Gretchen Rossi is gearing up for her return to The Real Housewives of Orange County. A source close to the production confirmed on Wednesday, January 29, that Rossi, 46, will be joining season 19 as a “friend” of the cast.
She is set to appear alongside returning Housewives Emily Simpson, Katie Ginella, Jennifer Pedranti, Tamra Judge, Shannon Beador, Heather Dubrow, and Gina Kirschenheiter when filming begins this week.
Former “friend” of the show Alexis Bellino—another past RHOC star who, like Rossi, returned after a long absence—previously announced she would not be coming back for season 19.
Related: Former Real Housewives of Orange County Stars: Where Are They Now?
“I was not asked back next season,” Bellino shared during a December 2024 episode of iHeartRadio’s Going Rogue podcast. “I can’t say it came as a shock—it did not come as a shock.
It was a hard conversation… I guess I wasn’t really prepared [because] I didn’t think contracts were coming out—I thought we had more time… [So] it was a shock when the call came, but I was never shocked about that information.”
Rossi first joined RHOC in season 4, when she was engaged to Jeff Beitzel. By the time the season premiered in November 2008, Beitzel had passed away following a battle with cancer.
She later found love with original RHOC cast member Slade Smiley. During season 8, which aired in 2013, she famously proposed to him with the help of a helicopter. Soon after, she exited the show.
Although they never officially tied the knot, Rossi and Smiley recently celebrated their 16th anniversary together and share a 5-year-old daughter, Skylar Gray.
Gretchen Rossi and Her Husband (Photo: Instagram)Before making her RHOC return, Rossi had already formed friendships with some of the current cast. Earlier this month, Ginella, 40, gave insight into her bond with Rossi.
“When you join the cast, you hear about ex-cast members, but I really just wanted to give what I get,” Ginella exclusively told at a Let’s Help LA fundraiser benefiting Emergency Network LA.
“I met Gretchen, and she’s a lovely woman. We’ve become really good friends. Jenn and I hang out with her all the time. I love Gretchen.”
However, one cast member who isn’t exactly on friendly terms with Rossi is Judge, 57. The two had a long-running feud spanning multiple seasons, with Judge once accusing Rossi of being a “golddigger” during her relationship with Beitzel.
Judge also made headlines for trying to get Rossi “naked wasted” at a party. As of October 2024, Rossi confirmed that she and Judge were still not on good terms.
“I think it’s sad that she’s been getting away with harming so many people for years now,” Rossi wrote via her Instagram Story. “In my experience, she makes up horrible lies about people with no remorse for how it affects their actual lives.”
The premiere date for The Real Housewives of Orange County season 19 has yet to be announced. In the meantime, fans can catch up on past seasons via Peacock.