Ryan Seacrest Reveals the Advice Vanna White Gave Him Before His First Wheel of Fortune Show (Exclusive)

Ryan Seacrest is not having any issues behind the wheel. The media mogul began his role as Wheel of Fortune host earlier this month on Sept. 9, and he's quickly learned the ropes thanks to some advice from Vanna White .

"She said, 'Just go out there and have fun and be yourself,' " Seacrest told PEOPLE at the 2024 iHeartRadio Music Festival on Friday, Sept. 20.

"The good thing about this game show is that you get to be yourself," he added. "It has a little looseness to it. It doesn't have to be so strict and so formatted. It has those moments of real life and humanity."

Seacrest said that he and White, 67 — who has been on Wheel of Fortune since 1982 — "have known each other for two decades."

"We're friends, which has made it really, really nice and comfortable," he continued.

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Speaking about how important the show is for the contestants who participate, Seacrest said, "I think I know the show because I'm such a fan of the show, so you think that you know how it's going to go, but I never realized the excitement with those contestants when they win that money."

"They walk away with $114,000, $63,000, $42,000. This is life-changing money, and it's so incredible to see their reaction to that," the star added. "And they get to do it again every night."

Seacrest wore a different hat on Sept. 20, however, as host of the iHeartRadio Music Festival in Las Vegas — a role he's held for 14 years. "I look forward to these because there are always artists that are heritage artists, along with the pop artists," he said. "We get to [see] the Black Crowes , who I've never seen in my life live, but I played their music as a kid growing up all the time in my Jeep."

Alongside the Black Crowes, other performers this year include Big Sean , Camila Cabello , Doja Cat , Gwen Stefani , Hozier , Keith Urban , New Kids on the Block , Paramore , Shaboozey , Thomas Rhett , Victoria Monét and more.

The second night of the event is scheduled to take place at the T-Mobile Arena on Saturday, Sept. 21.