Gretchen Rossi’s second stint on “RHOC” ends quietly as Bravo readies season 20, with major returns and cast shakeups ahead.
Gretchen Rossi is stepping away from The Real Housewives of Orange County once more — and this time, it appears to be for good.
As Bravo gears up for the milestone 20th season of the long-running franchise, Rossi will not be part of the upcoming cast, PEOPLE confirm.
Rossi, 47, originally joined RHOC in 2008 and spent five seasons as a full-time Housewife before exiting the show in 2013. After more than a decade away, she returned briefly in season 19 as a “friend of the cast,” marking her first appearance on the series in 12 years.
That return, however, will not carry over into season 20.
According to Variety, Rossi and Katie Ginella are the only season 19 cast members not returning.
The rest of the ensemble — Heather Dubrow, Tamra Judge, Shannon Storms Beador, Emily Simpson, Jennifer Pedranti, and Gina Kirschenheiter — are all expected back as filming begins soon.
While Rossi exits, a familiar face is making a comeback. Vicki Gunvalson, an original cast member who appeared on RHOC from its 2006 debut until 2020, is set to return for season 20 after several years away from the spotlight.
Rossi’s time on RHOC has always been deeply personal. She joined the show while engaged to Jeff Beitzel, who was battling cancer and passed away before her first season finished airing.
Later, her relationship with Slade Smiley — including their engagement — became a major storyline.
The couple, who have been together nearly 17 years, share a daughter, Skylar Gray, born in 2019.
Her season 19 return reignited old drama, particularly surrounding the infamous season 4 “Naked Wasted” episode. Allegations resurfaced involving Tamra Judge, though both women denied them and ultimately passed lie detector tests, while Ginella was said to be deceptive — a claim she disputed.
Ginella announced her own exit in January, sharing on Instagram that the network chose to move forward without her for season 20.
With Rossi gone and Gunvalson back, season 20 promises a blend of nostalgia and fresh dynamics — a reminder that in Orange County, nothing ever stays quiet for long.
