The Golden Bachelorette: Signs Joan Vassos Isn't Over Her Late Husband (Can She Still Be All In With Her Suitors?)

The highly anticipated inaugural season of The Golden Bachelorette has premiered, but there are signs that Joan Vassos isn't ready to find true love. Joan's journey started long before she was cast as The Bachelor spin-off lead when she was one of the 22 bachelorettes competing on The Golden Bachelor season 1. 61-year-old Joan caught 72-year-old Gerry Turner's eye during a group date talent show, and even won a solo date, however; she had to leave early to deal with a family emergency.

Though Joan's time on the show was short-lived, she made quite an impression and was ultimately cast as The Golden Bachelorette. Her season recently premiered, and night one opened with Joan meeting the 24 impressive older men who are competing for her roses. She's got many great men to pick from, and she's been hitting it off with several of them during an endless series of fantastic dates. The conditions are perfect for Joan to find her true love, but there are signs she's still not ready to move on from her late husband.

What We Know About Joan's Late Husband

John Nicholas Vassos

Years before joining the cast of The Golden Bachelor, Joan was married to business owner John Nicholas Vassos for thirty-two years until he passed away from pancreatic cancer in 2021. Joan shared a family photo on Instagram in January, in which she was with John and her adult children happy together. She wrote it had been three years since she lost John and continued to be deeply shaken by the loss of her beloved late husband. Though three years isn't a very long time, and Joan may need to heal more before she can open her heart again.

The premiere episode of The Golden Bachelorette season 1 opened with Joan talking about how safe her late husband always made her feel. The more she talked about John, the clearer it became that it wouldn't be easy for Joan to find a man who could fill his shoes. Several of the men Joan is dating on the show are also widowers. Though she's been able to form connections with several men, it seems unlikely that she's ready to move on from her beloved late husband just yet.

Joan Feels Guilty

It's What John Would Have Wanted

Joan suffers from what's known as survivor's guilt, which makes it hard to move on with her life. She has discussed her feelings of guilt with various men throughout the first few episodes of The Golden Bachelorette season 1. It's especially sad because, according to Joan, John sat her down before he passed away and told her that he wanted her to find love again. John must have loved his wife, because he didn't want her to have to spend the rest of her life alone and mourning him.

The Real Reason Joan Left The Golden Bachelor Early

She Wasn't Ready

Joan left Gerry's season of The Golden Bachelor early because she had a family emergency, but there was more to it than that. Joan's daughter had given birth before Joan left to film the show, so there wasn't a life-and-death situation pulling Joan away. She probably could have stayed, but her heart wasn't in it. Joan left because her mind was on her daughter, and, by extension, on her late husband. Before Joan can truly open her heart to a new love, she has to move on fully from her old love.

Does Joan Find True Love?

Major Spoilers Ahead

In a recent Instagram post, the reality television reporter Reality Steve revealed Joan's winner was Chock Chapple. At first, he had initially reported that the winner of the season was 66-year-old ER doctor Guy Gansert, but he later corrected his reveal. Though it looks like The Golden Bachelorette season 1 ended with Joan giving Chock her final rose, it's unclear if he proposed, whether she said yes, and whether Bachelor Nation fans can expect another Golden wedding.