Laverne Cox is replacing Giuliana Rancic as E!'s new red-carpet host

• Emmy-winner Laverne Cox will take over as E!'s red-carpet correspondent.
• She replaces Giuliana Rancic, who has been the "Live From E!" red-carpet host for two decades.
• Rancic announced she was retiring after signing a development deal with NBCUniversal.

Laverne Cox will take over as E!'s red-carpet correspondent next year.

The Emmy winner and "Orange is the New Black" actress replaces Giuliana Rancic, who has been the "Live From E!" red-carpet host for two decades.

NBCUniversal announced on Monday that Rancic was stepping down, and that Cox would fill the role.

"Laverne Cox is a risktaker, groundbreaking pioneer, and a fashion tour de force," Jen Neal, executive vice president of E! News at NBCUniversal Television & Streaming, told The Hollywood Reporter. "As we continue to evolve the way we cover Hollywood's biggest nights, Laverne's passion for, and extensive knowledge of, the fashion community resonates with our audience and we look forward to seeing her shine on the other side of the velvet rope."

Cox told Variety that she plans to serve up "fashion fantasies for the ages" in her new role.

"For many years I would wake up early on awards show days, get my snacks in place and watch E!'s coverage all day long. I dreamed of walking red carpets," she said in a statement.

"Now, not only have I had several fun and amazing personal red carpet moments, I also get to be a red carpet guide for E!'s discerning audience and chat with my colleagues and folks I deeply admire for these very special events in their lives."

Cox was the first openly transgender person to be nominated for an Emmy Award in any acting category. She is currently hosting "The Laverne Cox Show" podcast and can next be seen in the Netflix series "Inventing Anna."

The announcement comes just days after it was revealed that Rancic would be retiring from the red carpet.

On Friday, Rancic told her Instagram followers that she has signed a new development deal with NBCUniversal - E!'s parent company - where she will be "producing and bringing stories to life."

"After 20 fabulous year's hosting E!'s red carpet, I have decided to step out of my red carpet heels into a new pair of shoes," Rancic wrote. "To my E! family, thank you for allowing me to make my red carpet dreams come true for the past two decades. It's truly been a highlight of my career and life. To my production team throughout the years, you are simply the best. We have made some beautiful memories together that I will carry with me."

A post shared by Giuliana Rancic (@giulianarancic)

A spokesperson for E! said the network will miss "watching Giuliana bring her iconic interview style, infectious humor and keen sense of fashion to E!'s red carpet."

"We look forward to collaborating with Giuliana in the future and we will always be her biggest fans - on and off the carpet," they added.

There have been a number of big recent changes to the E! awards show lineup. Ryan Seacrest announced he was leaving the program in February. A month later, longtime host Jason Kennedy revealed he was also departing after 16 years.