Is Vanna White Leaving Wheel of Fortune? Truth Revealed
by Rubaditsha
Updated Jun 13, 2023
Who is Vanna?
Vanna Marie White, born Vanna Marie Rosich on February 18, 1957, is a well-known American television personality and game-show hostess. She gained fame as the co-host of the popular game show Wheel of Fortune, a role she has held since 1982.
Prior to her career in television, White began as a fashion model and even competed in the Miss Georgia USA pageant in 1978. In addition to her work on Wheel of Fortune, she has made appearances in various films and television series, both in minor roles and as herself. White is also the author of the autobiography Vanna Speaks, published in 1987.
Outside of her television career, Vanna White is involved in real-estate investment and is the owner of the yarn brand Vanna's Choice. She is also a dedicated supporter of St. Jude Children's Research Hospital.
Vanna was born in Horry County, South Carolina, near North Myrtle Beach, on February 18, 1957. Her parents, Joan Marie and Miguel Angel Rosich, divorced when she was very young.
She was primarily raised by her mother and her mother's second husband, Herbert White Jr., who worked as a real-estate broker. Vanna took on the surname of her stepfather, and on April 1, 2022, she announced that he had peacefully passed away, receiving an outpouring of support from fans.
After completing high school, White relocated to Atlanta, Georgia, where she attended the Atlanta School of Fashion and Design and pursued a career as a model. In 1979, she made the move to Los Angeles to pursue acting opportunities. However, she returned to South Carolina in 1980 to spend time with her mother, who was battling ovarian cancer and sadly passed away that summer.
Is Vanna White Leaving Wheel of Fortune?
Vanna White is not leaving Wheel of Fortune. Although there was speculation when viewers noticed a change in her role on a recent episode of Celebrity Wheel of Fortune, it was revealed that she is taking a break from her usual duties as co-host to participate as a celebrity contestant in a special episode called "Ultimate Host Night."
Vanna, who has been turning letters on Wheel of Fortune for over 40 years, joined the show in 1982. Alongside her fellow co-host Pat Sajak, who has been with the show since 1975, she has been committed to her role and has become an integral part of the game show's success.
In the "Ultimate Host Night" episode, Vanna and Pat will compete against Jeopardy! co-stars Ken Jennings and Mayim Bialik. The purpose of the episode is to earn money for their chosen charities, adding an exciting twist to the usual format of the show.
This is not the first time that Vanna has taken on a different role on the show. In the past, she has filled in as host when Pat was unable to due to laryngitis in 1996 and emergency surgery in 2019. During those times, her daughter Maggie stood by the letters, and their collaboration proved successful. In 2021, Maggie was named the show's social correspondent, further showcasing their involvement with Wheel of Fortune.
While the change in Vanna's role may have surprised some fans, it is important to note that it is only temporary for this specific episode. Vanna remains an integral part of the Wheel of Fortune team and will continue her role as co-host in the future. So, fans can rest assured that Vanna White is not leaving Wheel of Fortune and will continue to bring her charm and expertise to the show for the foreseeable future.
Why is Vanna White Leaving Wheel of Fortune?
There is no indication that Vanna White is leaving Wheel of Fortune permanently. The recent news about Vanna's temporary departure from her hosting duties is due to a special episode of Celebrity Wheel of Fortune called "Ultimate Host Night." In this episode, Vanna and Pat Sajak, along with other celebrity contestants, will compete to raise money for their chosen charities.
Vanna has been a co-host on Wheel of Fortune since 1982, and she has shown a strong commitment to her role on the show throughout her tenure. She has temporarily taken on hosting responsibilities in the past when Pat was unable to fulfill his duties due to health reasons. Vanna's daughter, Maggie, has also been involved in the show, both as a temporary letter-turner and as the show's social correspondent.
While fans may have initially speculated about Vanna's departure from the show based on the news of her temporary absence, it's important to note that her participation as a contestant on the special episode is not indicative of a permanent departure. There is no information suggesting that Vanna White has any plans to leave Wheel of Fortune.
Wheel of Fortune Overview
Wheel of Fortune is a popular American television game show that was created by Merv Griffin. It has been on the air since January 1975 and features contestants solving word puzzles to win cash and prizes by spinning a large carnival wheel. The current version of the show, which is aired in nightly syndication, premiered on September 19, 1983, with Pat Sajak and Vanna White as the hosts. They have been hosting the nighttime version since its inception.
The original version of Wheel of Fortune was a daytime series that aired on NBC from January 6, 1975, to June 30, 1989. It then moved to CBS from July 17, 1989, to January 11, 1991, before returning to NBC on January 14, 1991. However, it was canceled later that year, ending on September 20, 1991. The network daytime and syndicated nighttime versions aired concurrently from 1983 until the conclusion of the daytime series.
Chuck Woolery and Susan Stafford initially hosted the network version, but Woolery left in 1981, and Sajak took over. In January 1989, Sajak left the network version to host his own late-night talk show but continued hosting the nighttime Wheel of Fortune.
Rolf Benirschke replaced Sajak in the daytime version, and when the show moved to CBS, Bob Goen became the host. Goen remained the host for the second run on NBC. Susan Stafford left in 1982, and Vanna White joined as her replacement, remaining on the network show until its end. The show has had several announcers throughout its history, including Charlie O'Donnell, Jack Clark, M. G. Kelly, and Jim Thornton.
There have been two spin-off versions of the show. The first was called Wheel 2000, which featured child contestants and aired on CBS and the Game Show Network from 1997 to 1998. It was hosted by David Sidoni and Tanika Ray, with Ray playing the role of a CGI hostess named "Cyber Lucy." The second spin-off, Celebrity Wheel of Fortune, premiered on ABC on January 7, 2021, and involves celebrities playing a modified version of the game, with their winnings donated to charity.
Wheel of Fortune holds the record as the longest-running syndicated game show in the United States, with 7,000 episodes taped and aired as of May 10, 2019. In a 2008 article, TV Guide named it the "top-rated syndicated series," and in 2013, the magazine ranked it as the second greatest game show ever. The show has gained international popularity with 60 adaptations in different countries.
The 40th season of the syndicated series premiered on September 12, 2022, and marked Pat Sajak as the longest-running host of any game show, surpassing Bob Barker of The Price Is Right. However, on June 12, 2023, Sajak announced his retirement from the show, which will take effect after the 41st season starting in September 2023.
Is Vanna White Leaving Wheel of Fortune: FAQs
As it turns out, she isn't leaving anytime soon, but she is taking a turn on the show as a celebrity contestant for the spin-off's special episode “Ultimate Host Night.”
The rights to distribute the show worldwide are owned by CBS Media Ventures, into which original distributor King World Productions was folded in 2007.
Vanna is switching up her duties to compete as a contestant on "Celebrity Wheel of Fortune."
Vanna White Replaced By Pat Sajak's Daughter Maggie On Wheel Of Fortune – TVLine.
It appears White got a raise since 2017, as Celebrity Net Worth lists her Wheel earnings as $10 million a season.