Durham native Beth Barbee stepped onto the “Wheel of Fortune” stage for Disney Princess Week with little more than her love of genealogy and a steady smile—yet she left with a kingdom’s ransom in cash and prizes. Battling it out against California’s Twyla Arbuckle and Wisconsin’s Bryan Babler, Barbee found her rhythm early, spinning her way through opening puzzles while the studio’s glittering backdrop evoked Cinderella’s ballroom.
Her confidence snowballed when she nailed the playful phrase “Snow White Chocolate,” a solve that unlocked a Disney Princess vacation package. The audience erupted, and Barbee’s grin made it clear she had more than fairy-tale luck on her side.
The night’s dramatic pivot arrived on a nearly finished board: _ LLO_ING _ _ BL _ _. Arbuckle, perhaps flustered by the klieg lights, guessed a letter that was already shining on the screen. Barbee seized the moment, softly enunciating “Following My Bliss,” snatching a dreamy Disney Wish cruise as gasps swept the crowd.
With a hefty lead, she entered the Bonus Round staring at P_C_ _ NG PRO_ _ CE. Barely a heartbeat passed before she announced “Picking Produce,” unlocking an extra $40,000 while host Pat Sajak applauded her lightning-fast recall.
By the time the confetti settled, Barbee’s ledger boasted $72,392 in cash and prizes—a life-altering haul born of quick thinking, steady nerves, and one perfectly timed opponent misstep. For viewers at home, it was a reminder that on “Wheel of Fortune,” even a single errant consonant can flip the script from heartbreak to happily-ever-after.
