As Mary Hart prepares to say goodbye to “Entertainment Tonight” after 29 years with the program, they’ve finally lined up her replacement. Despite The Wrap’s exclusive report that Lara Spencer would take Hart’s place, People has official confirmation that Nancy O’Dell has landed the coveted gig.

The former “Access Hollywood” co-anchor will take over for Mary Hart, who is retiring in 2011 after 30 seasons of hosting the entertainment newsmagazine.

“I remember watching ‘Entertainment Tonight’ when it first premiered and dreaming about working for the show someday,” O’Dell said in a statement. “I am honored to be the one chosen to fill a TV legend’s seat and I hope I can do her proud!”

O’Dell will join the CBS syndicated entertainment news magazine in January as a special correspondent. After Hart finishes her final season on the show, she will step into the role of co-host alongside Mark Steines.

“Nancy is not only a talented individual in her own right, but someone who will fit beautifully alongside the very accomplished Mark Steines,” “ET” executive producer Linda Bell Blue says. “Together they will front the No. 1 entertainment newsmagazine in the world. Nancy comes to ‘ET’ with a stellar reputation, years of experience in solid reporting and brings with her an audience that trusts and admires her.”

Hart, 60, who joined “ET” in 1982, announced her plans to leave the show this past August. “Leaving this job was not an easy decision, but knowing I will pass the baton to Nancy O’Dell makes that decision much easier,” Hart said Monday. “Nancy is a talented and respected entertainment correspondent. We have spent many years working on opposite sides of the celebrity battlefield and I know the show will flourish with Nancy as co-anchor.”

A former Miss South Carolina, O’Dell previously hosted rival NBC show ‘Access Hollywood’ for 13 years before quitting unexpectedly last December. At the time it was announced that she’d walked away from the last two years of her contract in order to “take her career to the next level.” However, rumors quickly swirled that her swift exit was due to a rift with fellow co-host Billy Bush.

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