It’s official! Gretchen Rossi is returning to The Real Housewives of Orange County for season 19 alongside Tamra Judge, 57, Shannon Beador, 60, Heather Dubrow, 56, Jennifer Pedranti, 47, Katie Ginella, 40, Gina Kirschenheiter, 40, and Emily Simpson, 49.
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Following the exit of season 18 “friend,” Alexis Bellino, 48, Gretchen, 46, rejoined the show in a “friend” role as filming began with Jennifer and Katie, which quickly got the attention of Shannon and Tamra.
Variety confirmed the news on January 29, revealing that production on the new episodes began this week.
As fans will recall, Gretchen joined the RHOC cast for season four in November 2008. At the time, she was engaged to Jeff Beitzel. However, he passed away before the season began airing. The following year, amid season five, she began dating Jo De La Rosa’s ex, Slade Smiley, 51.
Although Gretchen and Slade never married, despite getting engaged during season eight, which was her final season as a full-time cast member, they’ve been together for 16 years. They welcomed their daughter Skylar Gray in July 2019.
After the news of her return was confirmed, Gretchen reshared photos of herself with Jennifer and Katie from their pages.
“Love you beautiful! So grateful for your friendship these last few years,” Gretchen told Jennifer.
Then, to both Jennifer and Katie, she wrote, “Thanks for the love girls.”
Also on her Instagram Story, Gretchen shared a message that read, “Here we go!!!” She also said she was “grateful” for Shannon’s support.
“Thank you [Shannon Beador] for being supportive [and] welcoming,” she stated as she reshared a photo Shannon posted of the two of them.
Even Vicki Gunvalson, 62, weighed in with a comment that said, “This is Great news!! Congratulations [Gretchen Rossi].”
On the opposite end of the spectrum, Tamra, who Gretchen has feuded with on and off for years, joked that her “bestie” was back.
“I guess it’s time to dust off those friendship bracelets… my bestie’s back,” Tamra shared, along with a hashtag declaring herself as the “longest running housewife.”
No word yet on when The Real Housewives of Orange County season 19 will premiere on Bravo.
