Bachelor Nation’s Ashley Iaconetti shared her thoughts on Grant Ellis’s upcoming season of The Bachelor and expressed optimism about it during an exclusive chat with Life & Style.
“We don’t have much information about Grant. Interestingly, I feel I know less about Grant than I did about Matt James before his season started. Matt was almost completely unknown,” Ashley, 36, mentioned to Life & Style while at iHeartRadio Z100’s Jingle Ball in New York City on December 13.
Bachelor enthusiasts will recall that Matt, 33, was selected as the lead for season 32 despite not having participated in the franchise before. Nevertheless, he was familiar to fans due to his close friendship with popular star Tyler Cameron.
“We saw a lot of Matt on social media and learned so much about him through Tyler,” Ashley noted. “In Grant’s case, we’ve only seen about ... ten minutes of screen time.”
Though there is limited information about Grant, 30, Ashley observed that he is “very attractive” and “seems very kind.”
“The season appears to be dramatic from what has been previewed,” she added. “But we need to learn more about him. I hope he proves to be as great as he seems.”
Grant first appeared on reality TV in season 21 of The Bachelorette, where he competed for Jenn Tran’s affection. He was sent home during the hometown dates and was later chosen to lead the next season of The Bachelor.
Viewers can follow Grant’s journey to find love when season 29 premieres on January 27, 2025.
Besides talking about Grant’s upcoming Bachelor season, Ashley also discussed holiday celebrations with her husband, Jared Haibon, and their children, Dawson, 3, and Hayden, 4 months.
“I can't wait to see Dawson’s reaction to all his presents because I believe he’ll be thrilled with each one,” she expressed. “He’s quite the entertainer. He’s a fan of the Jonas Brothers, ‘NSYNC, and the Trolls movie. Jared has been introducing him to Ninja Turtles and Power Rangers’ theme songs, and Dawson already knows all the lyrics. It's so cute to see him play band in his room.”
Given Dawson’s passion for music, Ashley and Jared, both 36, gifted their eldest son “an entire stage setup” for Christmas. This includes a drum set, an electric guitar, a piano, a microphone, and a stage backdrop. “He’ll be able to put on full performances. Although we haven't set it up yet, he’ll unwrap everything on Christmas,” she mentioned about the gift. “I can’t wait to see his little performance area.”
Taylor Hill/FilmMagicAshley – who wed Jared in 2019 – noted that having children changed her outlook on the holiday season. After admitting she felt like a “Scrooge” a few years ago, she now finds it “so much more magical” with kids.
“Watching Christmas lights and classic movies with our 3-year-old who just loves it, makes the season truly special," she said.
And it’s absolutely adorable to see him enjoy the same movies,” she mentioned. “And with the 4-month-old, he’s currently developing his personality and he’s just being incredibly cute, and it’s wonderful to have a baby around during the holidays.”