The Golden Bachelorette stars Joan Vassos as its first-ever lead, and The Golden Bachelor's Gerry Turner should be a contestant on her season in order to rekindle their relationship. Joan, a 61-year-old private school administrator from Rockville, Maryland, had a deep connection with Gerry, a 72-year-old retired restaurateur from Hudson, Indiana. They bonded about how they hadn't felt ready to date after losing their spouses, but they wanted to try again during the show. Gerry suddenly lost his wife Toni to a bacterial infection six years before the show, while Joan's husband John passed away due to pancreatic cancer in 2021.
However, Joan left The Golden Bachelor early when her daughter called, telling her that she needed her back at home. During the "Women Tell All" episode, Joan shared that her daughter had a "really serious case of postpartum depression." Joan is a devoted mother to her four children, and a loving grandmother to her three grandchildren. Now that Joan's daughter is doing better, she's ready to continue her journey to find love on The Golden Bachelorette season 1. Here's why it's the perfect time for Gerry to return to the show to rekindle his romance with Joan.
Joan & Gerry Bonded During A Dinner Date On The Golden Bachelor
During The Golden Bachelor talent show, Joan was scared and nervous because performing on stage was so out of her comfort zone. However, Joan recited an original poem called, "I Just Hope I Don't Vomit on Your Shoes," which was about how nervous she was when she first met Gerry, and why she was excited to get to know him more. It was a big moment for Joan to come out of her shell on stage like that, and Gerry was so impressed by how much effort she put into her performance.
Gerry loved Joan's effort in the talent show so much that he chose her for the special one-on-one dinner after it. During dinner, they bonded over not being ready to date after the losses of their spouses. They also shared a kiss, and Gerry gave Joan a rose. Their connection was growing stronger than ever, and Joan seemed to be the front-runner to make it to the end of the season with Gerry.
Joan Admitted That She Thought Gerry Might Reunite With Her
Joan Said She Hoped To See Him Show Up On Her Front Porch
Joan and Gerry were both devastated when she had to leave The Golden Bachelor. During the "Women Tell All" episode, she shared that she didn't know that Gerry had cried when she left, and she felt "really bad that I did that to him." Joan also admitted that she thought that she and Gerry "had a good chance" of ending up together. She confessed, "I held out hope for a little while, honestly, and I did think a couple of times, maybe I would come around the corner coming home from work, and he'd be sitting on my front porch."
In an interview with The Wrap, Joan even revealed that she was going to return to The Golden Bachelor after going home to her daughter. The Golden Bachelor producers had invited her back to the show and even booked her a flight. However, Joan was in the process of helping her daughter find a doctor, so it wasn't possible for her to return. She explained, "I was going to come back, maybe four or five days after I left. And then my daughter wasn’t good again. We just hadn’t made it far enough — I hadn’t gotten her a doctor yet; I had calls in, but it just couldn’t unfold quick enough."
Although their feelings for each other might have faded by now, there was no denying that Joan and Gerry had a very special connection. Despite seeing each other again at the "Women Tell All," it doesn't seem as though they ever really had the closure that they needed. Imagine how romantic it would be if Gerry were sitting in front of the Bachelor Mansion on premiere night, fulfilling Joan's dream that he would return to her. Gerry and Joan definitely had unfinished business, and their relationship might be written in the stars.
Gerry Is Getting Divorced From Theresa Nist
Gerry & Theresa Announced Their Breakup After Just Three Months Of Marriage
Gerry and Theresa got married on January 4, 2024 in a live, televised event called the Golden Wedding. However, just three months later, they announced that they were getting divorced because they couldn't decide where they wanted to live because neither of them wanted to leave their families. Although it might be soon for Gerry to move on to another relationship, he and Theresa both said that they weren't giving up on finding love. This could be the perfect chance for Gerry to find love again, this time with Joan.
Gerry and Theresa's love was real, but Joan was the one that got away. Now that Gerry's marriage has ended, he's open to finding love again, and he might be able to do so as a contestant on the show. Gerry already has experience with being on a reality dating series as the lead, so coming back as a contestant might be a natural next step for him. Joan and Gerry's second chance could be magical.
Gerry Posted A Message To Joan On Instagram
Shortly after Joan was announced as The Golden Bachelorette, Gerry posted a message on Instagram to wish her well. He wrote, "Dear Joan, Congratulations on being named the first ever Golden Bachelorette. You will be phenomenal as the new representative of a generation. From one Golden to another....Relax, breathe and enjoy. Gerry." Gerry's message seems to be that of a friend, but the truth is that he didn't have to write anything to her at all, and certainly not publicly. Gerry's message reminded everyone of his and Joan's connection, which could mean that he might have some interest in getting back together with her on the show.
Joan responded to Gerry's message in the comments section of his post, thanking him for his encouraging words. She said, "What a beautiful message from my fellow golden. You have taught me so much about being open and vulnerable and how looking for love at this age can be dignified and fun. Thank you my friend for setting the stage for the rest of us Goldens…and I’m open to advice!!! XO."
Gerry and Joan's messages to each other reveal that they still have some sort of a connection. Even if it's just friendship at this point, that would be the perfect foundation for them to build their relationship. Joan seems to really appreciate everything that she learned from Gerry on The Golden Bachelor. Throughout the show, they both realized that they were finally ready to love again after losing their spouses. Joan's relationship with Gerry helped her to move forward in her life, so it would be a full circle moment for them to reunite on The Golden Bachelorette.
Gerry and Joan were in the middle of building a very strong relationship when she chose to return home to her daughter. It would be very fitting for Gerry to appear on The Golden Bachelorette as a contestant so that they can continue to explore their feelings. They might realize that they're better off as friends, or they could rekindle their romance. It would be intriguing to see how Joan would react to Gerry showing up on her season. No matter what happens, hopefully both Gerry and Joan will find the love that they're searching for in the near future.
