Casting and contestants Young was announced as the Bachelorette by
Emmanuel Acho during the
After the Final Rose special of the
25th season of
The Bachelor on March 15, 2021. The cast includes
offensive guard Bryan Witzmann; undrafted
tight end Clayton Echard; 2011
Minnesota Mr. Basketball award winner
Joe Coleman; and LT Murray IV, grandson of actor
Clint Eastwood.
Filming and development On August 2, 2021, it was reported that former
Bachelorettes Tayshia Adams and
Kaitlyn Bristowe were set to return as co-hosts for the eighteenth season. As with the last three American
Bachelor Nation editions, which were filmed in a
bio-secure bubble due to the
COVID-19 pandemic, this season started production on July 30, 2021 at the Renaissance Esmeralda Resort & Spa at the
Coachella Valley in
Indian Wells, California. Some quarantine restrictions were lifted halfway through the season, the cast and crew were allowed to leave the bubble with limited amount of travel from one location to another including Young's home state of
Minnesota. The cast and crew were valid proof of requirement of
vaccination status. For the first time since the
fifteenth season, the season was able to leave the United States, as both overnight dates and last chance dates returned to its standard format and took place in
Mexico with COVID safety precautions in place.
Country music singer
Caroline Jones,
WNBA players
Dearica Hamby and
Diamond DeShields, actors
Glen Powell and
Jay Ellis,
spoken word poet
Rudy Francisco, professional wrestlers
Nikki and
Brie Bella, and musician
Andy Grammer made guest appearances this season. On December 21, 2021, the day of the season finale, Adams revealed she had been exposed to
COVID-19 and was not able to host the live finale and
After the Final Rose special. This left Bristowe to be the sole host. Due to the potential COVID-19 resurgence, audiences must present a negative PCR test and wear masks for the duration of the show. ==Contestants==