Jay T.

Wheel of Fortune has been part of my family’s life for decades.
My parents watched the show every evening at 6:30, starting in 1982. And if I wasn’t watching it somewhere else, I was right there beside them, racing to solve the puzzles before they did. They always said I should audition — and in 2023, I finally did. Though they’ve since passed, I know they were proud when I was selected to become a contestant.

I was in class with my high school students when I got the email saying I’d be heading to Los Angeles for taping. I screamed out loud — scaring my students — but couldn’t tell them why I was so excited. As you can imagine, that was one of the hardest secrets I’ve ever had to keep.

After 42 years of watching Wheel of Fortune, I felt ready. But when those stage lights came on, it changed everything. The best way I can describe it is out-of-body — it all felt like a dream.

What truly made the experience life-changing, though, was the people behind the scenes. Every single person I encountered was kind, helpful, professional, and genuinely invested in making the day special. Vanna was an angel, meeting her was unforgettable. And then… Ryan Seacrest. That moment went beyond all expectations. I’ve loved him for years as a radio and TV host, and as a former morning show host myself, I’m a huge fan. He was warm, genuine, and kind. It was hard to hold back tears having this dream come true.

And the cherry on top? Getting interviewed by Maggie Sajak.

Sharing this experience with my wife Linda and daughter Sel was everything.
Sel, who is 30, is a heart patient living with stage 4 cirrhosis of the liver and only one functioning lung. This was such a beautiful, needed moment for her — one that she will cherish forever.

The other contestants were some of the sweetest people I’ve ever met. We shared something so unique, and those connections have turned into friendships I know will last a lifetime.

As someone who’s written thousands of songs and been a lifelong fan of pop music, being part of iHeartRadio Week felt like destiny. Then I found out it was Tournament Week and that the top three contestants would get to play with top recording artists? Are you kidding me? Surreal doesn't even begin to cover it.

This experience was truly life-changing.
Let me be very clear: if you’ve ever dreamed of being on Wheel of Fortune — apply.
You don’t want to miss out on the chance to be part of something this incredible.