Mark Anderson, Kelsey Anderson’s ‘Hot Dad,’ is ‘Golden Bachelorette’s’ star

For “Golden Bachelorette” fans, the dream contender has arrived.

Mark Anderson, the charming father of “The Bachelor” Season 28 star Kelsey Anderson, will compete for Joan Vassos’ heart on ABC’s “Golden Bachelorette” this fall.

At 57, Anderson has earned the title of “Kelsey’s Hot Dad” after appearing on “The Bachelor” during the hometown dates episode. Kelsey brought her future fiancé, Joey Graziadei, to New Orleans to meet her family, including her father. After that episode, “Bachelor Nation” began clamoring for Anderson, a loving widower, to be featured on the reality franchise. Even “Golden Bachelor” standout Susan Noles showed interest in the silver-haired fox.

Throughout “The Bachelor” season, Kelsey shared the story of her mother, Denise, who was diagnosed with breast cancer in 2008. Anderson cared for his wife until she passed away in 2018. During the New Orleans visit on “The Bachelor,” Kelsey’s heartfelt conversation with her father about Joey ignited national interest in Anderson. He fully supported his daughter’s quest for love on TV.

“I want you to feel the feeling I had with your mom,” Anderson said, “because it’s the best feeling in the world.”

“It’s crazy! Oh my god, I’m going to cry,” Kelsey responded, later adding about Joey, “I think I love him.”

Mark hugged his daughter and whispered, “I love you,” melting the hearts of Bachelor Nation.

The touching sentiments from the lovable father created a social-media frenzy, turning into a thirst-fest for Anderson. Kelsey posted on TikTok after the episode, jokingly thanking fans for “the nightmares that I will have tonight in regards to the posts y’all have made about my dad.”

Kelsey spoke about her father during a June interview on the Bachelor Happy Hour podcast. Hosted by Noles and Kathy Swarts, both contestants on the first season of “The Golden Bachelor,” the proud daughter said she would “fully support” her father pursuing a reality show romance.

“I want my dad to get out there; I want my dad to date,” Kelsey said. “I think that my mom really would want him to. Before she even was sick, she would always say, ‘I want you to find somebody else. I want you to find another love.’ She just knew that she was going to pass before him.”

During the same podcast, Swarts noted how Noles fought for Anderson’s attention at “The Bachelor” finale. “Susan elbowed her way in to see if she could maybe meet the guy,” Swarts said.

“We were emailing long before that,” Noles added, calling Anderson “a great guy.”

Gerry Turner’s “Golden Bachelor” season recently featured “Bachelor” star Matt James’ mother, who went home in the premiere episode. But Anderson’s appeal has blossomed into budding stardom even before this official “Golden” announcement. Growing up in Minnesota and being a huge Vikings football fan, Anderson gave an April interview to the Minneapolis Star-Tribune, expressing surprise at the attention from “Bachelor” fans. “It’s been a little bit more than a little bit overwhelming,” he said.

At the time, Anderson thought he was too young for the Golden franchise but considered trying it in a couple of years. Clearly, that timeline has been expedited for the 61-year-old Vassos.

“It’s an opportunity to possibly meet the person I’m meant to be with,” he said.

This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: Mark Anderson, Kelsey Anderson’s ‘Hot Dad,’ is already ‘Golden Bachelorette’s main man

Source: USA TODAY