The rumours were true! Hayden Panettiere is off the market

Los Angeles - Hayden Panettiere has confirmed she is engaged to Wladimir Klitschko.

The 24-year-old actress is set to tie the knot with the World Heavyweight Champion boxer, 37, from Kazakhstan, after he popped the question earlier this year.

The Nashville star, who previously refused to comment on the enormous diamond ring on her finger, finally admitted she is set to wed her long-time boyfriend on Live With Kelly & Michael on Wednesday.

The blonde beauty, who appeared with a snake around her neck on the show, initially tried to avoid taking about her relationship status when host Kelly said: "I'm sort of distracted, not just by the snake, but there's a very large diamond ring on your finger. I'm not sure if you want to announce anything ... does that signify anything, is that a promise of something?"

Hayden confessed it "might" mean something and when Kelly asked her directly if she is engaged, she finally replied: "I am!"

The couple - who began dating in 2009 but split in 2011 - reconciled in January and were rumoured to have secretly gotten engaged in March during a trip to Florida.

Hayden previously revealed she is ready to settle down and become a mother.

She said: "I don't really have a plan. I've lived a very big life, and I don't feel my age, and I feel like I was born to be a mother. Sometimes people speak about having kids like, 'Your life ends - you're never going to be able to do anything again!' And I'm like, 'What are you talking about?' Motherhood is the most beautiful, exciting thing, and there's nothing that I feel like I can't accomplish while having children in my life."