Pat Sajak started in Nashville before "Wheel of Fortune"

Pat Sajak will preside over his final round of "Wheel of Fortune" Friday night after more than 40 years at the helm of the classic game show.

Fun fact: His road to the "Wheel" passed through Nashville. One of Sajak's early broadcast jobs was as a weekend weatherman and host at WSMV in the 1970s. He also worked as a DJ at WSM radio .

Flashback: Sajak remembered packing up all of his things and moving to Nashville from Kentucky in the 1970s during a recent interview with his daughter.

• He initially worked the front desk at a Howard Johnson's. It was down the road from the WSMV studio, where he was a frequent visitor.
• "I would go there about once a week and beg for work," he said. Eventually, he got a job.

What he's saying: "I did a lot of stuff and learned a lot about television" in Nashville, Sajak said.

• WSMV reports Sajak left the TV station in 1977 to work in Los Angeles. A few years later, he was tapped to host "Wheel."

The intrigue: Sajak briefly hosted a late-night talk show from 1989-1990. He brought his WSMV buddy, the legendary late anchor Dan Miller, along for the ride as his on-air sidekick. They reminisced about their Nashville roots when Dolly Parton stopped by the show .

• "I do remember you guys," Parton said. "I became a big fan of yours."
• She described Sajak delivering one of his weather reports while wearing a clown collar.
• "It's stuff like that that got me to Hollywood, folks," Sajak said.

How to watch: "Wheel of Fortune" will air Sajak's last episode at 6:30pm Friday on WKRN.