“American Idol” host Ryan Seacrest is mourning the loss of his beloved father, Gary Seacrest. Gary passed away in October after a long battle with cancer. He was 79.
The Seacrest family is extremely close, and the passing of their patriarch was felt deeply. It is now the festive season, and this will be the first one Ryan will spend without his father.
Ryan Seacrest Reveals How He Will Celebrate Christmas
Seacrest reflected on his loss and his feelings about Christmas in an interview with People. He referred to his father as both a “hero and a best friend.” He continued, “I’m not quite sure what it’ll be like yet because we haven’t been there to experience a Christmas without him. But we’ll certainly honor him.”
The family intends to keep their traditions alive to honor Gary’s memory. “We’ll keep our traditions of making a Caesar salad that he always used to love to do. Pour a little glass of red wine, his favorite, and toast to him,” Seacrest said. “It’ll be a special Christmas.”
Ryan Seacrest Mourns His Father
Seacrest announced his father’s passing in an Instagram post on October 31. He shared two sweet family photos and two pictures of himself and Gary, including a throwback to when Ryan was a child. In the caption, he shared his thoughts. “It is with a heavy heart that I share with you that my loving father peacefully passed away earlier this week,” he wrote. “My mom, sister, and I have peace knowing he is in a better place and free of any pain or suffering. We are heartbroken.”
Seacrest ended his message by saying his father would live in their hearts forever and that he was so loved. Fans, celebrities, and loved ones flooded the comment section with their thoughts, sending condolences and messages of love and support for the family during this sad time.
In the six weeks since his father’s passing, the “Wheel of Fortune” host has been keeping busy, and his Instagram posts have given fans a glimpse into his life and shared what he has been up to. This includes sharing a post about how he will be hosting Dick Clarke’s New Year’s Rockin’ Eve on New Year’s Eve, December 31. His co-host on the evening will be Rita Ora, and his ex-girlfriend, “Dancing with the Stars” professional dancer and current co-host of the show, Julianne Hough, will also be involved.
