Photo:Billy Kidd via Getty; ABC/Ricky Middlesworth
Billy Kidd via Getty; ABC/Ricky Middlesworth
The Bachelor Nation alum’s mom, Patty James, is set to appear on ABC’s spinoff seriesThe Golden Bachelor.
The new series, which ABC describes as a celebration of “the golden years,” follows 71-year-oldGerry Turneras he’s “given a second chance at love in the search for a partner with whom to share the sunset years of life,” per a release from the network.
Patty joins the other 21 constants, ranging from 60 to 75, hoping to make a connection with Turner.
From her family to her career, here’s everything to know about Patty ahead of the new season ofThe Golden Bachelor.
She has two sons
mattjames919/Instagram
Patty is the proud mom of two sons, Matt and John, and constantlyraves about them on social media.
Matt has also expressed his adoration for his mom on numerous occasions. Duringan interview withGood Morning Americain 2021, he shared that his mom has some of the same attributes he ultimately wants in a wife.
“Just someone who you can experience life together with. Someone who is trustworthy, someone who is themselves, someone who’s caring, honest, compassionate,” he said on the show.
“Everything that she sacrificed for myself and my brother to be in the position that we’re at, I want to be that for somebody else. And the way that she loved myself and John is how I want to love somebody and how I want to be loved.”
She was previously married
Patty was previously married to Manny James, the father of Matt and John. She and Manny split when their sons were very young, leading Patty to raise them as a single mom.
Duringan appearance onThe Tamron Hall Show, Matt briefly opened up about his parents’ divorce and how it affected him growing up.
“I saw what infidelity looked like at a young age. I saw family members that were against the relationship and doubling down on it after seeing the infidelity between my dad and my mom,” he explained, noting he went intoThe Bachelor“not wanting to perpetuate that behavior.”
Despite being estranged from his father growing up,Matt made amends with Mannyduring his season ofThe Bachelor.
“I’m sorry I hurt you, son,” Manny said during the episode. “I had to get to this point … Whatever I can do to make it better, I’ll work on it. I want you to be happy for the rest of your life and I want you to have a relationship that’s healthy and not like what I went through.”
Matt accepted the apology, saying, “I want you to be part of any relationship I’m in going forward … I forgive you. I’m not holding grudges.”
Her faith is important to her
Patty writes “Jesus is my Savior & reason for being” onher Instagram bio.
During his season ofThe Bachelor,Matt discussedhow his mother raised him and his brother in “a Christian household,” noting “that foundation was everything” for him growing up.
“I’ve seen all the sacrifices that my mom has made in my life,” he said. “She put aside everything so that I would have the opportunity to be the man that she knew I was capable of being."
She made her Bachelor Nation debut in 2021
ThoughThe Golden Bachelorwill be Patty’s first time as a contestant, it certainly isn’t her first introduction to Bachelor Nation, having previously appeared in Matt’s season ofThe Bachelor, in whichhe made history as the first Black Bachelor.
She’s retired
According toher officialGolden Bachelorbio, Patty says she’s a “retired real estate professional from Durham, North Carolina.” The bio adds that “when she isn’t spending time with her sons,” she “loves playing ping pong, and lounging poolside with a great book.”
She’s looking for a partner who prioritizes family
ABC/Ricky Middlesworth
In the recentGolden Bachelorpromo, Patty notes that she is “looking for someone that cares about family like I do.”Her bioalso says that after almost 30 years of being single, she’s “ready for her chance at an amazing love story.”
Patty’s bio page continues, “Her heart is open, and she hopes to share positivity and zest for life with a partner. Patty hopes Gerry is as excited about her as she is about him!”
source: people.com
