A "lucky" Ryan Seacrest arranged one of the most iconic moments in hosting history when he invited Wheel of Fortune host Vanna White to cohost an episode of American Idol with him. The 67-year-old television personality made a guest appearance on the April 8, 2024 episode withe the 49-year-old presenter, who called her a "national treasure."
In an Instagram post, Ryan shared a photo of him and Vanna on set. "The TV crossover you didn’t know you needed," he wrote. "Look out for the legendary @officialvannawhite on #americanidol tonight and catch a glimpse of wheely exciting things to come!"
"You and Vanna. A natural fit. Love it," one fan wrote in the comments.
"So excited to hear about this!! Absolutely love Vanna White! A household name and national treasure!" another person commented. "Can’t wait to watch tonight’s episode now even more! The two of you are going to be great together on Wheel of Fortune as well! ."
Vanna, who has cohosted Wheel of Fortune for 42 years, will soon be joined by Ryan as the show's new host. Pat Sajak, who has hosted the show for over four decades since 1981, announced his upcoming retirement in 2023.
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"Well, the time has come. I've decided that our 41st season, which begins in September, will be my last," he said then in a Tweet. "It's been a wonderful ride, and I'll have more to say in the coming months. Many thanks to you all." He will continue to serve as a consultant on the show for three years after stepping down as host.
Just weeks after Pat's announcement, Ryan was revealed as the show's new host. In a 2023 interview with Entertainment Tonight, he spoke about feeling the pressure of replacing the 77-year-old game show host. "There's no one better than Pat Sajak," he said. "He is so smooth and seamless. He's beloved by the country. So I feel a lot of pressure. [But] I'm really excited. I can't wait to just give away a bunch of money to people every night."
"I've looked up to him forever. He's so good at that job, which, you know, is a little bit of pressure here," Ryan continued. "But he just said, 'You're going to have a great time. It's so much fun. What's better than giving away money and doing that every single night?’ I can't wait to meet the contestants and do it."
He went on to open up about his excitement to work with Vanna, whose new contract runs through the 2024-2025 season. “This is such great news,” Ryan stated. “Vanna has been such a staple on that show and in our living rooms for so many years. I have been very excited to work with her, but now that it’s official I can say, ‘Congratulations Vanna! I can’t wait.’”
Ryan announced on Good Morning America that Vanna would be joining him on American Idol for an episode. "A legend, a household name, a superstar named Vanna White is making a cameo on American Idol," he said. "She's watched for years, and she's going to cohost a little bit with me on the next Idol."
"What an incredible experience getting to appear on a show I’ve been watching since the beginning!" Vanna wrote in an Instagram post. "I’m such a big fan. Thank you @americanidol & @ryanseacrest #IDOL."
