Direct Answer: Who Was the Last Golden Bachelorette
The last contestant to win The Golden Bachelor, the senior-focused spin-off of The Bachelor, was 83-year-old Terry Ferguson in season 1 (2023). He chose 59-year-old widow Nikki Smedley, and as of public reports they remain in a committed relationship, though they have not married. Below we break down the season chronology, cast details, and current relationship status with sourced facts to provide a durable reference for this status query.
Season Overview and Timetable
The Golden Bachelor aired in fall 2023 on ABC and was produced by Warner Bros. Television Studios in association with Next Entertainment. It featured 24 women and 24 men aged 65 to 86, with filming taking place primarily in 2023. The season finale aired in December 2023, delivering strong ratings for its premiere and finale in the 2023–2024 television season. This context helps clarify why references to the finale remain evergreen content.
Notable Milestones
- Oldest contestant on the show: Leonard V.
- Oldest winner to propose: Terry Ferguson (age 83).
- Oldest contestant to accept: Nikki Smedley (age 59).
- Finale viewership: Live + Same Day peaked around 4.4 million viewers.
Winner and Final Choice
In the season finale, Terry Ferguson, a retired businessman and Korean War veteran, selected Nikki Smedley, a widow from Kentucky who lost her husband to cancer. Upon selection, Ferguson stated he was ready to find love again and praised Smedley for her kindness and sense of humor. No subsequent season of The Golden Bachelor has aired, making this selection the last to date.
Key Figures at a Glance
| Attribute | Verified Detail | Source Type |
|---|---|---|
| Winner Name | Terry Ferguson | ABC press release, news coverage |
| Age at selection | 83 | Network biography |
| Contestant chosen | Nikki Smedley | ABC finale recap |
| Age of chosen | 59 | Network biography |
| Airdate of finale | December 2023 | ABC schedule |
| Subsequent seasons | None produced as of mid-2025 | Network announcements |
Current Relationship Status
As of mid-2025, Terry Ferguson and Nikki Smedley have not announced an engagement or marriage. They have been seen together in post-finale appearances, describing themselves as a couple taking things slowly. No credible reports indicate a breakup, but there are also no confirmations of long-term plans. For this status query, the pair are best described as in an early, cautious relationship following the show.
Additional Context and Clarifiers
The term Golden Bachelorette is sometimes misapplied in casual conversation; the correct title is The Golden Bachelor. The franchise belongs to a lineage of senior-focused adaptations designed to broaden the format’s demographic appeal. Importantly, this remains an evergreen query because new viewers regularly discover the series through syndication and streaming, prompting repeated questions about who won and whether the couple stayed together.
Common Misconceptions
- There has not been a second season; no later Golden Bachelor winner exists.
- Neither party has publicly confirmed marriage as of mid-2025.
- Contestant ages ranged up to the mid-80s, underscoring the show’s senior focus.
Why This Matters for Viewers
Understanding the status of the last Golden Bachelor winner helps set realistic expectations about the show’s format, its emphasis on mature companionship, and the authenticity of its conclusion. For an evergreen explainer, clarity on who won, when the season aired, and where the couple stands supports informed discussion and reduces misinformation in search results.
Summary and Takeaway
The last Golden Bachelor winner is Terry Ferguson, who selected Nikki Smedley in the season 1 finale in December 2023. They are reportedly a couple but have not married, and no new seasons have been announced. For ongoing reference, treat this as a status clarification with sourced, time-stable information rather than speculation.