Jeopardy champion Christine Welchel loses her wig in her fourth match to “normalize cancer recovery”
Current Jeopardy champion Christine Welchel is back for her fourth game on Monday, but with a much different look.
The 37-year-old piano teacher and church organist from Spring Hill, Tennessee, wore a wig for her first three appearances on the show, but did not do so on Monday.
During a segment in which host Ken Jennings spoke to all three players, Welchel revealed why she decided to go without a wig.
Different looks: Current Jeopardy champion Christine Welchel is back for her fourth game on Monday, but with a very different look
Wig: 37-year-old piano teacher and church organist from Spring Hill, Tennessee wore a wig for her first three appearances on the show, but not on Monday
Jennings mentioned that fans who watched last week will notice that she looks a little different on Monday, and asked her to explain why.
“After … the profits, I decided I didn’t have to hide behind a wig anymore and I wanted to normalize what recovery from cancer looked like,” Welchel said.
Jennings said, “You look great and congratulations on your recovery,” as the audience applauded before returning to the game.
Different: Jennings mentioned that fans who watched last week will notice that she looks a little different on Monday, and asked her to explain why
Normalization: “After … the profits, I decided I didn’t have to hide behind a wig anymore and I wanted to normalize what cancer recovery looked like,” Welchel said.
Welchel won $ 34,000 in her first game, where during her segment with Jennings, she revealed she was diagnosed with breast cancer in March 2021.
“I was diagnosed in March 2021 and one of the first things I did a few weeks after I was diagnosed was take Jeopardy! test, ‘said Welchel.
“And I finally got my audition the night before the operation in May,” she added in Wednesday’s episode.
Game One: Whelchel won $ 34,000 in her first game, where during her segment with Jennings, she revealed she was diagnosed with breast cancer in March 2021.
She added: “Everything else went well and I’m cancer-free right now” before returning to the game.
Welchel actually won his first rare tie-break game with then-two-day champion, two-day champion Henry Rozycki, who both finished with $ 34,000.
Whelchel answered the question of the tie-break in front of Rozycki correctly, which made her the new Jeopardy champion.
No cancer: She added, “Everything else went well and I’m cancer-free right now,” before returning to the game.
She is currently earning $ 59,601 through her three-game winning streak.
Her current reign comes just a month after the end of Amy Schneider’s 40-game winning streak.
Schneider had the second longest winning streak in Jeopardy history, just behind the huge streak of 74 wins by current host Ken Jennings.
Winnings: She has currently won $ 59,601 through her three-game winning streak