Ryan Seacrest and Sister Meredith Say 'Pretending' to Be 'Bon Jovi and Madonna' as Kids Helped Inspire New Book (Exclusive)

Mar. 15, 2025

Ryan Seacrest (R) with his sister Meredith and her daughter Flora.Photo:Ryan Seacrest/Instagram

Ryan Seacrest/Instagram

Chasing dreams is part of the Seacrest family business, and now,Ryan Seacrestand his sister Meredith have each added children’s book author to their long list of accomplishments.

“I was pretending to be a news anchor and videotaping it on VHS. She was pretending to beMadonna. I was always pretending to beBon Jovi. It was this notion of how limitless is our imagination and how can we actually apply that to being creative and doing what we end up doing today, which is something that does require a little bit of believing,” Ryan,who just kicked off his newest gig hosting the 42nd season ofWheel of Fortune, tells PEOPLE.

Ryan and Meredith Seacrest’s new book cover.Simon & Schuster Books for Young Readers

Simon & Schuster Books for Young Readers

“I really pretended to be those people in a way that might’ve frightened them if they were to see how focused I was on it, at that age and at that time,” says Ryan with a laugh. “But I was very clear in wanting to do that or believing that would be something that I’d like to do.”

For Meredith, her penchant for playing Madonna (andDebbie Gibson, she says) meant that she and her brother “put on a lot of performances” as children, and translating those experiences to the page felt natural.

Meredith and Ryan Seacrest as children.connie seacrest

connie seacrest

And, while being at the heart of the action is second-nature to Ryan, Meredith says she is, ironically, just the opposite.

“Even though Ryan and I come from the same DNA, I am not as keen about being up on stage in front of people like him. I enjoy the behind-the-scenes,” she admits.

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Ryan agrees with his sister, though he sees her strengths in a different way. “She’s calm and chill, and I’m high-speed,” he says. “And the two of us balance each other out in a very good way. We have a great relationship. She texts me all the time!”

Meredith, who is six years younger than Ryan, says that growing up the two “rarely ever fought” as Ryan has always been very “protective.”

Ryan Seacrest, his niece Flora and his sister Meredith Seacrest Leach.Ryan Seacrest Instagram

Ryan Seacrest Instagram

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“Flora reminds me every day how uniquely special it is to be a child. Watching her play reminds me how it important it is to encourage our children to run wild with their own creativity, to put no cap on possibility,” says Meredith, who shares that she has already read the book to Flora many times.

“Ryan and I hoped the story would serve as a conversation-starter for parents and their little ones, and sure enough, Flora and I talk and giggle long after the final page,” she adds. “She also loves that the chocolate chip pancake part was her idea!”

The Make-Believersgoes on sale Oct. 8 and is available for preorder now, wherever books are sold.

source: people.com