The Bachelorette (American TV series) season 8

The eighth season of The Bachelorette, an ABC reality television series, premiered on May 14, 2012. This season features 26-year-old Emily Maynard, a single mother from West Virginia living in Charlotte, North Carolina.

Maynard was previously the winner of season 15 of The Bachelor, where she got engaged to Brad Womack; however, they ended their engagement in May 2011.

The season concluded on July 22, 2012, with Maynard accepting a proposal from 27-year-old entrepreneur Jef Holm. They ended their engagement in October 2012.

This is the first season of The Bachelorette filmed in Maynard's current city of Charlotte, North Carolina, where she and her daughter Ricki Hendrick live   (along with the child's paternal grandfather; the child's father died before she was born). This marks the first time a show in The Bachelor franchise has taken place in the Southern United States and also the second time one has been filmed on the East Coast since New York City in season three.

Casting and contestants
On January 18, 2012, Maynard was announced as the next Bachelorette.

Notable contestants including race car driver Arie Luyendyk Jr.; former college football player Sean Lowe; and singer-songwriter David Homyk.

Michael Nance died on May 29, 2017. The official cause of his death was multiple drug toxicity, according to the Travis County Office of the Medical Examiner. His death was ruled as accidental.

Contestants
On May 1, 2012, 25 contestants were revealed. Biographical information according to ABC's official series site, which gives first names only, plus footnoted additions. Ages stated are at time of contest.

The Bachelor
Sean Lowe was chosen as the lead of season 17 of The Bachelor.

Arie Luyendyk Jr. was chosen as the lead of season 22 of The Bachelor.

Bachelor Pad
Chris Bukowski, Kalon McMahon, and Tony Pieper returned for the third season of Bachelor Pad. McMahon and his partner, Lindzi Cox, were eliminated in week 6, finishing in 5th place. Pieper and his partner, Blakeley Jones, were eliminated at the beginning of week 7, finishing in 4th place. Bukowski and his partner, Sarah Newlon, finished as the runners-up.

The Bachelorette
Bukowski returned for season 10 of The Bachelorette during night one. However, Bachelorette Andi Dorfman decided she didn't want to meet him, and he was sent home.

Bachelor in Paradise
Season 1

Bukowski and McMahon returned for the inaugural season of Bachelor in Paradise. Bukowski quit the show in week 3 due to a leg injury. McMahon was eliminated in week 4.

Season 2

Bukowski returned for season 2 of Bachelor in Paradise, but quit the show in week 4.

Season 6

Bukowski returned once again for season 6 of Bachelor in Paradise, and left engaged to Katie Morton.

Dancing With The Stars
Outside of the Bachelor Nation franchise, Lowe competed in the sixteenth season of Dancing with the Stars. He was partnered with Peta Murgatroyd and finished in 6th place.

Other appearances
Luyendyk, Jean-Paul LaCount and Alejandro Velez appeared as a contestants in the Bachelors vs. Bachelorettes special on season 7 of Wipeout.

Luyendyk also appeared as a contestant on season 1 of The Traitors.

Call-out order

 * The contestant received the first impression rose
 * The contestant received a rose during a date
 * The contestant was eliminated
 * The contestant was eliminated during a date
 * The contestant was eliminated outside the rose ceremony
 * The contestant was part of non-elimination bottom two
 * The contestant won the competition