Wheel of Fortune’s Vanna White sets record straight on retirement plans in candid GMA interview

WHEEL OF FORTUNE’s Vanna White has set the record straight when it comes to her retirement plans in a new interview on GMA.

Vanna took part in an interview on the morning show, where she spilled some of her thoughts on retirement and what she plans to do in the future.

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Wheel of Fortune’s Vanna White took part in an interview with GMACredit: ABC

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She opened up about her time on the show and her retirement plans, if any, for the futureCredit: Getty Images
“It’s hard to believe it’s been 41 years,” Vanna, 66, said during the interview.

“I think of Pat [Sajak] as family and always will,” she added.

“We called ourselves Ken and Barbie,” she said.

“I mean, we’re not quite that today. But Ken and Barbie go together and always have. Peanut butter and jelly go together. Pat and Vanna go together.”

Vanna had to consider whether she was ready to leave the show when Pat, 77, told her he was going to retire.

“When Pat told me he was going to retire, it’s like, ‘Oh my gosh. I’m not sure that I’m ready to retire,'” Vanna said.

“So, when I thought about it and thought about it…and I just wasn’t ready to retire.”

With that in mind, Vanna decided to extend her contract for the 2025-2026 season.

She explained that she “loves her job” and loves being on Wheel of Fortune.

If she did ever leave, Vanna said, she would miss her job, as well as contestants like her favorite, Liz Wright.

The 92-year-old won a prize of $65,000 alongside her son KC after she solved a puzzle about How the Grinch Stole Christmas 41 years ago.

It looks like Vanna is committed to remaining a part of the Wheel of Fortune family for the foreseeable future.

NEXT SPIN!

Vanna joined Ryan Seacrest earlier in the week to film a new Wheel of Fortune commercial.

Vanna took a hiatus from taping her final season with Pat, 77, to get acquainted with her next co-host on Saturday.

In a photo exclusively obtained by The U.S. Sun, the blonde beauty took to downtown Nashville with the American Idol host by her side.

Vanna sported full makeup, a red leather pantsuit and donned her hair blown out in a country-style getup fitting for her surroundings.

Ryan, meanwhile, opted for a double-breasted blazer and jeans as they walked down the street.

The dynamic duo smiled as fans snapped photos of them from every direction.

The moment is meaningful as it marks Vanna and Ryan’s first time filming together, making it our first look at Wheel’s future.

It also marks Ryan’s first time filming anything related to the beloved game show.

The fan who shared the snap above captioned it on Facebook: “Ryan Seacrest and Vanna White were walking down Broadway filming a commercial for Wheel of Fortune.”

“They look so natural together!” one fan replied.

Other fans posted to Facebook that the pair were filming “promos,” and the snap showed them headed to a venue to do so.

The promos would seemingly air on the show ahead of Ryan’s takeover.

‘HE CAN’T SPELL!’

As longtime Wheel of Fortune host Pat prepares to step down in June, his co-host Vanna recently got a cheeky warning about her new counterpart.

“Tell me everything,” White said last month to Kelly Ripa and Mark Consuelos while appearing on their talk show.

Ryan famously co-hosted Live with Kelly and Ryan with Kelly for six years.

“He can’t spell,” Consuelos said, as Ripa agreed, “Yeah, he cannot spell at all.”

Vanna reacted in surprise and said: “Thanks for the warning!” And added they “haven’t had rehearsals yet.”

He then asked Vanna if she had “received texts” from him yet that may have proven as such, to which Vanna said she has.

Kelly then quipped: ”Maybe he’s dictating the texts and somebody’s typing it for him.

“Because, I will say – and I can say this freely, we have all experienced it here – when Ryan Seacrest texts you, you say to yourself, ‘This person is trying to tell me something.’ That’s the first thing.

“It’s that you realize that Ryan is trying to tell you something, but oftentimes, you just don’t know what that is!”

Vanna did say they’ve also communicated via phone, telling the married couple: “I called him to congratulate him on becoming the host.

“He was just so kind, and so he goes, ‘Look, no one’s ever going to replace Pat. I’m not trying to replace Pat.

I’m just thrilled to be able to work with you, and I’ll do whatever it takes. Please teach me whatever I need to know.’”

PAT’S A WRAP!

It’s nearly the end of an era for the iconic duo of Pat and Vanna.

In June, Pat announced that he would be leaving Wheel of Fortune after 40 years.

Sajak previously posted to X that while “it’s been a wonderful ride,” his 41st season would be his final one.

“Well, the time has come. I’ve decided that our 41st season, which begins in September, will be my last,” he wrote.

He added, “It’s been a wonderful ride, and I’ll have more to say in the coming months. Many thanks to you all. (If nothing else, it’ll keep the clickbait sites busy!)”

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Vanna admitted that she would miss the show if she ever leftCredit: ABC

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She also said she loved the people and named her favorite contestant of all timeCredit: ABC

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Despite how long she’s been working on the show, Vanna does not want to leaveCredit: ABC