'Love Connection' Contestant Has Surprising, Decades-Long History With the Show
It's a second-generation Love Connection!
On Thursday night's episode of Love Connection, hosted by Andy Cohen, a young woman looking for love has a special surprise: Kenedi Smith's parents met on the original Love Connection, hosted by Chuck Woolery, back in 1992. Their meeting resulted in a "fairytale romance" and a marriage of 23 years!
Now the question is, can Kenedi find a relationship like the one her parents forged, and in the same way they did? Her mom and dad will even be in the audience.
The 22-year-old lives in California and says she was "little" when she first saw her parents' episode. "I always said, 'I want that!' I want to find love," she says. "It's hysterical, because now I actually get the chance!"
EXCLUSIVE: Ramona Singer Takes on Love Connection: Why Andy Cohen was 'Blown Away'
And there's one more way that Kenedi is following in her parents' footsteps: when her mom, Ellen, went on the show, she was a single parent. Kenedi is too; she works as preschool teacher and event planner while raising her 14-month-old son.
"I'm excited for the opportunity for her," Ellen says. "Look at what we found!"
"It is corny," says Kenedi's dad, Mike, "but we kind of owe our lives to Love Connection. We wouldn't be here if it wasn't for that show. ... It is really surreal."
ET was exclusively first on set of Love Connection with Cohen as host, and he has a history with the show too. "This is one of my favorite shows from the '80s," Cohen told us at the time. "I love setting people up!"
Plus, ET's Brice Sander was on set in March as Real Housewives of New York star Ramona Singer looked to find love. What their interview in the video below! Love Connection airs Thursday nights at 9/8c on Fox.