Susan Lucci Reveals Why She Turned Down The Golden Bachelorette

A Call From the Golden Bachelorette

Susan Lucci, best known as Erica Kane on All My Children, revealed that The Golden Bachelorette reached out to her about becoming their next leading lady. However, she quickly admitted, “It wasn’t for me.”

In her interview with People, Lucci explained, “I believe they contacted my publicist. I watched The Golden Bachelor. I really enjoyed it. This is a new addiction for me.”

How Lucci Became a Fan

For years, Lucci never paid much attention to the franchise. That changed when her assistant encouraged her to try it.

“She told me she was going home to watch The Bachelor with her daughters,” Lucci recalled. “She said, ‘It’s really good.’ So, I tuned in that night a couple of seasons ago. I was immediately engaged. I cared about the people. I wanted to know more.”

Since then, the show has become her “guilty pleasure.” Still, she declined when producers reached out. “It wasn’t for me, but I love watching. I’m a fan,” she said.

Joan Vassos Steps In

Instead, ABC announced that Joan Vassos, a former contestant on The Golden Bachelor, will lead The Golden Bachelorette.

A Legendary Career

Lucci’s career remains one of television’s most celebrated. In 1996, TV Guide ranked her No. 37 on its list of the “50 Greatest TV Stars of All Time.” She was also named one of VH1’s “200 Top Icons of All Time” and appeared on Barbara Walters’s list of “Ten Most Fascinating People.”

Life Beyond the Screen

Beyond her success in Hollywood, Lucci shared a long marriage with Helmut Huber. The couple spent 52 years together until his passing in 2022 at age 84. They built a family with two children and several grandchildren.