[11/30/21 - 07:02 PM] Clayton Echard Set As Leading Man for Season 26 of "The Bachelor," Premiering Jan. 3 on ABC Clayton was first introduced to audiences on the current season of "The Bachelorette," where he showed off his rugged good looks and Viking-level athleticism while managing to charm even the harshest of critics - a group of fifth-grade students.
[via press release from ABC]
CLAYTON ECHARD SET AS LEADING MAN FOR SEASON 26 OF 'THE BACHELOR,' PREMIERING JAN. 3 ON ABC
First Look at the Globetrotting 26th Season Unveiled in 'The Bachelorette'
Following an emotional and tear-stained exit from Michelle's season of "The Bachelorette," Clayton Echard will step into the role of "The Bachelor" for the show's upcoming 26th season, kicking off the series' landmark 20th year. Clayton was first introduced to audiences on the current season of "The Bachelorette," where he showed off his rugged good looks and Viking-level athleticism while managing to charm even the harshest of critics - a group of fifth-grade students. He is a puppy-loving goofball with a heart of gold (and surprisingly good dance moves) who is ready to find the love of his life. Clayton's journey as "The Bachelor" premieres on the previously announced date of MONDAY, JAN. 3 (8:00-10:00 p.m.), on ABC. Watch episodes on demand and on Hulu the day following their premieres.
Clayton Echard, "The Bachelor" Season 26
Clayton Echard, who was first introduced as one of Michelle Young's suitors on the current season of "The Bachelorette," not only connects romantically with the captivating Minneapolis school teacher but is also a favorite of Michelle's middle school students. Ultimately, however, Michelle sends Clayton home, leading to one of the most emotional and heart-wrenching moments in "Bachelor" history. In that one touching moment, Clayton's genuine desire to find a partner and start a family shines through, and never has it been so evident that one man deserves a second chance at finding that great love.
Nicknamed "Claynos" by his friends in the house due partly to his sculpted physique, Clayton grows stronger with every rose, opening himself up to Michelle in ways he never thought possible. This Midwestern man proves he is so much more than just a good-looking guy with a rock-hard bod. He's a throwback romantic who's not afraid to put himself out there for love.
Clayton graduated with a bachelor's degree in health science from the University of Missouri, where he also minored in business and Spanish. He currently works in medical sales but is embarking on his MBA with the intention of starting his own business.
A walk-on for the University of Missouri football team, Clayton quickly became a scholarship player who took on a prominent role in guiding the team to back-to-back SEC championship games and a national top ten ranking. He even had a brief stint with the NFL's Seattle Seahawks before quickly realizing his football abilities didn't quite match his business acumen.
Back home in Missouri, Clayton enjoys spending time at his family home on Lake St. Louis. You can often find him there tubing out on the boat, fishing off the dock or getting competitive over some cornhole with his friends, his two younger brothers and his mom and dad.
Growing up in the idyllic suburbs of St. Louis, Clayton had the perfect example of what marriage and love can be. His parents, Brian and Kelly, have been married for 29 years, and their relationship is precisely the kind Clayton so desperately wants for himself. Just like his parents, Clayton's looking for a partner, a great love and a best friend.
"The Bachelor" is a production of Next Entertainment and Warner Bros. Unscripted Television in association with Warner Horizon.
[11/21/25 - 01:01 PM] Netflix Wins Drama Series "Trigger Point" and Orders Hot Package Straight to Series Joel Edgerton stars in an action crime drama about a group of former Tier One Special Forces Operators who sell their elite skills to the criminal underworld behind the front of a private military contracting firm - and the FBI agent who's hunting for them.
[11/21/25 - 12:13 PM] "Henry David Thoreau" to Air on PBS March 2026 The three-part, three-hour film examines the life and work of the 19th-century writer in the context of antebellum New England and the larger United States, as well as through the universal themes he focused on in his writings.
[11/21/25 - 12:00 PM] CBS Series Top L+7 Multiplatform Competitive Charts Seven weeks into the 2025/26 broadcast season, "Tracker" is the #1 series, averaging 14.2 million viewers across broadcast and streaming.
[11/21/25 - 09:00 AM] What's New on HBO Max This December New films due next month include "The Family McMullen," A24's "Ne Zha II," A24 documentary "Architecton," and Bleeker Street's "Spinal Tap II: The End Continues."
[11/21/25 - 09:00 AM] Video: We TV Releases Exclusive Sneak Peek of the New Season of "Love During Lockup" The prequel to "Love After Lockup," "Love During Lockup," reveals the fascinating moments that occur when people in the free world look for love and begin relationships with inmates, capturing their journey as they count down the days, weeks, months, or even years until the anticipated release.
