Hayden Panettiere officially announced her engagement to boxer boyfriend Wladimir Kitschko Wednesday on "Live With Kelly & Michael."
While the "Nashville" star came out wearing a live boa constrictor, the snake did not prevent host Kelly Ripa from noticing the ring on the actress' finger.
"I'm sort of distracted, not just by the snake, but there's a very large diamond ring (SEE RING) on your ring finger," Ripa said. "I'm not sure if you want to announce anything. Does that signify anything, is that a promise of something?
The smiling 24-year-old responded, "It might be. I mean, I think it speaks for itself."
When Ripa asked the actress if she was engaged, Panettiere said "yes." The actress later added she had not picked a date yet, given her busy schedule.
The confirmation comes after weeks of speculation. Last month, the former "Heroes" star was spotted at the LAX airport wearing what was reported to be an engagement ring. In May, the blond beauty denied plans to marry, while flashing her left hand while E! News "no ring" at the Billboard Music Award.
Panettiere first met Klitschko, 37, in 2009 at a book party, and although they split for a time, they were back together by last spring.
"It's like the 2.0 version," she told Glamour magazine of their romance this time around. "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?"
Panettiere has returned to TV as Juliette Barnes in ABC's primetime country music drama, "Nashville". This season she'll compete with country's reigning queen, Rayna James, played by Connie Britton and some up-and-coming performers.
"This season it's even more fun because she kind of deserves it," Panettiere said on "Good Morning America". "This season I'm not going after somebody who doesn't deserve it. We talked about it in the first season where there's somebody who's always digging at your heels and waiting to take that spot and that's this girl. It's like dealing with a new Juliette Barnes."
