ABC shocks fans by announcing two seasons of 'The Bachelorette' for 2021

Yahoo Entertainment

ABC shocked Bachelor Nation Monday night with the announcement of two bachelorettes for 2021. Following a dramatic The Bachelor: After the Final Rose, two fan favorites from this past season of The Bachelor, Katie Thurston and Michelle Young, joined host Emmanuel Acho on stage where they simultaneously made the announcement. But they won’t be simultaneous bachelorettes. Thurston will be bachelorette for Season 17, set to begin production next week and air this summer, and Young will be bachelorette for Season 18, which will air this fall. This will be the first time in the history of the franchise that two seasons of The Bachelorette will air in the same year.

Video Transcript

[WHOOSH]

- Both of you are incredibly deserving, incredible women. But there's no use in drawing it out any longer because a decision has been made. Should we tell Bachelor nation?

- Where are the Bachelorettes?

KYLIE MAR: Following a dramatic Bachelor after the final rose, ABC shocked Bachelor nation by announcing to Bachelorettes Katie Thurston and Michelle Young, who will each get their own season in 2021. Michelle will be the third women of color to be Bachelorette following in the footsteps of Rachel Lindsay and Tricia Adams. And she admitted to being a little apprehensive about the arrangement at first.

MICHELLE YOUNG: I would be lying if I didn't say when they first told me, I thought we were going to be the bachelor at the same time. And so I was a little nervous. But once I found out that it was two different seasons, I was here for it. I'm excited that I get to have somebody to bond over with this and share notes as we go.

KYLIE MAR: Bachelor nation absolutely loves the setup. One viewer tweeted, ABC finally realized the Bachelorette seasons are far better than the Bachelor. I'm here for it.

While another wrote, Katie and Michelle get their own seasons of The Bachelorette so I have no complaints. As for the Bachelorettes, Katie's season is set to begin filming next week. And she's got some high hopes.

KATIE THURSTON: I am ready to find love and not just like the temporary kind. I'm talking forever, my husband. And I'm in a place in my life where I feel like I'm the best version of me, honestly. I've seen it work before. Why can't it work for me?