You know how some people move to escape the noise, the spotlight, the endless treadmill of public life—but end up finding something even bigger?
That’s exactly what happened with Chris Harrison, who’s swapped rose ceremonies and red carpets for live music, tech meetups, and a fresh start in Austin, Texas. And according to him? Austin isn’t just weird anymore—it’s the new Hollywood.
Yep, the longtime host of “The Bachelor” didn’t just exit stage left. He left the entire soundstage behind. After stepping down in 2021 amid controversy surrounding his defense of contestant Rachael Kirkconnell, Harrison could’ve gone dark. Instead, he went Texan.
Fast forward a few years and Harrison’s not only built a new life, he’s loving it—and saying it out loud. “Austin is the new Hollywood,” he told “People Magazine”, and he meant every word.
From the booming tech scene to the food trucks, live shows, and an entertainment industry that’s bubbling just below the surface, Harrison sees opportunity everywhere. And he’s not wrong.
Austin has been luring creatives and entrepreneurs for years now, but when someone from the beating heart of reality TV says this is the next big thing, it turns heads.
But here’s where it gets even more personal. Harrison’s not just rebranding cities—he’s recharging himself.
After nearly two decades at the center of a cultural juggernaut, he describes leaving the franchise like stepping off a merry-go-round he didn’t realize he was dizzy from. There was pressure. There was scrutiny. And now? There’s space to breathe.
And love. Can’t forget that. He and longtime girlfriend—and now wife—Lauren Zima tied the knot in 2023. They’ve set down roots in Austin, surrounded by a creative, collaborative community that’s not bogged down by Hollywood politics. That’s not nothing.
Harrison’s journey from primetime host to Texas transplant shows that sometimes a plot twist off-camera is the one that matters most. And as for Austin? Looks like it’s not just keeping it weird—it’s keeping it woke-free, ambitious, and absolutely alive with possibility.
