The Bachelor (Season 26)

The **26th season** of *The Bachelor* premiered on January 3, 2022. It features 28-year-old Clayton Echard, a medical sales representative.

Clayton previously appeared on Michelle Young's season of *The Bachelorette*.

He ultimately chose to pursue a relationship with Susie Evans.

## Filming and development

### Production

Men from *The Bachelorette* who had been considered for the lead role were Tyler Cameron and Mike Johnson from Hannah Brown's season; Ben Smith from Clare Crawley and Tayshia Adams's season; Greg Grippo, Andrew Spencer and Michael Allio from Katie Thurston's season. However, Tyler had turned down the role because of his contract with Fox's *The Real Dirty Dancing*.

It was reported on September 7, 2021, the casting director preferred the next lead would be someone from Michelle Young's season of *The Bachelorette*, although Young's season had yet to air. Media outlets reported on September 15 that Clayton Echard was named the Bachelor. The next day, the production crew was also reported in his hometown of Eureka, Missouri to film intro segments, with crowds cheering in the street and the downtown area.

Clayton was officially announced as The Bachelor on November 30, 2021.

Filming began on September 29, 2021 on its traditional production schedule including a start at the famous Villa de La Vina mansion in Agoura Hills, California for the first time since Peter Weber's season with COVID-19 protocols have remained in place. In addition the return of full-time travel of this season, including international dates would assure a safety with mass vaccination in target travel locations, and the return of normal hometown dates. As the last four *Bachelor Nation* seasons were filmed during the COVID-19 pandemic.

The new season was announced on September 28, 2021. The premiere date of January 3, 2022, was announced on November 3, 2021.

### Casting and contestants

33 potential women were announced on September 25, 2021 on the official Bachelor Facebook page. The final 31 women were revealed on December 15, 2021.

Jesse Palmer was announced as the new host on September 28, 2021.

## Contestants

The season began with 30 contestants after Salley Carson dropped out of the cast hours before the limo arrivals.

Susie Evans
28
Poquoson, Virginia
Wedding Videographer
Winner
Eliminated in week 9
Brought back in week 10Gabby Windey
30
Denver, Colorado
ICU Nurse
Runner-UpRachel Recchia
25
Clermont, Florida
Flight Instructor
Runner-UpSerene Russell
26
Oklahoma City, Oklahoma
Elementary School Teacher
Eliminated in week 8Teddi Wright
24
Redlands, California
Surgical Unit Nurse
Eliminated in week 7Sarah Hamrick
23
Spartanburg, South Carolina
Wealth Management Advisor
Eliminated in week 7Genevieve Parisi
26
Rehoboth, Massachusetts
Bartender
Eliminated in week 7Eliza Isichei
25
Tampa, Florida
Marketing Manager
Eliminated in week 6Mara Agrait
32
Collingswood, New Jersey
Entrepreneur
Eliminated in week 6Hunter Haag
28
Charlotte, North Carolina
Human Resource Specialist
Eliminated in week 5Marlena Wesh
30
Virginia Beach, Virginia
Former Olympian
Eliminated in week 5Shanae Ankney
29
Sycamore, Ohio
Recruiter
Eliminated in week 5Jill Chin
26
Scituate, Rhode Island
Architectural Historian
Eliminated in week 4Lyndsey Windham
28
Orange, Texas
Industrial Sales Representative
Eliminated in week 4Sierra Jackson
26
Oklahoma City, Oklahoma
Yoga Instructor
Eliminated in week 4Elizabeth Corrigan
32
Highlands Ranch, Colorado
Real Estate Advisor
Eliminated in week 3Kira Mengistu
32
Philadelphia, Pennsylvania
Physician
Eliminated in week 3Melina Nasab
27
West Hollywood, California
Personal Trainer
Eliminated in week 3Ency Abedin
28
Burbank, California
Sales Manager
Eliminated in week 2Kate Gallivan
32
Lake Hollywood, California
Real Estate Agent
Eliminated in week 2Tessa Tookes
26
Stamford, Connecticut
HR Specialist
Eliminated in week 2Cassidy Timbrooks
26
Cave Creek, Arizona
Executive Recruiter
Eliminated in week 2Daria Rose
24
Baldwin, New York
Law Student
Eliminated in week 1Hailey Malles
26
Orlando, Florida
Pediatric Nurse
Eliminated in week 1Ivana Noble
31
Snellville, Georgia
Bar Mitzvah Dancer
Eliminated in week 1Jane Paik
33
Los Angeles, California
Social Media Director
Eliminated in week 1Lindsay Dobbs
27
Warner Robins, Georgia
Neonatal nurse
Eliminated in week 1Rianna Hockaday
26
Mount Pleasant, Texas
Registered Nurse
Eliminated in week 1Samantha Jeffries
26
Dayton, Ohio
Occupational Therapist
Eliminated in week 1Claire Heilig
28
Virginia Beach, Virginia
Spray Tanner
Eliminated in week 1
### Future appearances

Gabby Windey and Rachel Recchia were selected as the Bachelorettes for season 19 at the After the Final Rose special.

## Call-Out Order

**Note**: Salley Carson was not included in the call-out as she chose to drop out of the show a couple of hours before limo arrivals.

## Where are they now?

During **After the Final Rose**, Clayton Echard and Susie Evans revealed that they were dating again. Susie had reached out to Clayton after filming, and they became a couple in December 2021 after discussing the events of the show. Eventually, the two broke up in September 2022. In an interview with Kaitlyn Bristowe on the *Off the Vine* podcast, the two cited the scruntiny of their relationship and the negative effects of the backlash against Clayton as contributing factors.

## The Ring

A 3 carat, pear-shaped diamond, bordered by two smaller pear shape diamonds and further accented by 62 round brilliant cuts by Neil Lane.
## Promotional gallery

### Clayton

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### The Women

* Clayton & The Women at the first rose ceremony.
* Susie Evans - Winner
* Gabby Windey - Runner-Up
* Rachel Recchia - Runner-Up
* Serene Russell - Week 8
* Teddi Wright - Week 7
* Sarah Hamrick - Week 7
* Genevieve Parisi - Week 7
* Eliza Isichei - Week 6
* Mara Agrait - Week 6
* Hunter Haag - Week 5
* Marlena Wesh - Week 5
* Shanae Ankney - Week 5
* Jill Chin - Week 4
* Lyndsey Windham - Week 4
* Sierra Jackson - Week 4
* Elizabeth Corrigan - Week 3
* Kira Mengistu - Week 3
* Melina Nasab - Week 3
* Ency Abedin - Week 2
* Kate Gallivan - Week 2
* Tessa Tookes - Week 2
* Cassidy Timbrooks - Week 2
* Daria Rose - Week 1
* Hailey Malles - Week 1
* Ivana Noble - Week 1
* Jane Paik - Week 1
* Lindsay Dobbs - Week 1
* Rianna Hockaday - Week 1
* Samantha Jeffries - Week 1
* Claire Heilig - Week 1
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## References

1. ↑ ‘The Bachelor’ Season 26 Lead: Andrew Spencer, Greg Grippo and Tyler Cameron Are in the Mix
2. ↑ ‘Bachelorette’ Alum Michael Allio Says He Doesn’t ‘Know’ Why He Wasn’t Picked to Be Season 26 Bachelor
3. ↑ ABC Taps One of Michelle Young’s ‘Bachelorette’ Suitors to Be the Next Bachelor
4. ↑ Missouri native Clayton Echard reportedly tapped to be next ‘Bachelor’
5. ↑ It’s Official: ABC Names Clayton Echard Next Star of ‘The Bachelor’
6. ↑ We’ve Got Official Confirmation That Clayton Echard’s Season Is Filming at Bachelor Mansion
7. ↑ Clayton Echard and Susie Evans Cite Communication Styles, 'Bachelor Backlash' as Reasons for Split: Revelations