Ryan Seacrest Fights Back Tears While Speaking About His Father's Ongoing Battle With Cancer: 'It Sucks'

"American Idol" host Ryan Seacrest recently gave listeners of his "On Air with Ryan Seacrest" radio show an emotional update about his father's health.

Gary Seacrest, who turns 81 in late July 2025, has been diagnosed with prostate cancer.

According to Ryan Seacrest, his dad lost much of his strength after also battling a frightening case of pneumonia; however, the 50-year-old revealed there are now hopeful signs of his father's recovery.

During his show, Ryan shared that he and his dad, Gary, have a very "close relationship," so seeing him battle prostate cancer has been quite difficult for him and his family.

The television personality then opened up about receiving a frantic phone call from his sister during the taping of an "American Idol" episode, urging him to fly to Atlanta as quickly as possible after his father was hospitalized with pneumonia.

"I finished the show. We were almost done. I couldn't, I couldn't even, I didn't even remember what I was saying was on the show. It was like robotic at that point," he said.

After landing in Georgia, Ryan recalled seeing his father in a deeply vulnerable state.

"... 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. And this is ICU. With pneumonia, with the cancer, after the chemo," he shared.

Elsewhere, during his radio show, Ryan shared that after his father was cured of pneumonia, he asked for one thing to celebrate his upcoming birthday: to get out of the house.

"And so last night I got the most powerful… 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 want to look at the water. They can't do much," Ryan said before getting emotional about the moment.

"So anyway, I watched them over the weekends send photos of smiling and happiness and being together — they've been married for 55 years. And they've got each other, and his pneumonia is gone, but his cancer is not, and so we have to go back into another treatment and fight this cancer. And it is, it is just, it's difficult. Cancer affects every one of us in some way. And it… then it sucks. The treatments suck," he said.

"I know he's going to get through this," Ryan stated. "You know, we were worried about flying and everything, he had to take oxygen on the plane."

He added, "Thank God he made it. And they're just happy to sit together looking at an ocean. And I just, I want to share that because I've been holding that in for a long time."

Ryan's emotional revelation had a profound impact on many of his listeners, who flooded his social media pages with well-wishes for him and his family.

"Sending you all the love," a user wrote. "Keeping your dad in my prayers."

Another user shared, "Ryan, showing emotion is ok. We love you. Your parents are a beautiful couple. I am praying for strength for your mom and dad. Hugs to all. Cancer sucks. I lost my dad and bonus dad to cancer."

And the adoration for the Seacrest family didn't end there. Someone else echoed a similar message, sharing, "We love you, Ryan Seacrest. Thank you for being transparent! Keeping both your parents in my prayers!"

A fourth fan told the radio host they "cried" after hearing him open up about his parents. "My prayers are with you and your family! We love you and we'll get through this," they commented.

"My heart goes out to you, and I will say prayers for both your parents," another wrote.