Laverne Cox to replace Giuliana Rancic as E! red carpet host: ‘I can’t wait to get started’

Love this news!

I’ll admit, the pandemic made awards shows – even the Oscars – seem far less important than they had in the past and there whole red carpet scene, which I once lived and breathed, seemed even more irrelevant.

But the news that Laverne Cox has been hired to replace Giuliana Rancic as the host of E! red carpet coverage is a very welcome development.

I’m so excited and deeply humbled to be hosting E!’s iconic red carpet coverage,” Cox says in a statement. “For many years I would wake up early on awards show days, get my snacks in place and watch E!’s coverage all day long. I dreamed of walking red carpets. Now, not only have I had several fun and amazing personal red carpet moments, I also get to be a red carpet guide for E!’s discerning audience and chat with my colleagues and folks I deeply admire for these very special events in their lives. I can’t wait to get started while hopefully serving up fashion fantasies for the ages honey.”

Cox’s hosting duties will begin in the 2022 awards season, and she will also host celebrity interview specials.

Rancic had been on the E! red carpet for 20 years and Ryan Seacrest had been hosting almost as long. He left E! a few years ago so he could focus on his other jobs hosting American Idol, Live With Kelly & Ryan, and a daily radio show.

Honestly, hooray for fresh faces in these jobs!