Pat Sajak and Vanna White tearfully hug as she surprises Wheel of Fortune host with graceful tribute before exit

PAT Sajak’s penultimate Wheel of Fortune episode was filled with tears as Vanna White stunned the host with the most moving video message.

Pat’s final week as host is fittingly titled “Thanks For The Memories,” and Thursday marked his second-to-last show ever.

Vanna White gave a beautiful, tearful goodbye to Pat during his second-to-last show
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Vanna White gave a beautiful, tearful goodbye to Pat during his second-to-last showCredit: Wheel of Fortune

'Oh my,' Pat said after it played and they hugged
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‘Oh my,’ Pat said after it played and they huggedCredit: Wheel of Fortune

Pat - retiring after 41 years of hosting with her - began to tear up too
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Pat – retiring after 41 years of hosting with her – began to tear up tooCredit: Wheel of Fortune
Tonight, Vanna, 67, delivered an emotional message for Pat, 77, and the Wheel of Fortune audience.

It came one night before his final broadcast as host after 41 years together.

First, contestant Hannah had a big win – she went to the bonus round with a trip to Africa and $31,000, choosing “What Are You Doing?”

She aced the “Jotting down ideas” puzzle, winning $75,000 and a burst of confetti, a perfect penultimate moment for Pat.

Pat then told viewers that Vanna had something prepared – and there wasn’t a dry eye in the house.

‘I LOVE YOU, PAT’

The broadcast cut to Vanna saying goodbye as she cried in an incredible pre-taped video.

“I can’t believe tomorrow is our last show together,” Vanna said, forcing a smile.

“I don’t know how to put into words what these last 41 years have meant to me. But I’m going to try.

“Eight thousand episodes went by like that.

“You made me feel so comfortable, so confident,” said Vanna, who has become a letter-turning legend.

“You made me who I am. You really did.”

“We’ve laughed, we’ve cried, we’ve celebrated- oh gosh. What an incredible and unforgettable journey we’ve had.

Vanna added, holding back tears. “And I’ve enjoyed every minute of it with you.”

She took a deep breath and continued as her eyes welled.

“You’re like a brother to me, and I consider you a true lifelong friend who I will always adore.”

“I love you, Pat.”

‘OH MY’

The broadcast cut back to Pat and Vanna standing together center stage. “Oh my,” Pat said.

They embraced in a lengthy hug, and the audience applauded.

“Well,” he said as he pulled out a tissue. “I was saving this for her but,” implying he was crying too.

“And you almost lost me a day early because when you’re not expecting confetti, it’s very frightening,” he quipped.

FANS ALSO LEFT CRYING

There wasn’t a dry eye on social media either, as fans couldn’t believe Vanna’s gorgeous tribute.

“Didn’t ever think I’d cry watching Wheel of Fortune but here we are…” one X user wrote.

“Watching Pat’s next-to-last #WheelofFortune and…Vanna’s heartfelt goodbye at the end, man,” wrote another.

Vanna will continue as co-host and letter-turner on Wheel of Fortune in Season 42 with new host Ryan Seacrest this fall.

Pat will give his own farewell speech on Friday’s final episode, according to USA Today.

Pat pulled out a tissue, which he didn't think he'd need until tomorrow
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Pat pulled out a tissue, which he didn’t think he’d need until tomorrowCredit: Wheel of Fortune

'I was saving this for her but,' he said as he began to cry too

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‘I was saving this for her but,’ he said as he began to cry tooCredit: Wheel of Fortune

‘SURPRISINGLY OKAY’

Earlier in his final week, Pat opened up about why he chose to exit the show on Good Morning America.

During the nearly four-minute segment, Maggie Sajak, 29 – Wheel of Fortune’s social media correspondent – interviewed her father about his retirement.

“It’s surprisingly OK,” Pat said about his time on the show ending so soon.

“This was announced a long time ago, almost a year ago,” he noted.

“So I’ve had time to sort of get used to it. And it’s been a little bit wistful and all that, but I’m enjoying it and taking it all in and reflecting on the great run.”

Pat, who started hosting Wheel of Fortune in 1981, acknowledged that the show is more than just any other TV program.

“We became part of the popular culture. And more importantly, we became part of people’s lives,” he said. “And that’s been awfully gratifying.”

“I’ve always said to you, you’ve heard me say this dozens of times, ‘I’d rather leave a couple years too early than a couple of years too late.’

“Could I still do it? Yeah, I think I could for a while,” Pat told Maggie, 29.

“[But] There’s also other things in life, we’d like to do,” Pat continued.

“I’m enjoying this last year. It’s been a great 40 years. I’m looking forward to whatever is ahead,” he closed.

Pat also shared that he would be happy living out his retirement, doing “crossword puzzles and playing with his grandchildren.”

“Hint. Hint. Hint. No pressure,” he joked to Maggie.

In addition to Maggie, Pat shares his son, Patrick, with his wife, Lesly Brown.

Like his sister, Patrick does not have any children – but Maggie recently struck up a romance with actor Ross McCall.

Meanwhile, Vanna has two children of her own and a partner of 12 years; no, prying minds, they were never an item.

Pat will retire with the longest career as host for the same show in history, surpassing previous record holder Bob Barker and Alex Trebek.

Pat's second to last night also had a big winner
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Pat’s second to last night also had a big winnerCredit: Wheel of Fortune

Hannah won a whopping $100,000-plus right before Vanna's message played
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Hannah won a whopping $100,000-plus right before Vanna’s message playedCredit: Wheel of Fortune

Vanna called Pat 'like a brother' - 'You made me who I am, you really did'
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Vanna called Pat ‘like a brother’ – ‘You made me who I am, you really did’Credit: Wheel of Fortune