Ryan Seacrest Addresses Vanna White's 'Wheel of Fortune' Contract Win

Ryan Seacrest excitedly congratulated his soon-to-be co-host, Vanna White, as the 66-year-old successfully closed a new deal to extend her Wheel of Fortune contract with an alleged pay raise.

In a preview of an upcoming interview as part of Sunday Today With Willie Geist, Seacrest shared his reaction to Vanna's extension. He told Today host Willie Geist, "This is such great news."

"Vanna has been such a staple on that show and in our living rooms for so many years," Seacrest continued, putting an emphasis on Vanna's legacy with the show. "I’ve been very excited to work with her but now that it’s official I can say, 'Congratulations, Vanna.' I can’t wait.”

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Seacrest also shared his belief that Vanna is an essential part of the game show: "It’s super important to have Vanna White on Wheel of Fortune. She’s beloved by this country and the viewers and I can’t even imagine standing next to her on that set being able to say, ‘OK, let’s get to it.’"

"I’m very happy to hear it and very happy I get to work with her," he added, before mentioning that she will also be a comfort to him as he gets used to hosting the series.

The 48-year-old will officially step into his new role as host of Wheel of Fortune in season 42 after audiences bid goodbye to longtime host Pat Sajak when his final season ends. Sajak announced in June that he would be stepping down as host, with the network announcing Seacrest as the new host soon after.

While some people criticized the choice, Sajak voiced his support for Seacrest, telling fans at the time, “I’m looking forward to my final season starting this fall, and then handing over the car keys to Ryan Seacrest in September of 2024.”

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