Ryan Seacrest Breaks Down in Tears Over Dad's Prostate Cancer Struggle: ‘No One Tells You How to Handle This'
The American Idol host was prompted to reveal his family's private struggle while discussing colleague Dennis Clark's 'victory story' of remission from cancer. Ryan, 50, had shared in a 2021 Instagram post that his father, who turns 81 on July 27, had been 'battling cancer for several years'— but at the time, they thought it was 'no longer detectable.'
However, as he said in a July 21 broadcast of On Air with Ryan Seacrest, "It got worse and it spread.'
View this post on Instagram
A post shared by On Air with Ryan Seacrest (@onairwithryan)
'When this happens to somebody or someone really close to you that you love, this is a hard thing to see, because the treatments that are commonly recommended can be barbaric to the system. They can cause so much damage to your body in other ways," Ryan shared.
The host also noted that Gary contracted pneumonia while undergoing chemotherapy. When Ryan was hosting American Idol's live shows last season, his sister Meredith called him with dire news: She said, ' 'Dad is in the ICU, and how fast can you get here?' '
Explaining that he's 'never really spoken about this,' Ryan said he somehow finished the episode even though 'I didn't even remember what I was saying.'
Once the show wrapped, he flew to Atlanta to see his father: 'The night that I got there, the conversation they were having with [my father] about an emergency surgery was a life or death conversation, and I've never seen my strong, very smart father with the look on his face that he had — and the concern, and looking at me to help guide what decisions should be made in this moment.'
Gary opted to not have surgery, Ryan said, explaining he visited his father daily in the hospital and ended up broadcasting his radio shows from his hotel room in Atlanta.
'When you see a parent suffering and when you see them going through this and you don't understand it yourself, you're just listening to all the different doctors and trying to make sense of what they're trying to suggest and do," he shared. "I didn't want to miss trying to understand who these people were that were taking care of my father.'
He continued: 'He could not get up to sit. He could not eat. He could not drink water. He could not go to the bathroom. Weeks go by in ICU and finally he began to get some strength back.'
Ryan noted that he wanted to help his mother, Connie, who is in remission from cancer. 'I needed her to take a break,' he said. 'When you're a kid, no one tells you how to handle this with your parents.'
'He slowly gained strength,' said Ryan, who went on to praise the 'angels' — the nurses — who looked after his father. 'The nurses are the people that nurture and care and have emotion about their patients. The nurses are the ones that are really looking after them day and night for hours, and I loved the team of nurses,' Ryan added, continuing to share that he sent them something to thank them afterward.
His father was released this month and is home in Atlanta with full-time care, Ryan shared. He also revealed that he has flown back and forth from Los Angeles every weekend to visit his father, who struggled to get up out of his chair for nearly five months. 'His birthday is in a few days, and I asked him, 'What would you like for your birthday?' ' to which Ryan recalled his father replying, ' 'I just want to get out of this chair. I just want to leave this house.' '
View this post on Instagram
A post shared by Ryan Seacrest (@ryanseacrest)
His voice audibly broke — and Ryan took a moment to steady his emotions. He shared that the night before, 'I got the most powerful, good, happy picture from my dad and my mother, who was with him. They went to a beach to sit outside. They just went to look at the water. They can't do much, but I saw him smile. I saw my mom smile."
'I'm embarrassed,' Ryan admitted as his emotions overtook him. 'I watched them over the weekend send photos of smiling and happiness, and being together. They've been married for over 55 years. They've got each other and the pneumonia is gone, but his cancer is not.'
He shared he was 'so excited and happy' for his colleague, Clark, 'When he had beaten it.'
'Cancer affects every one of us in some way, and it. And it sucks. And the treatments suck … treatments are tough. But I know he's going to get through this," Ryan continued.
Never miss a story — sign up for to stay up-to-date on the best of what PEOPLE has to offer, from celebrity news to compelling human interest stories.
Read the original article on People
Hashtags

Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles


Digital Trends
an hour ago
- Digital Trends
Sony makes one of the best OLED TVs, this deal makes it $900 more affordable
Every day we find incredible TV deals, so there's never really a point in buying a TV at the regular price. That is, unless you want one of the best TVs all around, which have more of a reason to not go on sale frequently. They already get lots of attention and have the chops to justify high prices. However, from time to time we do find a great deal on one of our favored TVs. This time around we're see a $900 discount on the 65-inch Sony Bravia 8 OLED, one of our picks for the best OLED TVs. Getting the TV now, which you can do simply by tapping the button below, will only cost you $1,900 instead of the usual $2,800. Read on to learn why the TV is so great, as well as to see the special reason why it's included in our list of OLED TVs. Why you should buy the Sony Bravia 8 OLED The Sony Bravia 8 OLED is a brilliant TV for your living room or gathering area. It's a weird thing to say, but a lot of TVs have a sort of 'hermit' personality and are really best enjoyed with a small group in a dark room. Not the Sony Bravia 8 OLED, with its wide viewing angle and ability to stand up to ambient lighting. This is a TV to grab the crew around and watch some ball or have in your living room to give you some company while you watch the kids. It's a TV to enhance your life with, but it doesn't have to So, why did this TV make it on our OLED shortlist? It happens to be the best Sony OLED for the price. And, of course, by this we mean its standard price. The quality is simply there; it has rich colors and black levels that make things pop, whether you're in the living room or not. So, why not grab it while it is $900 cheaper and you can get it for $1,900 instead of the usual $2,800.


Gizmodo
an hour ago
- Gizmodo
Nebula's Netflix Licensed Outdoor Projector Hits Lowest Price, Flying Off the Shelves
If you're in the North East, that month-long wave of humidity seems to have finally broken. It's comfortably to be outside again. So why not get back the lost weeks of summer outdoors by hosting movie night in your backyard? Get yourself set up with an outdoor projector. Amazon has the Nebula Capsule 3, an outdoor projector officially licensed by Netflix, on sale for a solid 26% off. The projector is normally priced at $530, but after the reduction, you only have to pay $390. That works out to a savings of $140. That's not all though. Click the 'Redeem' button on the product page to receive an additional 15% off. This projector is designed for portability and outdoor use. It runs off a battery that will last you for two and a half hours of watch time. That should be enough to cover the length of most movies. Though if you're watching some long epic like Lawrence of Arabia, you can always plug it into a portable power bank to score some extra hours of use. A power bank is not included, you'll have to find one separately. See at Amazon You can also use the projector as a Bluetooth speaker. When doing so, you can enjoy 8W Dolby Audio and get a whole 8 to 10 hours of listening time on a single charge. Back to movie watching, you can stretch the projection to a massive image of 120 inches across. You'll capture the feeling of the cinema right in your own backyard with a screen that big. It projects with 200 lumens of brightness in gorgeous 1080p. Set up could not be simpler. The Nebula Capsule 3 projector uses a intelligent environment adaptive technology that can automatically adjust screen fit, keystone correction, autofocus, and obstacle avoidance in just a matter of a few seconds. Out of the box, the Nebula Capsule 3 outdoor projector supports a ton of your favorite apps. Netflix comes pre-installed and you can also watch content through Google TV, YouTube, and more. The stand is adjustable up to 180 degrees so you can position the projector at the best angle that fits your particular viewing area. The projector is nearly pocket-sized, making it easy to take with you to a friend's house or a weekend getaway and make your favorite movie or show part of the trip. For a limited time, you can pick up the Nebula Capsule 3 outdoor projector for a reduced price of just $390. Normally, you' find this projector selling for $530, so you'll save a whole $140. But again, that's not all. Click the 'Redeem' button on the product page to receive an additional 15% off. See at Amazon
%3Amax_bytes(150000)%3Astrip_icc()%2FTAL-test-track-disneyworld-TESTTRACKDIS0725-b0103aa524cd4e1d9192c549fb1a3afb.jpg&w=3840&q=100)

Travel + Leisure
an hour ago
- Travel + Leisure
This Iconic Disney World Attraction Just Reopened With New Tech, Scenes, and Thrills—What to Know
Following an extensive refurbishment, Walt Disney World's Test Track has reopened with all new show scenes, on-board narration, vehicles, and queue. The high-speed thrill attraction has been an Epcot staple since 1999, and one of the Orlando destination's most popular rides. And now park goers can race to what Disney has called an all-new 'reimagined experience' that celebrates 'today's innovation while highlighting the past, present, and future.' The new Test Track is a collaboration between General Motors and Walt Disney Imagineering. Riders will first walk through a queue featuring six distinct exhibits that 'celebrate the vehicles—and people behind the vehicles—that push the envelope and help get people to our next chapter in our motion journey.' On display are futuristic, concept cars. Once on board, riders will journey through various show scenes that depict 'technological advances and how our lifestyles and relationships to mobility connect everyone.' The attraction taps into the spirit of the open road while showcasing the unique vantage point of how vehicles 'see' the world around us. To create this effect, Walt Disney Imagineering utilized over 29,000 points of light. And fans need not worry: The popular scenic outdoors portion where riders are thrust to an exhilarating 65 miles per hour remains. Guests will then exit into a sprawling Vehicle Showcase displaying the latest innovations from General Motors. The newly-refreshed ride also pays tribute to the early days of Epcot and its legacy. Longtime visitors will notice an all-new musical score featuring the 'It's Fun To Be Free,' theme song for World of Motion, the attraction that once occupied the space where Test Track sits today. And its exterior has also been given a refresh, inspired by the original pavilion's design. Test Track will operate with a standard queue and a single rider line. The attraction is also available to book through Disney World's paid expedited line system, Lightning Lane Multi Pass. Walt Disney World is currently celebrating 'Cool Kid Summer' with new experiences that include two all-new stage shows at Disney's Hollywood Studios, 'The Little Mermaid—A Musical Adventure' and 'Disney Villains: Unfairly Ever After,' and a brand-new evening parade at Magic Kingdom Park, 'Disney Starlight: Dream The Night Away.' And later this year, guests can look forward to a brand-new Pirates of the Caribbean-themed tavern, The Beak and Barrel, at the Magic Kingdom Park.