News
Vanna White Visits Childhood Home in South Carolina on ‘Wheel of Fortune’: ‘This Will Always Be Home’
Vanna White is sharing a very private piece of herself with the world! The Wheel of Fortune host shared a look at her childhood home with viewers – giving them a glimpse at her life before finding fame.
Vanna, 68, returned to her roots in North Myrtle Beach, South Carolina, as the game show featured segments about the coastal town this week.
“When I was back home, I got to share some special memories with our local Wheel watchers,” Vanna said before a montage of clips played, showing her visiting her old stomping grounds.
“Hi, everyone! I’m Vanna. Look at you all,” she said as she entered Hoskins Restaurant in the video.
The TV personality was greeted by cheering fans and locals, who were delighted to see her.
“Welcome to my hometown,” she told everyone. “It’s good to have you all here. We’re going to drive around. I’m going to show you my life as I grew up here and places that were important to me, where I was born, where I was raised and I’m so glad you guys are part of it, so thank you for joining me.”
In a voice-over, Vanna said that she “mingled” with locals over a “delicious breakfast.” She reunited with a waitress named Helen and they shared a warm embrace.
Vanna then took everyone around town in a tour bus to show them some of the places she has a sentimental connection to.
“When you come into North Myrtle Beach, it says ‘Welcome to North Myrtle Beach, home of Vanna White.’ It’s such an honor to have my name on that sign. I love my hometown so much. It just reminds me of how great this place is,” she told everyone on the tour bus as the sign was visible in the distance.
Next, she took viewers to the O.D. Pavillion where she used to go “all the time to dance the shag, the official dance of South Carolina.” Then, it was on to her elementary school, Ocean Drive Elementary.
She was asked what she was most proud of from her younger years and what made the biggest impact on her. “Learning the alphabet,” she playfully said, causing everyone to laugh. Vanna then took everyone past the church she was baptized in and later stopped outside of her childhood home.
“My dad had a little hot dog stand in front of it. “That’s Johnny!” she said, greeting a young man who came out of the house. “I just found out that Johnny’s last name is White. Isn’t that crazy? I’m going to peek inside. I haven’t been inside of this house for a very long time.”
Viewers did not get to see the inside of the house, but they did get to see the outside.
“Being in the house, I felt all of the memories from my childhood,” Vanna said after going inside.
The fun continued as the group headed over to Painter’s Ice Cream where she would go every Thursday after her piano lesson. “They named an ice cream after me,” she revealed. Everyone on the tour bus got to try the Vanna Banana Split.
“No matter where life takes me, this will always be home,” Vanna shared.
