Vanna White Announces Surprise Marriage to Longtime Partner John Donaldson

21 January 2026

Vanna White and John Donaldson. Credit : Courtesy of Vanna White and John Donaldson

Television-legend and Wheel of Fortune co-host Vanna White, 68, surprised fans around the world on January 21, 2026 by revealing that she and her longtime partner John Donaldson have quietly married after more than a decade together. White shared the joyful news with her followers in a heartfelt Instagram post announcing “Surprise! We got married!” accompanied by a photo of Donaldson carrying her bridal-style under a romantic archway in a private ceremony. The couple’s decision to wed came after years of partnership that began in 2012, and their announcement instantly lit up social media as supporters and fellow celebrities including Maggie Sajak and the official Wheel of Fortune account sent congratulatory messages and emojis celebrating the newlyweds.

White’s journey toward this milestone has been one marked by patience, love and a commitment to privacy. For years, she and Donaldson maintained a deeply personal relationship that rarely made headlines. They first met when a mutual friend introduced them at a barbecue, and White later recalled being instantly smitten upon seeing him that day. In a 2019 interview she described how well they clicked, suggesting early on that their connection was special and lasted long beyond their first conversation. Despite their closeness, the couple never felt pressure to formalize their bond at least not until recently, when they chose to make their union official in a meaningful private celebration away from the public eye.

White’s Instagram caption emphasized the depth of their affection and the significance of the moment. The star wrote that she and Donaldson had been “in love for more than a decade,” and that they simply wanted to make their lifelong commitment legal and official. Friends and fans reacted warmly, flooding the comments with congratulations and admiration. The Wheel of Fortune community, which has supported White through decades on television, joined the chorus of well-wishers. Maggie Sajak, daughter of former Wheel of Fortune host Pat Sajak, responded with a teary-eyed emoji and a heart, a small but heartfelt gesture highlighting how deeply this moment resonated with those close to White and those who have followed her career.

For White, this chapter arrives at a significant moment in her personal and professional life. She continues to co-host Wheel of Fortune, recently extending her contract as the show transitions into new seasons with Ryan Seacrest stepping into hosting duties following Pat Sajak’s retirement. White’s marriage to Donaldson thus represents both a personal celebration and a symbolic complement to her enduring presence on one of television’s most beloved game shows. It also marks a touching milestone in a life lived largely in front of audiences yet grounded in deep personal moments shared privately with family and loved ones.

Donaldson, who has largely stayed out of the spotlight throughout their relationship, has nonetheless appeared by White’s side at charity events and public functions over the years. His presence at those gatherings helped fans see glimpses of their dynamic beyond television screens. Despite that exposure, the couple’s choice to wed privately underscores their shared preference for intimacy over spectacle. In an era when celebrity weddings can become sprawling media events, White and Donaldson’s approach was refreshingly understated and focused on their own joy and connection rather than public performance.

Both White and Donaldson have histories that precede their relationship. White was previously married to restaurateur George Santo Pietro, with whom she shares two adult children. Over the years, she has endured personal challenges and triumphs alike, from professional accolades to deeply painful personal losses. Through it all, her steadfast partnership with Donaldson emerged as a source of stability and happiness, a quiet love story that only now has been formalized in marriage.

The spontaneous and heartfelt nature of the couple’s Instagram announcement invited an outpouring of love not only from fans but from those in White’s entertainment circle who have worked with her over decades. Seeing White step into this new phase of life after years of public success and private devotion served as a reminder that even icons of television those whose faces and personalities are familiar to millions still experience life’s most profound moments with the same mixture of grace, emotion and personal significance as everyone else.

In announcing their wedding, White and Donaldson opened a window into a quiet but deeply enduring partnership. Their choice to share the news on their own terms allowed fans to celebrate with them while respecting the privacy that has defined much of their story together. With the heartfelt announcement and a photo that captured the joy of the day, Vanna White and John Donaldson stepped into a new chapter that blends private happiness with public celebration, offering fans a glimpse of heartfelt love and commitment in a world that often blurs the line between fame and personal fulfillment.