The Nashville star made the announcement during an appearance on Wednesday’s Live With Kelly & Michael. While the 24-year-old actress came out wearing a live boa constrictor, the snake didn’t prevent cohost Kelly Ripa from noticing the rock on her hand.
"I’m sort of distracted, not just by the snake, but there’s a very large diamond ring on your ring finger," said Ripa. "I’m not sure if you want to announce anything…Does that signify anything, is that a promise ring or something?" A smiling Panettiere responded, "It might be… mean, I think it speaks for itself.
While Panettiere was hesitant to acknowledge the significance of the diamond rock on her left hand’s ring finger, Ripa didn’t let the subject go that easily. Sure enough, when Ripa simply asked flat-out if she was engaged, Panettiere happily replied, "I am."
Last month, the former Heroes star was spotted at LAX airport wearing what appeared to be an engagement ring, prompting speculation she and Klitschko were planning on tying the knot.
But it’s no big secret that the couple were engaged as sources revealed to Us Weekly in March that they were getting hitched although Panettiere wasn’t “wearing her ring publicly yet” and neither of them confirmed the news.
Now, she proudly wears the diamond bauble after bouncing back in love with Klitschko earlier this year.While they met and began dating in 2009 their relationship came to an end two years later in May 2011. They reportedly rekindled their romance in January when Wladimir popped the big question.
“It’s like the 2.0 version,” the “Heroes” star said in the May 2013 issue of Glamour magazine. “I’ve always had great relationships and stayed really good friends with the guys I’ve dated. It blows my mind sometimes that us getting together has gotten so much attention. It’s like, Really? This is breaking news?”
It may not stop the press but if the 5 foot 2 inch Panettiere were to become pregnant by her 6 foot 6 inch Ukranian world heavyweight boxing champion that could very well be show-stopping news.
“I was born to be a mother,” she confessed to Glamour. “Motherhood is the most beautiful, exciting thing, and there’s nothing that I feel like I can’t accomplish while having children in my life.”