A few months back, ABC was in the process of selecting several women to star in its upcoming series The Golden Bachelorette. Interestingly, one of the names they reached out to was none other than Susan Lucci, the iconic soap opera actress best known for her legendary role as Erica Kane on All My Children.

Susan Lucci has endured deep personal loss in recent years. In 2022, her beloved husband, Helmut Huber, passed away at the age of 84. The couple had enjoyed a devoted 52-year marriage. Helmut, an accomplished Austrian-born businessman and chef, stood by Lucci’s side for decades. Married on September 13, 1969, the two raised two children together and celebrated the joys of having grandchildren.

In an interview with People magazine, 77-year-old Lucci revealed that ABC had approached her with the opportunity to become the very first Golden Bachelorette — but she graciously declined. Lucci shared with People that she’s recently become an enthusiastic fan of The Bachelor franchise, even admitting that The Golden Bachelor has become a “new addiction” for her.

Looking ahead, ABC announced on May 14 that Joan Vassos, who appeared in Season 1 of The Golden Bachelor, will take center stage as The Golden Bachelorette this fall. In a candid conversation on the Bachelor Happy Hour: Golden Hour podcast, 61-year-old Joan opened up about her hopes.

“I truly want love,” she confessed, adding, “I want to have somebody in my life.” Joan expressed her heartfelt belief that life is richer when shared with a partner and emphasized that she much prefers this experience over traditional dating platforms.