Every Celebrity Fans Want to Star in the Golden Franchise

The Golden Bachelor franchise has yielded one success story so far, leading some A-listers to want in — or not.

Martha Stewart, who’s marriage to Andrew Stewart ended in 1990, told Andy Cohen on an October 2024 Watch What Happens Live With Andy Cohen appearance that she would “absolutely not” be interested in appearing on the series.

“$1,000,000 an episode, Martha?” Cohen inquired, to which Stewart replied, “No, the guys aren’t hot enough.” Snoop Dogg defended her stance, adding, “It ain’t about money, it’s about how hot the guys are.”

Bachelor Nation saw its first Golden Bachelor with Gerry Turner in 2023, who ended the show engaged to Theresa Nist. The pair tied the knot in 2024 before calling it quits months later. Joan Vassos went on to star as the lead of The Golden Bachelorette season 1 in 2024, ultimately accepting an engagement from Chock Chapple.

Scroll down to see more celebrities who have been suggested to star in the Golden franchise:

Meryl Streep

The Drew Barrymore Show pitched ideas for several celebrities they’d like to see as the lead. “Well, Meryl Streep is single! Diane Keaton, Sharon Stone… there are so many hot women of that age that would be so… I would love that,” cohost Ross Mathews said during a February 2024 episode of the show.

Entertainment Tonight correspondent Rachel Smith noted, “Oh, I’m so into that. Meryl, is your calendar available?” Barrymore added, “Start that rumor right here is all I can say!”

Kathie Lee Gifford

Hoda Kotb and Jenna Bush Hager nominated Gifford to be the next lead — and she wasn’t opposed to the idea, but allegedly hadn’t been pursued.

“I can’t do it. They haven’t offered it to me,” she said during a March 2024 appearance on Today. “Well, we’ve talked about it.” (It was unclear who the “we” is.)

Susan Lucci

Lucci claimed that she was in talks to be the Golden Bachelorette. “I believe that they contacted my publicist and it wasn’t for me,” Lucci told People in May 2024. “I watched The Golden Bachelor. I really enjoyed watching The Golden Bachelor. This is a new addiction for me.”

Lucci alleged that ABC called her publicist “to see if [she] would be interested,” but she “didn’t pursue” it. “It wasn’t for me, but I do love watching,” Lucci added. “I’m a fan. I love watching.” (People reported at the time that the network never formally offered the role to Lucci.)

Martha Stewart

Stewart shared on Watch What Happens Live With Andy Cohen in October 2024 that she wouldn’t be game for the series, even if she was paid a whopping sum for her appearance.

George Lopez

Host Jesse Palmer was on board with Lopez taking on the role. “I think it would be amazing,” Palmer said during a February 2025 appearance on The Jennifer Hudson Show. “Already, I can tell you, he would have the best hair of any Bachelor ever.”