ECONOMY & WORK
MONEY 101
NEWS
PERSONAL FINANCE
NET WORTH
About Us Contact Us Privacy Policy Terms of Use DMCA Opt-out of personalized ads
© Copyright 2023 Market Realist. Market Realist is a registered trademark. All Rights Reserved. People may receive compensation for some links to products and services on this website. Offers may be subject to change without notice.
MARKETREALIST.COM / NEWS

Vanna White recalls how she unexpectedly landed the co-host job on 'Wheel of Fortune': "I had a..."

White was pitted against two other beautiful women, Summer Bartholomew, who was Miss USA 1975, and model Vicki McCarty, her friend.
PUBLISHED MAR 14, 2025
Screenshot showing Pat Sajak and Vanna White talking about the history of a game on the show (Cover image source: YouTube | Wheel of Fortune)
Screenshot showing Pat Sajak and Vanna White talking about the history of a game on the show (Cover image source: YouTube | Wheel of Fortune)

Vanna White has come a long way in her television career with more than four decades on "Wheel of Fortune," and she had expressed her intention for being on the show for good, early in her career. But she knew that the small screen was her calling ever since she watched her uncle star in the 1966 drama series "The Rat Patrol." “I was in the third grade and I just had my appendix out, so I'm lying on the sofa watching TV and 'The Rat Patrol' comes on,” White told Parade in an exclusive. “My mother is in the kitchen cooking and she says, ‘That's your uncle, Christopher George on TV.’ I had an uncle on TV! I want to be on TV! That's really when it started.” She left North Myrtle Beach, South Carolina, to chase her goal in Los Angeles in 1980, and after two years of struggle, White landed her dream job as a co-host on "Wheel of Fortune."



 

Before landing her coveted role on the hit show, White revealed that she went to several auditions and took acting classes to hone her skills. Additionally, she disclosed that her anxiety peaked while attending job interviews with 50 other people. "But I never gave up. And that’s what I tell everybody—never give up,” she recalled. “You can do it. If I can do it, you can do it.” White then mentioned how her luck changed after attending a Merv Griffin show in 1982. “I was in the audience at a taping of Dance Fever, which was a Merv Griffin show. He also owned Wheel of Fortune at the time. And I was friends with a dancer on the show," she revealed.



 

White then persuaded her friend to introduce her to Griffin in order to bag the audition spot. "I said, ‘I hear they're looking for a replacement on Wheel of Fortune. Who do I need to talk to?’ She introduced me to Merv’s right-hand man,” she recounted. “He said, 'Here's my card. If we haven't made the decision by Oct. 5, 1982, you can come in and audition.’ So I called him at 10 o'clock in the morning on Oct. 5.” White was pitted against two other beautiful women, Summer Bartholomew, who was Miss USA 1975, and model Vicki McCarty, who happened to be her close friend. She acknowledged enjoying the audition because it included dressing in style like a runway model on the podium, rearranging letters on the puzzle board, and creating a sizzling chemistry with host Pat Sajak.

Screenshot showing Vanna White and Pat Sajak hugging on stage (
Screenshot showing Vanna White and Pat Sajak hugging on stage (Image source: YouTube)

White remembered being a nervous wreck despite the easy task at hand, “It was between the three of us, and Vicki is actually a good friend of mine and the complete opposite of me. She was a brunette, spoke so clearly, and she was prim and proper and just perfect. And I was so nervous when I auditioned, I just thought, There's no way I'm going to get this job. My knees were shaking. My mouth was quivering. I just could hardly do it. I wanted the job so bad." However, a week before Thanksgiving, she was shocked to learn that she got the job. “When I asked Merv, ‘Why did you choose me?’ …he said ‘You turned the letters better than anyone else,’” white mentioned.

MORE ON MARKET REALIST
According to the expert, personal letters and a signature from Tolkien himself added to the value of the book.
7 hours ago
Chistina and Katie Currie won over $88,000 in cash and two exotic vacations with their stunning performance.
8 hours ago
After everyone backed out, the billionaire Shark stepped up to help the founder of Diaper Dust.
1 day ago
Sun kept repeating the incorrect phrase but couldn't identify the error in time.
1 day ago
After almost closing a deal with Mr Wonderful, the founder of 'Simply Good Jars' pivoted hard.
1 day ago
The host thought it was the "worst possible answer" to give even as the team felt it was good enough.
2 days ago
Adding to the controversy, the owner of Dr. Mudd's lapdesk asked Harrison for $100,000.
2 days ago
With just milliseconds to spare, Sarah LaPilusa pulled off an incredible Bonus Round win.
2 days ago
Ozark Trail 64 oz Water Bottles were recalled after the lids of faulty bottles forcefully ejected.
3 days ago
The player laughed and giggled her way through the puzzles to win prizes worth over $57,000.
3 days ago
Scott Riccardi placed an unbelievable wager during Final Jeopardy! to win a massive amount in a day!
3 days ago
The guest got a 200% return on investment on her sculpture that she bought from Macy's.
3 days ago
Jennings had a record-setting winning streak as a contestant before he became the host.
4 days ago
The player, Ron Wheeler, tragically got no clues after his letter picks for the final puzzle.
4 days ago
The former kids champion, Skyler Hornback knew what was coming.
4 days ago
The fans took issue with the clue being too tough and unnecessary for the contestants.
5 days ago
Cuban wanted to strike a deal with the founder of Coconut Girl and gave her an ultimatum.
5 days ago
Although the word did make a lot of difference, some fans felt that the decision was ridiculous.
5 days ago
The guest, who found the item online, didn't think it was the real deal until he heard its value.
6 days ago
The player Samantha secured the first big win of Ryan Seacrest's run on the show.
6 days ago