Vanna White breaks down in tears during behind-the-scenes as Wheel of Fortune surprised her with a celebration
Wheel of Fortune’s Vanna White breaks down in tears during behind-the-scenes look at star’s huge milestone celebration
VANNA White has spun into tears as Wheel of Fortune surprised her with a celebration on Friday.
Pat Sajak presented his co-host with a cake for her 40th anniversary on the game show.
Wheel of Fortune’s Vanna White was beyond words and broke down in tears during a behind-the-scenes videoCredit: ABC
She turned her first letter alongside Pat Sajak 40 years ago on FridayCredit: ABC
December 16th was 40 years on the day that Vanna, 65, began turning letters, turning heads with her looks, and touching fans’ hearts on Wheel of Fortune.
In the new behind-the-scenes video, the staff rushed to the stage and the puzzle board displayed: “Happy 40th Anniversary!”
The beloved hostess stared at the camera and shook her head on the stage as her eyes welled.
The staff applauded and all Vanna could do was shrug and make her way to the custom cake.
‘HAPPY 40TH MY DEAR’
Pat, 75, came to her side and told the crowd: “Folks, it was 40 years ago on this very date that this young lady walked into the studio, trembling and did her first Wheel of Fortune.”
“And here she is. Happy 40th my dear,” he sweetly added as they hugged and he gave her a peck on the cheek.
“Thank you!” Vanna told the roaring staff as she blew a kiss looking gorgeous in a pink dress with shiny hoop earrings.
She then addressed the group while standing by her cake which featured a wheel, different iterations of Vanna looking stunning over the years, and a giant “40.”
“I can’t believe it’s been 40 years, I’m overwhelmed. I just- thank you!” she concluded getting choked up once more.
Pat joked that Vanna was going to do a musical number to which she laughed and replied “No I’m not.”
The game show captioned the video to Twitter: “Only the best for our favorite fashion icon, letter-turner, and person with a soul as beautiful as she is!”
‘THANK YOU VANNA!’
Fans flooded the sweet celebration as one commented under the post: “Protect Vanna at all costs. This woman is a legend.”
Another gushed: “You look just as beautiful as the day you started Wheel! Happy 40th anniversary!”
“Thank you Vanna!” wrote a third.
The South Carolina native started when she was 25 and Pat 35 – the year was 1982 and the show was about to kick off what would become its modern iteration.
She auditioned with 200 other women and Pat initially didn’t recommend Vanna and revealed he told Merv Griffin he wasn’t her choice (at first, of course.)
“Not that she wasn’t lovely and wonderful and personable and all that, but she was the most nervous, by far, of any of them,” Pat told CBS Sunday Morning.
The late mogul who also created Jeopardy! (and its theme music) had the final say.
Vanna was beside herself as she blew a kiss to the crowd and could barely speakCredit: ABC
Her 40th-anniversary cake had different iterations of Vanna in some of her most stunning looksCredit: ABC
She was plucked from a pool of 200 hopefuls to host with Pat in 1982Credit: Instagram/ officialvannawhite
