Pat Sajak sailed off into retirement in 2024 after 43 years hosting Wheel of Fortune, turning the keys over to American Idol‘s Ryan Seacrest.
Longtime co-host Vanna White, though, opted to stay on with the show. It wasn’t an easy decision for White, though, as she opened up on the choice in an appearance on Holding Kourt.
“Am I going to stay? Do I go out with [Sajak] after 41 years together? It was going to be hard to work with somebody else, you know, after being so familiar with [Sajak],” she recalled. “It was just very hard for me to make that decision because I’m happy with my job. I still love my job. I decided to obviously stay on and I’m glad I did. There’s always contracts, there’s always controversy and all that stuff, but everything’s fine. I’m happy. We’re here.”
WATCH WHAT HAPPENS LIVE WITH ANDY COHEN — Episode 21141 — Pictured: Vanna White
The two will be temporarily reunited on when the 78-year-old Sajak hosts the upcoming season of “Celebrity Wheel of Fortune,” premiering Wednesday, April 30. Ahead of the upcoming show, White revealed she recently had dinner with Sajak who is “healthy” after giving up his longtime job.
“I talk to Pat all the time. He’s doing great. He’s healthy, he’s happy,” White said of her longtime on-air partner. “I just had dinner with him about a month ago, so I just want to let everyone out here know he’s doing good.”
White revealed the show has been just fine with its new host.
“We’re about to wrap up our first year, and I think it’s obviously a huge transition,” she acknowledged. “Everyone has watched Pat and me together for 41 years. To bring someone new in, it’s hard to get used to. You want to stay with what’s familiar but [Ryan] has stepped in and done a great job.”
