December 11, 2025 • 18 mins
Ben and Ashley finally meet Mel’s runner up from the latest season of The Golden Bachelor and there is SO MUCH to cover! Cindy Cullers is here and spilling everything from her time with Mel Owens.
Find out what Cindy thought about Mel’s desire to only date women under 60, and we hear everything about her famous martial arts expert ex!
Plus, she shares her thoughts on the future of the Golden franchise!
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Episode Transcript
Available transcripts are automatically generated. Complete accuracy is not guaranteed.
Speaker 1 (00:00):
This is the Ben and Ashley I Almost Famous podcast
with iHeartRadio everybody.
Speaker 2 (00:06):
It's Almost Famous podcasts.
Speaker 3 (00:07):
Today, Ashley and myself are thrilled because we have someone
coming on the podcast that we have been rooting for
through the latest season of The Golden Bachelor, and in fact,
Ashley thought this person was gonna win. She's intelligent, sophisticated,
a great answer, and let's not forget absolutely stunning. I'm
(00:31):
talking about Cindy. Cindy, welcome to the Almost Famous Podcast.
Speaker 4 (00:36):
Oh my gosh, that was just incredible. What a warm welcome.
Thank you so much, Thank you so much. I have
no words for you.
Speaker 5 (00:44):
You deserve it all. You are the classiest lady. You
are the Golden Bachelorette that I pray for. You are
seriously so you'd be so perfect in that role. And
I'm just in my opinion and our audience knows. I
don't know that mel has set us up for another
(01:06):
Golden installment, but if they have, if there is to
be one, you would be fantastic lead because you have
all the characteristics of what makes somebody golden.
Speaker 3 (01:17):
That's a good question there, though, I mean, Cindy, to
kick us off, do you think there'll be another season,
I hope.
Speaker 4 (01:22):
So I know that when I watched the previous two
seasons of The Golden Bachelor and the Golden Bachelorette, and
even watching our season of the Golden Bachler. Of course,
I'm invested in it because I'm in it, but there's
some issues that I think are worthy to explore, and
I think people are fascinated by the dynamics. Okay, let
me just give you my hot take, all right, So
(01:43):
as I'm out and about, you know, it's been kind
of fun to be recognized by different people and the
Bachelor Nation it's a real thing. Like the Bachelor Nation
is awesome. But there's another group of people who are
not part of Bacher Nation. They haven't ever watched it,
who have watched our show, and I know it because
they come up to me, and I can't figure out
the demographic of it. You know, I'm an analytical person
(02:06):
and I'm trying to you know, Okay, well those people
like me? Are they women in their fifties, sixties, seventies,
Is that who it is? Yes, I do have those.
I was at a football game and this mom came
over to me and said, I recognize you. Actually I
didn't recognize you. My son recognized you. He's an eleven
year old who was watching, and we're going to get
a family picture with you if that's okay, but he
(02:28):
wants his own picture with you. I was at a
concert and these two twin men come over. They're in
their fifties, completely awesome cowboys. They come over and they're like,
we've been watching you on this season. So I think
there's a fascination to what's going on in the Golden
Years when it comes to your relationship that I think
(02:49):
people are very curious to see. I was curious to
see it, and I hope they continue. I think it's
an interesting dialogue. I kids learned a lot about me,
you know, I learned a lot about me. I think
the audience learned a lot about all of us by
watching the show.
Speaker 5 (03:03):
I think Ben and I both learned a lot about ourselves.
I matured so much. I know it's shocking for people
to hear that I'm matured through that, but I definitely did.
Speaker 4 (03:12):
Definitely only because you don't need to mature any longer.
Thanks so, Cindy.
Speaker 5 (03:19):
When Mel was first announced, soon after, he made some
not so bright comments on a podcast about not wanting
to date anyone in their sixties. I guess, not being
aware that the cast is always going to be in
their sixties. Did you have any second guesses about being
on his season?
Speaker 4 (03:39):
I did. I Okay, A couple of things happened. He
was announced. My daughter texts me, and we didn't know
it at that time, but we were all super excited
because on paper we look to be a very good match,
and you know, that proves out, I think during the season.
Later on, when that broadcast or that podcast was revealed.
(04:00):
Directly to the podcast, I read the transcripts, but then
I wanted to hear Mel's voice in it, and I
was very concerned about how very effortvescently he was interested
in dating that younger group. I've got lots of friends
who date younger. I don't have a problem with that,
but please don't go on The Golden Bachelor where I'm
sixty and I'm probably going to be one of the
(04:21):
youngest ones on the show. What are we doing here?
So I had a conversation with the producer that I
had been talking to and just express my concerns, and
she told me that they've talked to Mel. They had
a conversation. It was just kind of a misunderstanding, and
I decided to go ahead and continue on. But yeah,
I was definitely concerned about his comments.
Speaker 3 (04:44):
Who wouldn't be, I mean, I guess let's drill into
that a little bit.
Speaker 2 (04:48):
Though.
Speaker 3 (04:49):
I would be very concerned, especially if I was you.
I'd feel almost like offended and then her and confused,
and in an environment that already burrs insecurity, those comments
would have made me very hesitant to step out of
the limo into the mansion. And so I guess what
(05:11):
made you say yes, this is still a good idea.
Speaker 4 (05:14):
I'm going to turn that question around on you and
when you talk about when it spurs insecurity, right, A
lot of people think that a woman should feel insecure
maybe if a man wants to date a younger category.
And I actually think that golden women in particular, and
you know Ashley too, because he's wise beyond your years
(05:35):
and Ben you too, we see that men who date
so much younger might also be a red flag. And
I think the question really is more, is that we
watching his insecurity?
Speaker 3 (05:54):
Okay, so I think that's fair, But then the question
still comes about either direction.
Speaker 2 (06:01):
You still said yes, I.
Speaker 4 (06:02):
Still said, yes, I think that you probably hadn't met
a group of women like I was about to participate in.
I don't know the other women, but I know me.
And by the way, I still fit this category because
I'm sixty.
Speaker 5 (06:16):
Sixty and younger.
Speaker 4 (06:18):
Sixty and youthful, and I will. Let's just talk about
this though, because I think this is one of the
issues that's very valuable in the amongst my friends and
people my age group, is people dating outside of their
age group. I heard something very interesting from someone and
I don't have any evidence of it, but when they
(06:40):
said it, I thought, wow, that seems true. They said
that men tend to date people when they're out of
a relationship, when they, for example, go through a divorce
or lose their spouse, they tend to date someone who
is in the age group for when they were last happy. Wow,
that's super interesting about that. And women tend to date
(07:02):
into a lifestyle that they want.
Speaker 3 (07:06):
I mean, you've known this since you know knowledge for
a bit. Do you think that's true. I mean, it's
a very interesting thing to think about.
Speaker 4 (07:13):
I think it's kind of true. I think it's kind
of true, and it just anecdotally, just think about the
friends that you might have who are dating in a
different age category. I tend to date people who I
like to say went to high school with me, you know,
plus remnus four years. Mel was outside of my dating
age paces as well.
Speaker 5 (07:33):
Yeah, traditionally I never liked veering above or below four years.
Speaker 4 (07:38):
Yeah. Yeah, we're both high schoolers.
Speaker 1 (07:40):
Yeah.
Speaker 4 (07:40):
Yeah, So for me, I knew I was dating outside
my range to date Mel, and I knew I would
be outside of his range. I was on the older
group ironically, and he was in my older group as well.
But he had enough on paper that I had seen.
I had also watched a YouTube my oldest daughter should
be spy. This woman can find out anything about anyone.
(08:03):
And she sent me some data and I said, okay,
what else you got? She goes, no, Mom, I'm not
going to show you everything because I want you to
discover him for who he is. But she sat with
me on the couch right here. We watched that TV
and we watched a YouTube of a guy who I'm
going to try to say this kindly, he was. He
(08:24):
was talking about a sporting event and he was clearly
outclassed by interviewing. Mel Meil knew a lot more than
this guy knew. Mail never made him feel insecure, never
made him feel like that was a stupid question. So
I was balancing also the dynamic that I saw of
that mail and all the other things on paper with
(08:46):
the podcast, and that was kind of countered by what
my producer said that they had spoken to him about.
Speaker 5 (08:53):
So before we get into deeper into your relationship with mel,
we're very eager to know all your thoughts, especially looking
back on it. But first, since you're divorce, you dated
Chuck Norris when he was when he was really a
get yeah act, can take down the world with one hand.
Speaker 4 (09:19):
Yeah, I mean, he's he's one of the classiest, best
gentlemen I've had the privilege to spend time with. But
he that's this is how you guys don't even know.
We were riding on tablets with like you know, etching tools
back then, and there was no Internet. I was living
in LA and I had moved from Orange County up
(09:39):
to this hotel off the Mulholland and the four or
five and waiting for my I just moved there and
waiting to get an apartment, and somebody at the front
desk said, hey, there's another guest at the hotel who
saw you and thought you were cute and wanted to
know if you would like to join them for drinks.
And I said, well, who is it, do I? And
(10:00):
they're like, well, he's kind of famous and told me
it was Chuck Norris. I didn't know who Chuck Norris was,
and there's no internet back then for me to look
it up. All I know is he's a very nice gentleman.
And we met and people would come over and interrupt
us and ask for his autograph. And I remember saying
to him one day like, hey, where's my autograph? And
(10:20):
the next time we saw each other, he brought me
an eight by ten that he'd signed. I still have
I have a photo of it. It's in my storage unit,
but I have a photo on my phone of it.
And then I realized his kids were about my age,
and that kind of freaked me out. I was very young, and.
Speaker 5 (10:35):
He's how old is he now?
Speaker 4 (10:36):
In his eighties? In his eighties now eight five?
Speaker 2 (10:40):
I'm looking at shirtless. He looks good.
Speaker 4 (10:44):
Yeah, right, he was. And he was so nice. He
was such a gentleman, not lecherous at all, really a
nice man and I think it was probably refreshing for him,
but I didn't know who he was and it was
new to the town. It was just a very sweet relationship.
It wasn't very long, but yes, I had a couple
(11:06):
of dates with Chuck Norris and can't say anything bad
about that guy. He was awesome.
Speaker 2 (11:13):
It's something that wasn't brought up enough though.
Speaker 3 (11:15):
I feel like Chuck Norris is one of those guys
that has defied what most people can do with their careers,
where people my age know all about him and still
watch the shows.
Speaker 5 (11:27):
You watched Texas Ranger or whatever it's called.
Speaker 2 (11:29):
Oh my gosh, Yes, I agree up when.
Speaker 5 (11:32):
Conan O'Brien used to do this sketch about it, and
my sister and I would like pe our pants laughing.
That's the extent that I know.
Speaker 2 (11:40):
He's just so well known.
Speaker 3 (11:41):
He's crossed generational thresholds, and I think that's such a
cool thing. Anyways, we could talk about Chuck Norris for
a long time.
Speaker 4 (11:48):
I can make one more Let me take one more
comment about it. So I've got three daughters, right, and
I'm the most unpool person in their minds as they're
growing up, just like your parents, were probably uncool to you,
and so I'm like, no, no, I was cool. I
danced for the Mavericks, I you know I had. I
dated Chuck Norris And they're all like, whatever, whatever, mom,
that's so not a big deal. And then one of Sarah,
(12:09):
one of my oldest daughter's friends, found out that I
dated Chuck Norris and now I'm a superstar. And those
boys were like, oh my gosh, did you know Missus
Colors dated Chuck Norris? So I was a big superstar.
So they're friends. But you're right, he crossed many generations
in his appeal.
Speaker 3 (12:28):
Now, Sidney, speaking of your family, your daughters are wonderful,
it seems from what we got to you know, what
we've gotten to know about them when you were on
the show. Were they only excited? Were they nervous? I mean,
have they You said that when they're growing up, you
were the least cool person they possibly could know. But
(12:51):
I'm sure as they've gotten older they've realized just how
great you are. Kind Of what was their sentiment as
you left and then stay.
Speaker 4 (12:59):
It was Caroline, my youngest, is the one who got
me into it, and they all were very supportive of it.
They you know they when I say they didn't think
I was cool. They've always had a healthy respect for me,
and our relationship is precious. I know everybody thinks they've
got a good relationship with their kids, but mine is
really special. I am God's favorite, abundantly blessed, and they
(13:23):
are my crowning jewels. Those three, as well as my
two son in laws, they were supportive. They thought that
mel was going to be a good match and my
middle daughter, Emily. Two days after we filmed, I was
wrapping and came home to Austin, did some laundry, then
headed out to her wedding in Italy, so her family
(13:44):
had a lot going on. I think the biggest concern
was what would happen if we had a glitch with
the wedding planning, you know, or anything that happens as
you lead up to a wedding and they couldn't reach me. Yeah,
I think that was their biggest question.
Speaker 2 (14:11):
You were a massive Cindy fan.
Speaker 3 (14:13):
I was a Cyndey fan, but you were like wearing
the T shirts actually during the season.
Speaker 5 (14:18):
Yeah.
Speaker 3 (14:18):
How did I never notice that her eyes are like
radiant and like stearing through.
Speaker 5 (14:24):
Her I don't know, because I always noticed that, and
I heard that they were even more stunning in real
life from Kathy.
Speaker 2 (14:30):
Oh, Kathy, your eyes are wild.
Speaker 4 (14:35):
Like my kids call them marbles. Yeah, I can see
that marbles. I'm like, that's interesting. I had to thank you,
mom and dad and Grandpa Floyd and sorry, actually continue.
Speaker 5 (14:46):
Your daughters look so much like you too. There's like
a gorgeous group of women.
Speaker 4 (14:51):
You ought to see us together because we act alike.
Speaker 5 (14:53):
Yeah.
Speaker 4 (14:54):
Though down in downtown Austin where I live, you'll see
people the same age group, like people like me tonight
going out with some girlfriends, or you'll see the younger
ones like my kids, but you don't really see a
lot of the you know, parents with their kids. Even
though it's a college town. You just don't see it often.
And we'll roll up into a place and it'll be
me and my you know, copy paste, copy paste, coffee paste,
(15:17):
all three of us, and then we act alike, and
we talk alike, and we have the same mannerisms and
the same engagement, and people just are fascinated. They call
us the Kardashians sometimes.
Speaker 5 (15:27):
It's so cute, the Kardashians of Austashians. And another reason
why you need to be on our TVs again. All Right, So, Cindy,
you fell hard fast for Mel, and you were so
open about it throughout the entire thing. I've got to
know now, in hindsight, was it the bachelor bubble or
(15:48):
did you really feel that much for him?
Speaker 4 (15:51):
Okay, some of it's edited. So the first date, the
first date, the first group date. Remember we're cheering, and
it literally is the day was made. God made that
day for me, no question about it. The overlap with
it's a cheer thing. It's at USC Models, I mean
SMU Models after USC, so I felt like I was
(16:14):
back on my college campus. It's at this amazing stadium
and I have such a reverence for sports. It was
Paula Abdul who did choreography for me when I was
a Maverick dancer. We're back dancing. I have Caroline on
the phone doing a doing a concert that Jerry and
I just prayed for her, just to sync ronicities. She's
(16:35):
with Diana Ross, who Mel lived across the alley from. Literally,
I thought, for no other reason, I am assured that
today God has said you are supposed to be here. Okay,
So I have that assurance from them. Whether it was
because of mail or whether it was because of another reason.
I was assured that that was He went before me
(16:56):
thirty years maybe more to set up a day like that. Amazing.
So I was feeling all of that. That was a
little overwhelming. And then Mel was I mean nothing short
of fantastic. I mean, our little smooches walking down the stadium.
It was awesome. But in the editing when I said
I'm falling in love with Mel, what was cut, understandably
so because Cindy tends to talk a lot. What was
(17:19):
cut is when I said, there's a lot of different
types of love. This is like puppy love. When you're
around a puppy. They're so cute, they're wagging their tail
and you just want to be around them all the time.
And that's what I was feeling for Mel. That wasn't
the mature love. It wasn't you know, there's a lot
that goes into it. But early on I thought, man,
there's something, there's something to this, something to this. I
(17:41):
still feel that way. Yeah, it was a great, a
great possibility all along.
Speaker 5 (17:47):
Well, we have even more to talk about, so we're
going to break this into a second episode. You can
stay tuned see that on your feed pop up until then,
We'll see you next time.
Speaker 1 (18:00):
The Ben and Ashley I Almost Famous podcasts on iHeartRadio
or subscribe wherever you listen to podcasts.
This is the Ben and Ashley I Almost Famous podcast
with iHeartRadio everybody.
Speaker 2 (00:06):
It's Almost Famous podcasts.
Speaker 3 (00:07):
Today, Ashley and myself are thrilled because we have someone
coming on the podcast that we have been rooting for
through the latest season of The Golden Bachelor, and in fact,
Ashley thought this person was gonna win. She's intelligent, sophisticated,
a great answer, and let's not forget absolutely stunning. I'm
(00:31):
talking about Cindy. Cindy, welcome to the Almost Famous Podcast.
Speaker 4 (00:36):
Oh my gosh, that was just incredible. What a warm welcome.
Thank you so much, Thank you so much. I have
no words for you.
Speaker 5 (00:44):
You deserve it all. You are the classiest lady. You
are the Golden Bachelorette that I pray for. You are
seriously so you'd be so perfect in that role. And
I'm just in my opinion and our audience knows. I
don't know that mel has set us up for another
(01:06):
Golden installment, but if they have, if there is to
be one, you would be fantastic lead because you have
all the characteristics of what makes somebody golden.
Speaker 3 (01:17):
That's a good question there, though, I mean, Cindy, to
kick us off, do you think there'll be another season,
I hope.
Speaker 4 (01:22):
So I know that when I watched the previous two
seasons of The Golden Bachelor and the Golden Bachelorette, and
even watching our season of the Golden Bachler. Of course,
I'm invested in it because I'm in it, but there's
some issues that I think are worthy to explore, and
I think people are fascinated by the dynamics. Okay, let
me just give you my hot take, all right, So
(01:43):
as I'm out and about, you know, it's been kind
of fun to be recognized by different people and the
Bachelor Nation it's a real thing. Like the Bachelor Nation
is awesome. But there's another group of people who are
not part of Bacher Nation. They haven't ever watched it,
who have watched our show, and I know it because
they come up to me, and I can't figure out
the demographic of it. You know, I'm an analytical person
(02:06):
and I'm trying to you know, Okay, well those people
like me? Are they women in their fifties, sixties, seventies,
Is that who it is? Yes, I do have those.
I was at a football game and this mom came
over to me and said, I recognize you. Actually I
didn't recognize you. My son recognized you. He's an eleven
year old who was watching, and we're going to get
a family picture with you if that's okay, but he
(02:28):
wants his own picture with you. I was at a
concert and these two twin men come over. They're in
their fifties, completely awesome cowboys. They come over and they're like,
we've been watching you on this season. So I think
there's a fascination to what's going on in the Golden
Years when it comes to your relationship that I think
(02:49):
people are very curious to see. I was curious to
see it, and I hope they continue. I think it's
an interesting dialogue. I kids learned a lot about me,
you know, I learned a lot about me. I think
the audience learned a lot about all of us by
watching the show.
Speaker 5 (03:03):
I think Ben and I both learned a lot about ourselves.
I matured so much. I know it's shocking for people
to hear that I'm matured through that, but I definitely did.
Speaker 4 (03:12):
Definitely only because you don't need to mature any longer.
Thanks so, Cindy.
Speaker 5 (03:19):
When Mel was first announced, soon after, he made some
not so bright comments on a podcast about not wanting
to date anyone in their sixties. I guess, not being
aware that the cast is always going to be in
their sixties. Did you have any second guesses about being
on his season?
Speaker 4 (03:39):
I did. I Okay, A couple of things happened. He
was announced. My daughter texts me, and we didn't know
it at that time, but we were all super excited
because on paper we look to be a very good match,
and you know, that proves out, I think during the season.
Later on, when that broadcast or that podcast was revealed.
(04:00):
Directly to the podcast, I read the transcripts, but then
I wanted to hear Mel's voice in it, and I
was very concerned about how very effortvescently he was interested
in dating that younger group. I've got lots of friends
who date younger. I don't have a problem with that,
but please don't go on The Golden Bachelor where I'm
sixty and I'm probably going to be one of the
(04:21):
youngest ones on the show. What are we doing here?
So I had a conversation with the producer that I
had been talking to and just express my concerns, and
she told me that they've talked to Mel. They had
a conversation. It was just kind of a misunderstanding, and
I decided to go ahead and continue on. But yeah,
I was definitely concerned about his comments.
Speaker 3 (04:44):
Who wouldn't be, I mean, I guess let's drill into
that a little bit.
Speaker 2 (04:48):
Though.
Speaker 3 (04:49):
I would be very concerned, especially if I was you.
I'd feel almost like offended and then her and confused,
and in an environment that already burrs insecurity, those comments
would have made me very hesitant to step out of
the limo into the mansion. And so I guess what
(05:11):
made you say yes, this is still a good idea.
Speaker 4 (05:14):
I'm going to turn that question around on you and
when you talk about when it spurs insecurity, right, A
lot of people think that a woman should feel insecure
maybe if a man wants to date a younger category.
And I actually think that golden women in particular, and
you know Ashley too, because he's wise beyond your years
(05:35):
and Ben you too, we see that men who date
so much younger might also be a red flag. And
I think the question really is more, is that we
watching his insecurity?
Speaker 3 (05:54):
Okay, so I think that's fair, But then the question
still comes about either direction.
Speaker 2 (06:01):
You still said yes, I.
Speaker 4 (06:02):
Still said, yes, I think that you probably hadn't met
a group of women like I was about to participate in.
I don't know the other women, but I know me.
And by the way, I still fit this category because
I'm sixty.
Speaker 5 (06:16):
Sixty and younger.
Speaker 4 (06:18):
Sixty and youthful, and I will. Let's just talk about
this though, because I think this is one of the
issues that's very valuable in the amongst my friends and
people my age group, is people dating outside of their
age group. I heard something very interesting from someone and
I don't have any evidence of it, but when they
(06:40):
said it, I thought, wow, that seems true. They said
that men tend to date people when they're out of
a relationship, when they, for example, go through a divorce
or lose their spouse, they tend to date someone who
is in the age group for when they were last happy. Wow,
that's super interesting about that. And women tend to date
(07:02):
into a lifestyle that they want.
Speaker 3 (07:06):
I mean, you've known this since you know knowledge for
a bit. Do you think that's true. I mean, it's
a very interesting thing to think about.
Speaker 4 (07:13):
I think it's kind of true. I think it's kind
of true, and it just anecdotally, just think about the
friends that you might have who are dating in a
different age category. I tend to date people who I
like to say went to high school with me, you know,
plus remnus four years. Mel was outside of my dating
age paces as well.
Speaker 5 (07:33):
Yeah, traditionally I never liked veering above or below four years.
Speaker 4 (07:38):
Yeah. Yeah, we're both high schoolers.
Speaker 1 (07:40):
Yeah.
Speaker 4 (07:40):
Yeah, So for me, I knew I was dating outside
my range to date Mel, and I knew I would
be outside of his range. I was on the older
group ironically, and he was in my older group as well.
But he had enough on paper that I had seen.
I had also watched a YouTube my oldest daughter should
be spy. This woman can find out anything about anyone.
(08:03):
And she sent me some data and I said, okay,
what else you got? She goes, no, Mom, I'm not
going to show you everything because I want you to
discover him for who he is. But she sat with
me on the couch right here. We watched that TV
and we watched a YouTube of a guy who I'm
going to try to say this kindly, he was. He
(08:24):
was talking about a sporting event and he was clearly
outclassed by interviewing. Mel Meil knew a lot more than
this guy knew. Mail never made him feel insecure, never
made him feel like that was a stupid question. So
I was balancing also the dynamic that I saw of
that mail and all the other things on paper with
(08:46):
the podcast, and that was kind of countered by what
my producer said that they had spoken to him about.
Speaker 5 (08:53):
So before we get into deeper into your relationship with mel,
we're very eager to know all your thoughts, especially looking
back on it. But first, since you're divorce, you dated
Chuck Norris when he was when he was really a
get yeah act, can take down the world with one hand.
Speaker 4 (09:19):
Yeah, I mean, he's he's one of the classiest, best
gentlemen I've had the privilege to spend time with. But
he that's this is how you guys don't even know.
We were riding on tablets with like you know, etching tools
back then, and there was no Internet. I was living
in LA and I had moved from Orange County up
(09:39):
to this hotel off the Mulholland and the four or
five and waiting for my I just moved there and
waiting to get an apartment, and somebody at the front
desk said, hey, there's another guest at the hotel who
saw you and thought you were cute and wanted to
know if you would like to join them for drinks.
And I said, well, who is it, do I? And
(10:00):
they're like, well, he's kind of famous and told me
it was Chuck Norris. I didn't know who Chuck Norris was,
and there's no internet back then for me to look
it up. All I know is he's a very nice gentleman.
And we met and people would come over and interrupt
us and ask for his autograph. And I remember saying
to him one day like, hey, where's my autograph? And
(10:20):
the next time we saw each other, he brought me
an eight by ten that he'd signed. I still have
I have a photo of it. It's in my storage unit,
but I have a photo on my phone of it.
And then I realized his kids were about my age,
and that kind of freaked me out. I was very young, and.
Speaker 5 (10:35):
He's how old is he now?
Speaker 4 (10:36):
In his eighties? In his eighties now eight five?
Speaker 2 (10:40):
I'm looking at shirtless. He looks good.
Speaker 4 (10:44):
Yeah, right, he was. And he was so nice. He
was such a gentleman, not lecherous at all, really a
nice man and I think it was probably refreshing for him,
but I didn't know who he was and it was
new to the town. It was just a very sweet relationship.
It wasn't very long, but yes, I had a couple
(11:06):
of dates with Chuck Norris and can't say anything bad
about that guy. He was awesome.
Speaker 2 (11:13):
It's something that wasn't brought up enough though.
Speaker 3 (11:15):
I feel like Chuck Norris is one of those guys
that has defied what most people can do with their careers,
where people my age know all about him and still
watch the shows.
Speaker 5 (11:27):
You watched Texas Ranger or whatever it's called.
Speaker 2 (11:29):
Oh my gosh, Yes, I agree up when.
Speaker 5 (11:32):
Conan O'Brien used to do this sketch about it, and
my sister and I would like pe our pants laughing.
That's the extent that I know.
Speaker 2 (11:40):
He's just so well known.
Speaker 3 (11:41):
He's crossed generational thresholds, and I think that's such a
cool thing. Anyways, we could talk about Chuck Norris for
a long time.
Speaker 4 (11:48):
I can make one more Let me take one more
comment about it. So I've got three daughters, right, and
I'm the most unpool person in their minds as they're
growing up, just like your parents, were probably uncool to you,
and so I'm like, no, no, I was cool. I
danced for the Mavericks, I you know I had. I
dated Chuck Norris And they're all like, whatever, whatever, mom,
that's so not a big deal. And then one of Sarah,
(12:09):
one of my oldest daughter's friends, found out that I
dated Chuck Norris and now I'm a superstar. And those
boys were like, oh my gosh, did you know Missus
Colors dated Chuck Norris? So I was a big superstar.
So they're friends. But you're right, he crossed many generations
in his appeal.
Speaker 3 (12:28):
Now, Sidney, speaking of your family, your daughters are wonderful,
it seems from what we got to you know, what
we've gotten to know about them when you were on
the show. Were they only excited? Were they nervous? I mean,
have they You said that when they're growing up, you
were the least cool person they possibly could know. But
(12:51):
I'm sure as they've gotten older they've realized just how
great you are. Kind Of what was their sentiment as
you left and then stay.
Speaker 4 (12:59):
It was Caroline, my youngest, is the one who got
me into it, and they all were very supportive of it.
They you know they when I say they didn't think
I was cool. They've always had a healthy respect for me,
and our relationship is precious. I know everybody thinks they've
got a good relationship with their kids, but mine is
really special. I am God's favorite, abundantly blessed, and they
(13:23):
are my crowning jewels. Those three, as well as my
two son in laws, they were supportive. They thought that
mel was going to be a good match and my
middle daughter, Emily. Two days after we filmed, I was
wrapping and came home to Austin, did some laundry, then
headed out to her wedding in Italy, so her family
(13:44):
had a lot going on. I think the biggest concern
was what would happen if we had a glitch with
the wedding planning, you know, or anything that happens as
you lead up to a wedding and they couldn't reach me. Yeah,
I think that was their biggest question.
Speaker 2 (14:11):
You were a massive Cindy fan.
Speaker 3 (14:13):
I was a Cyndey fan, but you were like wearing
the T shirts actually during the season.
Speaker 5 (14:18):
Yeah.
Speaker 3 (14:18):
How did I never notice that her eyes are like
radiant and like stearing through.
Speaker 5 (14:24):
Her I don't know, because I always noticed that, and
I heard that they were even more stunning in real
life from Kathy.
Speaker 2 (14:30):
Oh, Kathy, your eyes are wild.
Speaker 4 (14:35):
Like my kids call them marbles. Yeah, I can see
that marbles. I'm like, that's interesting. I had to thank you,
mom and dad and Grandpa Floyd and sorry, actually continue.
Speaker 5 (14:46):
Your daughters look so much like you too. There's like
a gorgeous group of women.
Speaker 4 (14:51):
You ought to see us together because we act alike.
Speaker 5 (14:53):
Yeah.
Speaker 4 (14:54):
Though down in downtown Austin where I live, you'll see
people the same age group, like people like me tonight
going out with some girlfriends, or you'll see the younger
ones like my kids, but you don't really see a
lot of the you know, parents with their kids. Even
though it's a college town. You just don't see it often.
And we'll roll up into a place and it'll be
me and my you know, copy paste, copy paste, coffee paste,
(15:17):
all three of us, and then we act alike, and
we talk alike, and we have the same mannerisms and
the same engagement, and people just are fascinated. They call
us the Kardashians sometimes.
Speaker 5 (15:27):
It's so cute, the Kardashians of Austashians. And another reason
why you need to be on our TVs again. All Right, So, Cindy,
you fell hard fast for Mel, and you were so
open about it throughout the entire thing. I've got to
know now, in hindsight, was it the bachelor bubble or
(15:48):
did you really feel that much for him?
Speaker 4 (15:51):
Okay, some of it's edited. So the first date, the
first date, the first group date. Remember we're cheering, and
it literally is the day was made. God made that
day for me, no question about it. The overlap with
it's a cheer thing. It's at USC Models, I mean
SMU Models after USC, so I felt like I was
(16:14):
back on my college campus. It's at this amazing stadium
and I have such a reverence for sports. It was
Paula Abdul who did choreography for me when I was
a Maverick dancer. We're back dancing. I have Caroline on
the phone doing a doing a concert that Jerry and
I just prayed for her, just to sync ronicities. She's
(16:35):
with Diana Ross, who Mel lived across the alley from. Literally,
I thought, for no other reason, I am assured that
today God has said you are supposed to be here. Okay,
So I have that assurance from them. Whether it was
because of mail or whether it was because of another reason.
I was assured that that was He went before me
(16:56):
thirty years maybe more to set up a day like that. Amazing.
So I was feeling all of that. That was a
little overwhelming. And then Mel was I mean nothing short
of fantastic. I mean, our little smooches walking down the stadium.
It was awesome. But in the editing when I said
I'm falling in love with Mel, what was cut, understandably
so because Cindy tends to talk a lot. What was
(17:19):
cut is when I said, there's a lot of different
types of love. This is like puppy love. When you're
around a puppy. They're so cute, they're wagging their tail
and you just want to be around them all the time.
And that's what I was feeling for Mel. That wasn't
the mature love. It wasn't you know, there's a lot
that goes into it. But early on I thought, man,
there's something, there's something to this, something to this. I
(17:41):
still feel that way. Yeah, it was a great, a
great possibility all along.
Speaker 5 (17:47):
Well, we have even more to talk about, so we're
going to break this into a second episode. You can
stay tuned see that on your feed pop up until then,
We'll see you next time.
Speaker 1 (18:00):
The Ben and Ashley I Almost Famous podcasts on iHeartRadio
or subscribe wherever you listen to podcasts.
Hosts And Creators
Ben Higgins
Ashley Iaconetti
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