Fans and friends are rallying around “American Idol” host Ryan Seacrest after he vulnerably revealed his parents’ brave journeys with cancer during an emotional radio segment on July 21, 2025.
Seacrest cried during his nationally syndicated radio show, “On Air With Ryan Seacrest,” as he described what his dad, Gary Seacrest, had been through while fighting prostate cancer, including landing in the ICU while Seacrest was hosting the 2025 season of “American Idol. During the 10-minute segment, Ryan revealed that his mom, Connie, had recently undergone cancer treatment, too.
Ryan told his listeners, with co-hosts Sisanie and Tanya Rad listening intently, that over the previous few months, he spent a great deal of time in his hometown of Atlanta helping his parents, noting, “My mother was in Atlanta but, you know … I needed her to take a break from (caregiving) because she also has cancer and she’s in remission, God bless her.”
Ryan Seacrest Cried On Air Over Seeing Photo of His Mom & Dad at the Beach
Ryan didn’t specify what type of cancer his mom had been diagnosed with, but made it clear that it was important for her to take it easy while his dad was hospitalized with pneumonia and suffering from the impact of harsh treatments, including chemotherapy.
“When this happens to somebody or someone really close to you that you love, this is a hard thing to see because the treatments that are commonly recommended can be barbaric to the system,” Ryan told his co-hosts. “They can cause so much damage to your body in other ways.”
Although his dad eventually was released from the ICU and the hospital, Ryan said he required full-time care in Seacrest’s parents’ Atlanta home. The “Wheel of Fortune” host said his dad had been stuck inside for four and a half months, but had expressed that his birthday wish — before turning 81 on July 27 — was to finally make it outside again.
Ryan began to cry during his July 21 show as he shared, “And so last night, I got the most powerful — the most powerful, good, happy picture of my dad and my mother, who was with him. They went to, um, to a beach to sit outside. They just wanted to look at the water. They can’t do much. But I saw him smile. I saw my mom smile.”
After admitting he was embarrassed about his tears, Ryan shared, “So anyway, I watched them over the weekend send photos of smiling and happiness and being together. They’ve been married for over 55 years.”
Ryan Seacrest Brought His Parents on Radio Show in February 2025
On his parents’ 55th anniversary on February 21, Ryan called his parents live on his radio show to celebrate. Both sounded happy, with Gary revealing they were going to celebrate by “going to have a nice dinner at the club and maybe a little bottle of wine, a cocktail or two.”
Ryan told them, “You’re the best role models and inspiration,” and then quipped, “I, too, when I get married, hope to be married for 55 years.”
When their famous son asked them if they had any advice for Rad, who was a month away from getting married to her fiancé Roby Yadegar, Connie said, “I’m so excited for you. Every day is a new adventure and every day when you wake up, you look forward to what in the world is going on with Tanya and Roby … Here’s to at least 55!”
When Rad said her advice made her tear up, Connie replied, “I get that happy teary-eyes a lot.”
Along with their daughter Meredith Seacrest, Connie has been instrumental in the growth of Ryan’s foundation and Seacrest Studios, which exist in 16 children’s hospitals across the U.S.
During an appearance on the “Got It From My Momma” podcast in January 2025, Connie proved she’s her son’s biggest fan. She said she never misses an episode of “American Idol” and that she regularly tunes in to his radio show and “Wheel of Fortune, noting, “Whatever he does, it’s appointment (viewing) for me.”
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Ryan Seacrest Reveals His Beloved Mom Has Been Battling Cancer Alongside His Dad