Jesse Palmer Had to Nudge Bachelor Grant Ellis to Make a Final Pick: ‘We Had to Get it Going’ (Exclusive)

Host Jesse Palmer assured Us that The Bachelor season 29 trailer isn’t overselling how torn lead Grant Ellis was ahead of the final rose ceremony.

“It’s real,” Palmer promised during an exclusive interview with Us Weekly pegged to his partnership with Great Clips. “And I don’t know if you could tell from watching that from my reaction, [but] I was surprised. That was something that I haven’t encountered yet as the host in the last four years on any of the franchises. Normally, I think, our leads have a little bit more clarity — a lot more clarity — heading into the final day. And I really think that’s how conflicted Grant really was.”

In the trailer, the 31-year-old day trader admits to Palmer that he doesn’t know who he is going to pick on the final day. Palmer told Us that Grant’s contestants being so “remarkable” played a part in his indecisiveness.

“They’re phenomenal every year for whoever our lead is [and] making that decision on the final day is always a very, very difficult decision, but I can appreciate some of why Grant was so conflicted. I’ll just say that,” he continued. “But absolutely without giving away too much, that was authentic and it’s real and it’s not an edit.”

At the end of the teaser, Palmer asks Grant again if he knows what he’s going to do. “We got both women, they’re here on standby, and of course, I have to know which to send first,” he said.

Palmer gave Us insight into the wall-breaking remark, acknowledging that it got to a point where production needed to keep the cameras rolling.

“It’s not something that I want to say or I should say,” he said. “I mean, it’s sort of implied. Everybody gets it. But it got to the point during our conversation where it was so up in the air. I mean, we had to get it going. He’s got to make a decision and we have to have an ending. And I’m sorry I did it and I said it that way and to break that fourth wall, but I had to say it to help him understand. I know Grant understood, but that’s kind of where it went. And that I think shows just kind of how real that was.”

Palmer has been hosting The Bachelor since season 26. While that season ended in heartbreak for Clayton Echard, season 27 lead Zach Shallcross and season 28 star Joey Graziadei are still engaged to their respective final rose recipients, Kaity Biggar and Kelsey Anderson.

“I don’t want to speak on behalf of Grant, but I think he’s very, very happy with how things ended. I know he’s really excited for everybody to watch this whole thing unfold. Grant’s a very easy guy to root for,” Palmer told Us. “I’m a fan of his and I know he’s a guy that’s been so successful in everything he’s done in his life outside of love [so far]. With Zach and Joey, we’re kind of running this streak a little bit and I think we have a chance to keep this thing going, fingers crossed.”

The Bachelor returns to ABC Monday, January 27, at 8 p.m. ET. On the final Monday before the franchise’s return, the network hosted the College Football Playoff, where The Ohio State Buckeyes beat the Notre Dame Fighting Irish. Fans may have seen Palmer’s Great Clips commercial — promoting the company’s $9.99 haircut coupon — during the broadcast.

“[The partnership] is very organic to me just because it’s sort of a microcosm of my entire life. And I remember when I was a player getting ready to play in the game and now that I’m broadcasting or even hosting The Bachelor when we’re doing those live shows — Men Tell All or After the Final Rose — confidence in live television is so important,” he told Us. “And oftentimes when you look great, you feel great and you perform great. There’s a saying in football, look good, feel good, play good. Deion Sanders would say get paid good. And that’s kind of what this is for me.”

The Great Clips coupon will be valid only at participating salons through January 31, 2025.