Vanna White recalls ridiculous Wheel of Fortune Christmas dress blunder: 'Hysterical'
“I didn’t know about it until the end of the round,” White explains.
Vanna White recalls ridiculous Wheel of Fortune Christmas dress blunder: ‘Hysterical’
"I didn't know about it until the end of the round," White explains.
By Wesley Stenzel
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Wesley Stenzel
Wesley Stenzel is a news writer at **. He began writing for EW in 2022.
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April 8, 2026 9:06 p.m. ET
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Vanna White on 'Celebrity Wheel of Fortune'. Credit:
Eric McCandless/Disney via Getty
*Wheel of Fortune* is a well-oiled game show machine — but every now and then, the production hits a snag or two.
In a conversation with **, legendary *Wheel* co-host Vanna White remembers one of the goofiest gaffes from her 44-year tenure on the show that still makes her crack up.
"I remember, and this did make it on the show," she recalls. "It was a Christmas show when they had the Christmas gifts by my feet at the end of the puzzle board."
Disaster struck when White walked away from the pile of presents. "For some reason, one of the gifts got stuck to my dress," she says. "So I'm walking back and forth and I have this gift following me. And Pat Sajak is just laughing hysterically and I have no idea what he's laughing at."
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Vanna White with a present stuck to her dress on 'Wheel of Fortune'.
It took several moments for White to discover what all the fuss was about.
"I didn't know until the end of the round," she says. "It was hysterical!"
She hypothesizes about how the blunder occurred in the first place. "It was wrapped with a big bow, and that bow got caught in something," she says.
White and *Wheel of Fortune* are currently partnering with the Make-A-Wish Foundation for its "Wishmakers Wanted" campaign, wherein pieces of *Wheel* memorabilia and other entertainment ephemera are being auctioned for charity as part of the *Wheel of Fortune *WishMaker Auction.
Among the auction's items: *Wheel* wedges signed by White, host Ryan Seacrest, and former host Pat Sajak; a handmade baby blanket crocheted by White; a VIP experience on the *Wheel* set; and White's custom Bob Mackie dress.
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"I did wear that dress on the show, but only once, only for 30 minutes. So it's in good condition!" White says. "I wear gowns all the time. And to have Bob Mackie custom design one was just super special. He came out, so we said hello to him at the taping of that show. It was just one of those special moments of this iconic designer that, wow, here he is, live in person."
Perhaps the most eye-catching item in the auction, though, is the set of White's groovy "GlamJamas" that she wore on another ep of the series, which bear a colorful pattern featuring the *Wheel* logo.
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Vanna White in her GlamJamas on 'Wheel of Fortune'.
"I always wanted to wear pajamas on the show and I didn't think it could ever happen," White explains. "Well, it did happen, but they glammed it up with lots of sequins and all kinds of things."
The road to the GlamJamas was a long one. "Every year I said, 'Is there any way I could just wear pajamas? We could do some kind of a theme on them or something,'" White explains. "And they finally said yes! And I was happy with whatever pajamas they gave me. I didn't care if they were glam or not glam."
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White reflects on *Wheel*'s history granting Make-A-Wish wishes. "We have done so many here. So many people, their wish is to come to see *Wheel of Fortune*. So we have honored many kids' wishes, and it's always just so heartwarming and touching to see the joy that it brings them, and it's a great experience because it's something that you can't buy."
She continues, "It's so special, not only for the kid, but also for their parents, for all that they go through. It's a moment where they can just enjoy life and just be happy."
*This interview has been edited for clarity and length.*
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