Taylor Frankie Paul's Bachelorette Season 22: New Night, New Lead!

Get ready, Bachelor Nation! Season 22 is coming with new lead Taylor Frankie Paul and a totally fresh schedule you'll definitely want to mark on your calendars. This season is already making waves, and we're here to spill all the tea!

TL;DR

Taylor Frankie Paul, known from The Secret Lives of Mormon Wives, is the new Bachelorette for Season 22.
The show premieres on Sunday, March 22, 2026, shifting to a new time slot on Sundays at 8/7c.
Expect a unique season with Taylor's past in the spotlight and diverse suitors, including a former Lana Del Rey fiancé!

Get Ready for a Brand New Bachelorette Scheduling Change

Hold onto your roses, folks, because The Bachelorette is changing things up big time for its 22nd season! We've got a confirmed premiere date: mark your calendars for Sunday, March 22, 2026. That's right, a Sunday! Bachelor Nation fans are typically used to Monday night dates with their favorite reality love story, but ABC has decided to switch things around for 2026.

The show will air at 8/7c on ABC. This is a pretty significant shift, not just because it's moving from its traditional Monday night slot, but also because it's airing in the first half of the year. Historically, The Bachelorette has been a summertime staple, while The Bachelor usually takes the winter/spring slot. After a pause in production and no new season in 2025, fans have been eagerly awaiting its return, and now we know why things are shaking up: American Idol is set to premiere on January 26, 2026, taking over those Monday night spots.

While March 22 might feel like a late start for a spring season compared to The Bachelor's usual late January premiere, it means we get our Bachelorette fix much sooner than waiting for summer. We're predicting the finale will likely wrap up on Sunday, May 17, 2026, keeping us captivated throughout the spring without clashing with Memorial Day weekend.

Unveiling Taylor Frankie Paul: Your Next Bachelorette Lead!

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For the first time in a while, Bachelor Nation is bringing us a lead from outside the franchise, and it's none other than Taylor Frankie Paul! If her name sounds familiar, it's because this 31-year-old Utah native is already a reality TV veteran, known for her role in Hulu's The Secret Lives of Mormon Wives. She also famously blew up "MomTok" by pulling back the curtain on Salt Lake's "soft-swinging scene," making her a truly unique choice for the franchise.

Taylor is a single mom of three incredible kids: daughter Indy (8) and son Ocean (5) from her previous marriage to Tate Paul, and son Ever (19 months) with her ex-boyfriend Dakota Mortensen. Her life has been pretty open in the public eye, and she's described as captivating millions with her "raw, unapologetic storytelling" and "unfiltered candor" on social media. She's all about embracing life's chaos and owning her story, which sounds like the perfect recipe for a dramatic and heartfelt season!

Her casting was announced in September, and Taylor herself seemed a bit overwhelmed by the news, confessing:

"I can't even process what is going on. I am the Bachelorette, guys—that's wild! I don't want to get emotional, because I'm always emotional, but these are good emotions. When they flew to town to ask me, my first thoughts were why me? It goes without saying that I come with a lot, and I was like, 'Who is going to want me?'"

— Taylor Frankie Paul

Well, Taylor, it looks like plenty of guys want you! She'll also be appearing on Season 3 of The Secret Lives of Mormon Wives, which premieres on November 13, 2025, giving us even more insight into her life before her Bachelorette journey began.

Meet the Diverse Group of Men Vying for Taylor Frankie Paul's Affection

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ABC has already given us a sneak peek at the potential suitors for Taylor's season, and it's quite the interesting bunch! With Taylor being 31, the ages of the men skew a bit older than we sometimes see on the show, ranging from 27 to 44. This could lead to some really mature and serious connections, which is exciting!

One name that immediately caught fans' attention is Clayton Johnson, a 36-year-old from Nashville, TN. Why, you ask? Because he's none other than Lana Del Rey's ex-fiancé! Apparently, they had a whirlwind romance after meeting on a dating app in 2020, got engaged, and then called it quits in September 2021. Talk about a past that's already in the spotlight!

Another contestant, Casey Hux (30, Midlothian, VA), also generated buzz, with some fans pointing out his resemblance to Taylor's ex and baby daddy, Dakota Mortensen. It seems there's no escaping the past for Taylor!

Here's a full look at the potential cast members ABC has teased for Season 22 of The Bachelorette:

Aaron Kahng, 32, Bellevue, WA
Brad Ledford, 29, Asheville, NC
Brandon Perce, 28, West Allis, WI
Casey Hux, 30, Midlothian, VA
Chris Braden, 34, Goleta, CA
Christopher Wood, 35, Rowlett, TX
Clayton Johnson, 36, Nashville, TN
Conrad Ukropina, 32, Pasadena, CA
Dave Pigott, 44, Thornton, CO
Doug Mason, 28, Hailey, ID
Joe Ceraulo, 27, Syosset, NY
Johnnie LaRossa, 30, Massapequa, NY
Josh Harward, 28, Provo, UT
Kevin Montero, 32, Miami, FL
Lew Evans, 32, Salt Lake City, UT
Malik Evans, 30, Brooklyn, NY
Marcus Richardson, 28, Elmont, NY
Matt Carroll, 43, Carmel, IN
Michael Baba, 37, Lake Forest, CA
Mike Turitto, 36, Lavallette, NJ
Richard, 35, Charleston, SC
Rod, 35, Austin, TX
Ronn, 28, San Francisco, CA
Shane, 27, Atlanta, GA
Spencer, 35, Vineyard, UT
Trenten, 35, Los Angeles, CA

Keep in mind that this is an "early look" and the final lineup might shift slightly before the show officially kicks off. Filming for Season 22 officially began on Sunday, October 26, at the iconic Bachelor Nation mansion in Los Angeles.

Ex-Boyfriends and Unexpected Drama: What's Brewing for Taylor's Journey?

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One of the biggest questions swirling around Taylor's season involves her ex-boyfriend and baby daddy, Dakota Mortensen. Taylor admitted she didn't give him a heads-up about becoming the Bachelorette, and she anticipated he'd be "sad" and find it "hard to watch." Well, Dakota didn't disappoint in the drama department!

After seeing the list of potential bachelors, Dakota took to social media, commenting on a TikTok detailing the crop of men, "Making me wanna go win my baby momma back." Fans were quick to react, with many telling him to "leave her be" and accusing him of being "calculated" and trying to "ruin the opportunity for her." Even Taylor's Secret Lives of Mormon Wives co-star Mikayla Matthews posted an eye-roll meme in response to Dakota's comment. It's safe to say there's some history there, especially since it's noted Dakota cheated on Taylor.

And what does Taylor think about all this? When asked if she'd be surprised if an ex showed up, she confessed she "wouldn't be shocked" if Dakota made an appearance. "I don't know how I would react," she admitted. "To me, if he gets out of the limo, I'm like, 'Cool shocker you're here! He's here, he wants to try.' That wouldn't shock me." The tension is already building!

Taylor has also been upfront about what she's looking for in a partner. She made it clear that since she's based in Utah with her two baby daddies, any potential suitor "will be moving to me in Utah." She also mentioned that someone who isn't into filming social media videos would be a "hard no." And for those wondering if her season would only feature Mormons, Taylor clarified on Instagram with a simple, "No lol." So, expect a diverse group and a lead who knows exactly what she wants!

FAQs about Taylor Frankie Paul's Bachelorette Season 22

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When does The Bachelorette Season 22 with Taylor Frankie Paul premiere?

Season 22 of The Bachelorette, starring Taylor Frankie Paul, is set to premiere on Sunday, March 22, 2026, on ABC.

What day and time will The Bachelorette air in 2026?

For the first time in a while, The Bachelorette will be airing on a new day! Catch Taylor Frankie Paul's journey on Sundays at 8/7c on ABC.

Who is the new Bachelorette for Season 22?

The new Bachelorette is Taylor Frankie Paul, known from Hulu's The Secret Lives of Mormon Wives and as a viral "MomTok" personality. She is a 31-year-old single mother of three.