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The Golden Bachelorette<\/span><\/i><\/a> star <\/span>Joan Vassos<\/b><\/a> looked stunning in a sparkling gold dress while filming the first night of the debut season.<\/p>\n \u201cIt\u2019s been a busy summer\u2026\u201d host Jesse Palmer<\/strong> captioned a photo of himself and Joan, 61, via Instagram<\/a> on Tuesday, July 9, where they posed outside of the Bachelor Mansion.<\/p>\n While Jesse, 45, didn\u2019t share any information about what went down when Joan met her suitors on the first night, many members of Bachelor Nation took to the comments section to express their excitement for the new season<\/a>.<\/p>\n \u201cSo so excited for this!!!\u201d Lexi Young<\/strong> commented. Autumn Waggoner<\/strong> added, \u201cIf @kelseyanderson<\/span><\/a>\u2019s dad is<\/span> not a contestant I\u2019m rioting<\/span><\/a>.\u201d<\/p>\n Meanwhile, Gerry Turner<\/strong><\/a>\u2019s daughter Angie Turner<\/strong> showed her support by writing, \u201cI cannot wait for her journey to start! I love Joan!\u201d<\/p>\n Fans first got to know Joan when she competed on Gerry\u2019s debut season of The Golden Bachelor<\/span><\/i><\/a>. Despite creating a strong connection with Gerry, 72, Joan left the show early due to a family emergency. She further elaborated on the situation during the Women Tell-All in November 2023, explaining that <\/span>she went home because her daughter<\/span><\/a> had \u201ca really serious case of postpartum depression.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cShe needed me. She needed her mom and I didn\u2019t think twice<\/a>. I knew I had to be there. I heard it in her voice. I could not get on that plane fast enough,\u201d Joan recalled about her daughter.<\/p>\n However, Joan assured fans that \u201ceverything is great\u201d now with her daughter and granddaughter.<\/p>\n While Joan didn\u2019t find love with Gerry, it was revealed that she will get a second chance at finding her happily ever after on reality TV when she was named the first Golden Bachelorette<\/a> during the ABC upfront on May 14.<\/p>\n One day after the announcement, Joan took to Instagram to express her excitement over the news.<\/p>\n \u201cThe first Golden Bachelorette \u2026 I truly can\u2019t believe it! I\u2019m positively overwhelmed by the love and support you are all sending my way. Thank you @abc for picking me and @bachelornation for rooting for me!\u201d she wrote alongside a promo video<\/a> for the season. \u201cAs I embark on this journey, I hope to make you all proud, follow my heart, and have a lot of fun along the way. I\u2019m honored to represent all of the golden ladies out there, turns out we aren\u2019t invisible after all.\u201d<\/p>\n After Joan left The Golden Bachelor<\/em>, Gerry ultimately proposed to Theresa Nist<\/strong> during the November 2023 finale. The pair wasted no time and tied the knot during a televised ceremony in January.<\/p>\n Despite seeming madly in love, Gerry and Theresa, 70, shocked fans when they announced their plans to divorce<\/span><\/a> during a joint appearance on <\/span>Good Morning America<\/span><\/i> in April. They explained that they were <\/span>\u201cdissolving [their] marriage\u201d because they <\/span>couldn\u2019t decide on a place to live<\/span><\/a>. Gerry currently lives in Indiana, and Theresa is located in New Jersey.<\/p>\n After explaining that they\u2019re both \u201cdedicated\u201d to their families, Gerry said it was difficult for either of them to relocate. \u201cSo we look at these conversations and we both think it\u2019s best for the happiness<\/a> of each of us to live apart,\u201d he said.<\/p>\n Life & Style<\/em> confirmed that they settled their divorce<\/span><\/a> on June 12, and they <\/span>agreed to waive a final hearing<\/span><\/a>.<\/p>\n<\/p><\/div>\n