The Golden Bachelorette: Signs Mark Anderson's Life Isn't Perfect Despite First Christmas With New Love

The Golden Bachelorette favorite Mark Anderson, a 58-year-old retired Army veteran from Louisiana, was once rumored to be the leading man on the next season of The Golden BachelorI; however, recent holiday photos with his family suggest he may no longer be single. Mark's life took a dramatic turn over the past few years, beginning when his daughter, Kelsey Anderson, applied to be a contestant on Joey Graziadei's season of The Bachelor. Mark made his first TV appearance when Kelsey and Joey visited Louisiana for Kelsey's hometown date, quickly winning over viewers as a charming widower and father of five.

His appearance on the show sparked a wave of interest from Bachelor fans, leading to his casting on The Golden Bachelorette season 1. Though there were high hopes for Mark, Joan Vassos was more drawn to other men and eliminated him before hometown dates. His departure fueled rumors he might become the next Golden Bachelor​​​​​; however, Mark recently ended those speculations by revealing he’s been in a relationship with a television actress for several months.

Mark's Trying Really Hard To Seem Happy

Is He Putting On An Act?

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While Mark was initially disappointed by his early exit from The Golden Bachelorette, he quickly moved on. During Halloween, television actress, Barbara Alyn Woods shared an Instagram photo that left Bachelor Nation buzzing. Although Mark and Barbara have not publicly confirmed their relationship, Kelsey recently posted holiday photos of the Anderson family that might provide a major clue.

In the pictures, Mark, his children, and their partners are all wearing matching pajamas and gathered on a staircase—an image that clearly includes Barbara, suggesting she and Mark may be an item. In fact, all of Mark's recent photos show him flashing a huge smile and seemingly living his best life--but that could be an act. After getting rejected by Joan, who is happier than ever with Chock Chapple, Mark might display his highlights on social media to compete with his ex and keep up appearances.

Mark Still Misses His Late Wife

Talking About Her Makes Him Emotional

Before his time supporting Kelsey on The Bachelor season 28, Mark was a widowed father of five living in Leesville, Louisiana. Mark was married to his late wife, Denise, for 18 years, both having served in the Army. Denise was diagnosed with cancer and passed away just two months later, leaving a heartbroken family behind.

On The Golden Bachelorette, Mark frequently spoke about his late wife, and during his brief one-on-one time with Joan, his grief became overwhelming. He could barely focus on anything else, creating long, uncomfortable silences between them. The tension became so palpable that Joan, a widow herself, ended up sending him home early. If he is still so upset while talking about his late wife, his new relationship might not be able to flourish.

Mark May Worry About Kelsey Sometimes

His Daughter Must Be On His Mind

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In a recent interview with People, Kelsey shared details about her and Joey’s wedding plans as they look ahead to 2025 and start to seriously talk about their future together. After Joey’s successful run on Dancing With The Stars, the couple recently settled into their first home and seems to be enjoying their time together. But, as Kelsey explained that they're starting to plan their wedding, their timeline for getting married is going to take much longer than anticipated.

A lot of fans were already suspicious about their relationship during Joey's time on Dancing With The Stars, and now that their wedding has been pushed back yet again, it raises even more questions. All of this pressure on his daughter has to have Mark worried, especially since it's impossible to avoid all of the negative press the couple gets. Even if he is in a happy relationship of his own, a dad never stops worrying about his daughter and what she's going through.

The Golden Bachelorette is available to stream on Hulu.

Source: People