Learning more about this Bachelor Nation star!

Fans got to know and love Gary Levingston on Season 1 of “The Golden Bachelorette,” where he formed a sweet friendship with Joan Vassos. 

During his time on the show, he revealed that his godmother was legendary singer-songwriter and actress Tina Turner. 

Now, the Bachelor Nation fan favorite is stopping by the “Bachelor Happy Hour” podcast to share more about his time on “The Golden Bachelorette” and his “powerful” connection with the iconic performer.

Diving right in, podcast hosts Joe Amabile and Serena Pitt asked Gary how he’s related to Tina Turner and to share more about that connection. 

Gary replied, “My godmother. Her son and I, Craig Turner, and the other boys — Ike, Ronnie, and Michael — we all grew up together from, like, fifth grade.” 

He continued, “Craig was the best man at my wedding and we were roommates after I came home from college. And then when my mom passed back some time ago, and we traveled over to Europe to see [Tina] once she moved. She said she would take on the reins as my godmother and not to worry and I could always call. So that’s how that played out.”

Gary then shared how touching that relationship was to him and how he holds it close to him still to this day. 

He expressed, “It’s pretty special, pretty special. And I hold on to every word that she’s ever shared with me. The books that she would give me to read, um, some pretty powerful moments.”

So incredible! 

Joe then asked Gary about what his experience was like on Night 1 at the mansion and meeting Joan for the first time. 

Gary explained, “Night 1, it was pretty amazing. We’re in the limo and I’m with three or four of the guys, and as we pull up the driveway to the mansion, the nerves start setting in and then we see Joan and it’s like, ‘Oh, my God there she is!’

“So you get out of the car… and I’m thinking, ‘I gotta remember what I’m supposed to say. What am I doing?’ And I danced my way up, so I got rid of some nervous energy there. That was kind of fun. And then she had to turn me where I was supposed to go because I was in awe, I was lost in the moment. And it was pretty cool.”

Gary then shared with Joe and Serena who he was closest with from this season and what living with all the other men in the mansion was like. 

He said, “My closest friends were Guy and Christopher. I connected very well with Chock, and yeah, quite a few of the guys. It was like a brotherhood, it was like a little fraternity. Like a fraternity house, it was pretty special in that way.” 

Listen to the full interview in the “Bachelor Happy Hour” episode below!