“The View” star Sunny Hostin tearfully reveals on air that her aunt died of a heart attack 1 day prior

Sunny Hostin made a tearful reveal on Wednesday's episode of The View, as the cohost told her fellow panelists during a live segment about heart health that her aunt died of a heart attack one day prior.

As the Hot Topics table discussed American Heart Month and maintaining overall heart health with guest cohost, former permanent View panelist, and the American Heart Association representative Star Jones, Hostin opened up about the loss of her relative.

When moderator Whoopi Goldberg attempted to move the discussion along and tee up a question from Hostin, the Oscar-winning actress asked her colleague if she was able to continue with the interview.

Related: Original panelist Star Jones returns to cohost The View: 'Do not try to adjust your television'

"I'm sorry, my aunt died yesterday of a heart attack, so, can you take my questions?" Hostin said through tears, while cohost Alyssa Farah Griffin offered condolences and picked up in Hostin's place.

Entertainment Weekly has since learned that Hostin's aunt, Carmen Ramos, was her mother's older sister and was born in Puerto Rico, where Hostin's family is from.

Later in the show, Jones offered support to Hostin, who used a tissue to wipe away tears from her eyes throughout the discussion.

"Understand that your aunt is at home with her God, and we are here to fulfill her legacy," Jones told Hostin. "Do not worry about stuff like that. We're your girls. You're supposed to be vulnerable with your girls. That's what it's all about."

Jones, one of the original View cohosts who helped launch the show alongside Barbara Walters in 1997, also urged the audience to undergo routine tests and improve their daily lifestyle to help prevent heart disease.

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"Eighty percent of cardiovascular disease is actually preventable by us doing lifestyle changes. There's no magic bullet: Eating better, getting some exercise. I was the most sedentary, lazy human being on the planet. Now, my butt is out there working it out because I don't have a choice," Jones said, adding: "Please don't smoke. It's the dumbest, most expensive, ridiculously life-threatening habit there is. So, don't smoke. That will actually help out."

The View airs weekdays at 11 a.m. ET/10 a.m. PT on ABC.

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