Nearly 40 years after husband’s big Wheel of Fortune win, Nashville woman gets her turn
Nearly 40 years after husband’s big Wheel of Fortune win, Nashville woman gets her turn
Maggie Weaver Sun, November 8, 2026 at 12:27 PM UTC
0
NASHVILLE, Tenn. (WKRN) — For one Nashville couple, a spin on Wheel of Fortune nearly 40 years ago helped set their love story in motion. Now, decades later, they’ve come full circle.
In 1987, John Sepp appeared on the popular game show and walked away with $52,000. His then-girlfriend, Marcy, was there to celebrate, running onto the stage after his big win.
“It was surreal, really, you know,” Marcy recalled. “And when I ran out there, at first I didn’t realize I was on camera.”
Outrage over national anthem performance at high school soccer game
John remembers the excitement continuing long after the cameras stopped rolling.
“I remember leaving the stage, and we got in the car, and we closed the doors, and we looked at each other, and we just started laughing our heads off,” John said.
But the winnings would do much more than give the couple a reason to celebrate.
John used some of the prize money to buy two dogs, fence in their yard and purchase a Toyota Land Cruiser. Then, he decided to make another investment in their future: an engagement ring.
“I said, you know what? I’m going to marry her. So I bought her engagement ring, and we started our life together,” John recalled. “And it was as a result, really, of the Wheel of Fortune that got the wheels in motion in our life.”
📧 Have breaking news come to you: Subscribe to News 2 email alerts →
The couple has now been married for 37 years, raising four children and welcoming 11 grandchildren along the way.
And through it all, Wheel of Fortune has remained a special part of their lives.
Advertisement
- (Courtesy: Sepp family)
(Courtesy: Sepp family)
(Courtesy: Sepp family)
Nearly four decades after John’s appearance, Marcy finally got her own chance to compete on the show.
Determined to make the most of the opportunity, the couple turned preparation into a team effort.
They watched old episodes, worked through puzzle books and practiced roughly 1,000 games together. John even took on the role of coach, hoping his wife could beat his $52,000 record.
Marcy’s episode aired this week, bringing their family’s Wheel of Fortune story full circle.
While she didn’t quite match her husband’s winnings, Marcy walked away with $4,000 and plenty of memories.
⏩ Read today's top stories on wkrn.com
“I’m happy that I had the experience. Of course, there’s some disappointment,” Marcy admitted.
Despite wishing she could have another shot at a few puzzles, she said the experience was everything she hoped it would be.
“It was fun. The people were very nice. Ryan Seacrest is great,” Marcy said. “He’s very warm and caring and interacted with us in between.”
As for how the couple plans to spend Marcy’s winnings, they’re considering putting the $4,000 toward a European vacation.
After 37 years of marriage, four children and 11 grandchildren, John and Marcy Sepp are proving their love story still has plenty of adventures ahead.
And it all started with a spin of the wheel.
Copyright 2026 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to WKRN News 2.
Source: “AOL Entertainment”
