Chris Harrison Embraces New Chapter After Exiting The Bachelor Franchise

In June 2021, Chris Harrison, the longtime host of the popular dating reality show The Bachelor, departed the franchise after 19 years. Now, over 4 years later, Harrison reflects on his exit, expressing a sense of "relief" about moving on from the high-pressure role.

Harrison, 54, has since relocated from Los Angeles to Austin, Texas, and married former Entertainment Tonight host Lauren Zima. The couple will celebrate their second wedding anniversary in November 2025. Harrison acknowledges that leaving the all-consuming job of hosting The Bachelor and The Bachelorette was not easy at first, as he felt an "angst" about needing to "get back on" and return to work.

However, Harrison says he has since found a new sense of freedom and creativity. He describes Austin as the "new Hollywood," a place that "reminds [him] of what Hollywood was built on, which is anything and everything is possible if everybody will just come in with an honest, open heart and mind and just wanna do some fun work together." Harrison and Zima have a new project in the works that they are "very excited to talk about" in the near future.