Colton Underwood Announced As Next Bachelor

Meet the newest star of The Bachelor: Colton Underwood.

On Good Morning America on Sept. 4, 2018, ABC announced former professional football player Colton Underwood as the Bachelor for the popular series' 23rd season. "I'm very excited," Underwood shared during his appearance on the morning talk show. "Third time is the charm. That's what they say, right? That's what I'm hoping for."

Underwood had previously competed on Becca Kufrin's season of The Bachelorette earlier in 2018, making it to the final four, but he ultimately failed to win over Kufrin's heart. He then searched for love on Bachelor in Paradise, where he reconnected with his ex-girlfriend, former Bachelor star Tia Booth. But things didn't work out between the two in the end. Underwood and Booth broke up during Bachelor in Paradise's Monday, Sept. 3 episode, with Underwood telling Booth that, despite him trying to make their relationship work, he just didn't feel like they were right for one another.

Fans shouldn't expect to see Booth make an appearance on Underwood's season of The Bachelor, as Underwood shot down that possibility in his GMA interview. "We are finally on the same page, for the first time in our relationship, and we are just good friends," he explained.

Speaking with GMA's Michael Strahan, Underwood also committed to staying honest during his season of The Bachelor, as he'd done on the franchise's other series. "That's one thing that I took pride in on both seasons, is just being true to who I am," said Underwood, who'd revealed to the world that he was a virgin while on The Bachelorette. "I think it took all of that to get to where I am at now and know who I am as a person and know what I want in a life partner."

He added that he "absolutely" wants to find his soul mate during his run on the show and that he's looking forward to getting engaged and tying the knot sometime in the near future.

Underwood noted that one thing on his must-have list for a potential partner is passion. "You just have to be passionate about something. Sports was my passion growing up, just because I saw how it transformed my life, but just be passionate about something, have a passion, and be a good person," he said.

Underwood's season of The Bachelor will premiere in January 2019.