaped by decades of life, family, careers, and personal growth.
When and Where to Watch The Golden Bachelor Season 2
Mark your calendar: Season 2 of The Golden Bachelor premieres Wednesday, Sept. 24 from 8 p.m. to 10 p.m. Eastern Time on ABC. If you prefer to stream, episodes will be available on Hulu the following day. Whether you’re tuning in for the heartwarming stories, the dazzling dates, or the steady charm of Mel Owens, this is appointment television for anyone who believes love is timeless.
Full Cast: The Golden Bachelor Season 2 Contestants
Meet the 23 women pursuing a connection with Mel Owens this season:
- Alexandra, 67, from Miami, Florida
- Amy, 63, from Short Hills, New Jersey
- Andra, 77, from Los Angeles, California
- Carla, 62, from Los Angeles, California
- Carol, 63, from Villa Park, California
- Cheryl, 66, from Englewood, Colorado
- Cindy, 60, from Austin, Texas
- Debbie, 65, from Denver, Colorado
- Diane, 71, from Wasilla, Alaska
- Gerri, 64, from Rockville, Maryland
- Lily, 72, from Pacific Palisades, California
- Lisa, 66, from Marion, Ohio
- Maia, 58, from Malibu, California
- Monica B., 62, from Huntsville, Alabama
- Monica P., 60, from Birmingham, Alabama
- Mylene, 61, from Las Vegas, Nevada
- Nicolle, 64, from Miami Beach, Florida
- Peg, 62, from Las Vegas, Nevada
- Robin, 63, from Napa Valley, California
- Roxanne, 62, from Austin, Texas
- Susie, 62, from Del Mar, California
- Terri, 71, from Houston, Texas
- Tracy, 62, from Lafayette, Louisiana
What Viewers Can Expect This Season
With a cast rich in character and life experience, Season 2 promises a blend of romantic spontaneity and emotional depth. From ballroom-ready evenings to adventurous daytime dates, viewers can expect a variety of moments that reveal how Mel and the contestants handle connection, compatibility, and the occasional curveball. The mansion setting encourages friendships among the women, even as they navigate the pressure and excitement of courting the same leading man.
Mel Owens’ background in professional sports and law suggests a season guided by steadiness, integrity, and curiosity. Fans will likely see him draw out stories that matter—from family and career milestones to personal reinventions and what each contestant hopes for in a partner today.
As always, the rose ceremony remains the emotional linchpin of the series. Choices are made in real time, and the stakes feel tangible. For the women, each rose represents not just a week’s reprieve, but the possibility of a future grounded in mutual respect and companionship.
Why This Season Is Generating Buzz
The Golden Bachelor continues to resonate because it reframes the narrative around love and age. By showcasing an age range of 58 to 77, the series underscores that attraction, chemistry, and commitment are not defined by youth. For many viewers, this offers both inspiration and representation—particularly for those who are dating after divorce, widowhood, or long stretches focused on family and career.
Louisiana fans have a hometown hero to cheer for in Tracy Thompson, whose roots in Lafayette and creative career in interior design make her a compelling addition to the cast. Whether she’s sharing her love for the jitterbug or stepping into a glamorous evening date, Tracy embodies the show’s blend of charm, confidence, and second-chance optimism.
Why This Matters
Season 2 of The Golden Bachelor isn’t just another chapter in a beloved franchise—it’s a reminder that love thrives at every age. With Mel Owens at the helm and a diverse, dynamic group of women ready to connect, viewers can expect heartfelt storytelling, uplifting moments, and the kind of romance that lingers after the credits. Tune in on ABC or catch up on Hulu to see how this season’s journey unfolds—and whether Lafayette’s own Tracy Thompson waltzes her way to the final rose.
