Who Is The Next ‘Bachelorette’? 6 Rumored Contenders For 2021 Season

With Matt James’ season of “The Bachelor” winding down, talk about who will become ABC’s next “The Bachelorette” lead is already at the forefront of viewers’ minds. So, who is in the running to be the 2021 lead?

While the network has yet to announce their pick, it appears there is a buzz about who could be taking the Season 17 spot. The latest reports put Katie Thurston, who has made a name for herself this season by calling out bullying among the cast, as the next “Bachelorette.”

In a Feb. 7 tweet, show spoiler blogger Reality Steve announced that Katie had been revealed as the show’s next star during a recent “Women Tell All” taping. In a Tuesday blog update, he backtracked, saying her casting would be announced “soon.”

“‘Soon’ in 'Bachelor'-speak could be today and it could be two weeks from now. It’s hard to tell. But everything I’m told is it’s Katie who will be ‘Bachelorette.’ I don’t see them changing their mind on this one,” he shared.

Elizabeth Wagmeister of Variety backed up the claims, tweeting that she too was hearing Katie’s name from “well-placed sources” though nothing was made official yet. “...nothing has been filmed. Aka, things can change. But probably not,” she wrote Monday.

Show host Chris Harrison, however, has shot down these reports. Speaking to “Extra” on Tuesday, he said no one has been selected for the role.

We did not name her or anybody the next ‘Bachelorette’ during the ‘Women Tell All’ special. In fact, we didn't even talk who was the next ‘Bachelorette.’ As far as I know, Katie, nobody has been named the next ‘Bachelorette’...and I promise you this, it will not be a part of the ‘Tell All’ special at all.

Katie has also seemingly denied the casting rumors on social media.

The 29-year-old Washington resident is not the only contestant thought to be in the running for the lead spot, though.

Since this year's “The Bachelor” premiere, some viewers have been campaigning for Abigail Heringer, Matt’s first impression rose winner, to get the gig. In late January, Reality Steve noted she was certainly a contender, also naming Bri Springs, who make it to Matt's final three, and Katie as potential picks.

Still, it is important to note that ABC could always pick a contestant outside the Season 25 cast. The last two “Bachelorette” leads, Clare Crawley and Tayshia Adams, came from earlier installments, not from Peter Weber's preceding “The Bachelor” season.

Should the show decided to venture outside Matt’s cast of women for a new “Bachelorette” lead, Reality Steve said in early February that Hannah Ann Sluss from Peter’s installment and Kendall Long and Tia Booth from Arie Luyendyk Jr.’s season seemed like “viable options” as they each made it to the top four.

As for who the next “Bachelorette” won’t be, Michelle Young appears to be out of the running. As spoilers indicate, she will be Matt’s runner-up, meaning she’ll be on the show until the finale and therefore won’t be able to safely start filming the spinoff until after his last episode airs.

“Once you get to the finale and Rachael [Kirkconnell] and Michelle are the final two, you’ve eliminated all your suspense,” Reality Steve explained in a late January report. “The show is not going to give away their finale on purpose before it airs. No chance.”