Vanna White Hosts br ’Wheel of Fortune’ for First Time.br On Dec. 9, Vanna White stepped away from thebr ‘Wheel of Fortune’ letter board and into the show’sbr hosting role for the first time in 37 years.br Producers reportedly asked her to step in for longtime hostbr Pat Sajak after he had to undergo emergency intestinal surgery.br The request to host came as a surprise to White, whobr revealed she’d never before considered taking on the role.br I’ve never even thought of that inbr 37 years … and to be asked almostbr on the spot, ‘How do you feel aboutbr hosting the show?’ Like, what?! , Vanna White, via ‘NYT’.br Despite her admitted nerves, White successfully hosted thebr episode and will continue to do so for the next three weeks.br Normally I just stand there and I turn mybr letters, and I’m just happy as can be notbr having to worry about anything else …br But here I am controlling the game. Sobr logistically, it was much harder. But I knowbr every aspect of the game, which helped so much, Vanna White, via ‘NYT’.br Mickey and Minnie Mouse will take over White’s spot atbr the letter board for the next two weeks of her hosting gig,br with a mystery stand-in to take the role in the third week.