Ryan Seacrest has become a household name as the host of shows like “Wheel of Fortune” and “American Idol,” and he has some powerful cheerleaders in his corner. Among them is his mother, Constance “Connie” Seacrest, who has frequently appeared by her son’s side and championed both his career and his charitable efforts. Here are five fast facts about the supportive mom behind Ryan’s rise to fame.
1. Ryan’s Mom Grew Up in Pennsylvania
One surprising thing both of Ryan’s parents have in common is their family origins. In an interview with The Wall Street Journal, the couple shared that they grew up just miles apart in Pennsylvania. As his father, Gary, explained, Connie was a cheerleader during her school years. This pursuit helped her meet her eventual husband. “I played basketball against her team,” Gary said of his wife. “And she was a cheerleader, so I knew who she was.”
2. Connie Worked in The Bridal Industry Before Becoming a Mom
GettyBefore Connie became Mrs. Seacrest and the mother of a famous host, she was Constance Marie Dillinger, a woman who made her living in the bridal industry. “I was an assistant buyer in bridal,” Connie said in an episode of the “Got It From My Momma” podcast. “Back in the day, I was the person who did the rehearsal and orchestrated the wedding.” Once she and her husband settled in suburban Atlanta, Connie switched gears and became a homemaker while raising Ryan and his sister, Meredith.
3. She And Her Husband Have Been Married Over Five Decades
Connie and Gary got married on February 21st, 1970, and their marriage has been going strong ever since. In honor of their 50th anniversary in 2020, Ryan highlighted their relationship in an episode of “On Air With Ryan Seacrest.” What is the secret to their success? Ryan said that, as Connie explained, it’s all in the planning. “They decided early on to always have something to look forward to,” he said. “They always have something that they’re planning, even if it’s a long way out.” Clearly, this strategy has worked for the couple so far.
4. Connie Had Her Own Moment of TV Fame in 2022
GettyApparently, Ryan isn’t the only member of the family that has had his fifteen seconds of fame. In a Mother’s Day episode of “On Air With Ryan Seacrest” from 2022, the TV star revealed that his mom was preparing to appear in a television special. As Ryan described, a local anchor woman contacted Connie about the opportunity, which also included other famous moms. “So it’s Usher’s mother and Shaquille O’Neal’s mother,” Connie said of her co-stars.
Although the interviews originally took place separately, Connie did get a chance to meet both women. “About a week later, she invited us all to lunch so we could meet and do a little bit more of an interview,” Connie shared.
5. Ryan’s Mom is His Biggest Fan
Perhaps one of the sweetest facts about Connie is how much she genuinely supports Ryan. ” I can listen to him on the radio. I walk a lot in my neighborhood,” she explained on the “Got It From My Momma” podcast. “And I’ll just have him on, in LA. But then if I’m in my car, I can have him on the station in Atlanta.” However, as she lightheartedly shared with the podcast’s host, she does scold Ryan from time to time when he shares family stories on air. “I’ll text him and say, ‘You’re in the doghouse,'” she joked.
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Ryan Seacrest’s Mother Connie: 5 Fast Facts About The ‘Idol’ Host’s Cheerleader Mom