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Ryan Seacrest

Ryan Seacrest

Ryan is quite simply one of the most influential, well-regarded, and well-known names in Hollywood. He is the quintessential Hollywood insider who...Full Bio

 

Ryan Seacrest Reflects on His Mentor Casey Kasem With Daughter Kerri Kasem

Credit: Getty Images

Ryan Seacrest connected with late legend Casey Kasem’s daughter Kerri Kasem on-air for an interview for Kerri’s podcast, The Red Pill.

Seacrest and Kerri reflected on Seacrest achieving his dream of being like the “untouchable” Casey, who founded and hosted American Top 40 in 1970, hosting the iconic weekend countdown show before Seacrest took over the mic in 2004.

“He was a legend and heard around the world,” Seacrest shared on-air. “I listened to him and I admired him and I wanted to do something in the universe like he did and long story short, things happen and they offer me to take over the American Top 40 for Casey Kasem. [Back then], I was 9 years old in Georgia; never been to Hollywood; thinking about 'how could I ever do something like that?'"

Kasem passed away in June 2014, but mentored and saw Seacrest take over the show, which is celebrating its 50th anniversary this year.

“Kerri and I were reminiscing about her dad … and I started telling her the story about how when I get to the No. 1 song every weekend I think of him,” Seacrest added. “…And I truly got emotional.”

Listen back to the emotional on-air moment above and check out Kerri’s podcast The Red Pill here.

Join Seacrest in celebrating AT40’s 50th anniversary all year long this weekend on AT40 and stay tuned via social @AT40.