Ryan Seacrest made a surprise return to his old stomping ground, Live, to chat about Wheel of Fortune and American Idol — but it wasn’t game shows that got people talking. Instead, it was his shockingly honest take on marriage that left cohosts Kelly Ripa and Mark Consuelos completely speechless.

💬 The Confession That Stopped Everyone in Their Tracks

During the lighthearted reunion, Consuelos teased Seacrest about his recent role as officiant at his friend and colleague Tanya Rad’s wedding to Roby Yadegar earlier this year.

“You did it! You were close,” Mark joked, as Kelly laughed beside him. “You were at the altar — not getting married, but officiating. How did that go?”

Seacrest grinned and admitted, “Well, it’s as close to a wedding as I’ve ever gotten… or ever will be.”

The Wheel of Fortune host explained that he even took an online course to become ordained. Despite decades of live TV experience, Seacrest confessed it was “the most nerve-wracking thing” he’s ever done.

💔 “I’ve Given It a Lot of Thought…”

After sharing a touching story about the bride and groom’s deep love, Consuelos couldn’t help but ask: “Are you thinking about going down that road yourself, Ryan?”

With a thoughtful look, Seacrest replied, “Yeah… I’ve given it a lot of thought.”

That simple answer sent the studio crew into laughter. When Seacrest asked what was so funny, Kelly Ripa smiled knowingly: “They know you, Ryan. They know how much thought you’ve given it.”

Then came the moment that made headlines.

“Well, at this age,” Seacrest said, referencing his upcoming 50th birthday in December, “if I got married now, I’d probably die soon after — so really, what’s the point?”

Mark laughed, quipping, “You’ve got a good 17 years left.”

“Seventeen years?” Seacrest replied with a grin. “When you’re married, does that go faster or slower?”

😅 Kelly Ripa’s Playful Response

Kelly couldn’t resist chiming in with a cheeky observation: “They say single women without kids tend to live longer, while single men without kids tend to die sooner.”

In a rare display of on-air affection, Seacrest reached over, patted Kelly’s leg, and joked, “Well, let’s make sure we spend some quality time together then.” The room erupted in laughter.

💖 His Private Life Revealed

While Seacrest has always been open about his career, he’s remained remarkably private about his personal life. Most recently, he was in a relationship with model Aubrey Paige Petcosky from 2021 to 2024. The couple kept things low-profile before parting ways earlier this year.

Over the years, Seacrest has also been linked to actress and beauty queen Hilary Cruz, model Shayna Taylor, dancer Julianne Hough, model Jasmine Waltz, and model Shana Wall — though none of those relationships ever led to a walk down the aisle.

🌟 A Career First, Love Later?

For now, Seacrest seems focused on his thriving TV career — hosting Wheel of Fortune, producing hit shows, and keeping up with his ever-busy schedule.

But his candid reflection on Live struck a chord with fans, who praised his honesty and humor about aging, love, and the realities of fame.

As one viewer commented online:

“Ryan’s still charming as ever — and maybe deep down, he’s just waiting for the right person.”

Another added:

“He jokes about marriage, but you can tell he’s a romantic at heart.”