Sunday TODAY with Willie Geist - Season 10 / Year 2024

In this week's Sunday Sitdown, actor Emily Blunt joins Willie Geist to discuss her Golden Globe nomination for her role in the film "Oppenheimer," which swept the summer with the "Barbenheimer" phenomenon, and answers a question submitted by her husband John Krasinski. The story of what happened at the Jan. 6th attack on the U.S. Capitol has been rewritten by former President Trump and other leaders who have a vested interest in a different version of the event. Now, a new polling shows that many Americans have bought it. NBC's Ken Dilanian reports in this week's Sunday Focus. The small town of Sheffield, Illinois was on the verge of becoming a food desert until the community got together to save a beloved institution. NBC's Maggie Vespa reports in this week's Sunday Spotlight. Richard Hunt, the prolific sculptor who turned metal into calls for freedom in the civil rights movement, has died at 88. Hunt's work has been featured at the Museum of Modern Art and the National Museum of African American History and Culture. Sunday TODAY's Willie Geist remembers a life well lived. Sunday TODAY's Willie Geist runs through the Highs and Lows of the week, including dogs with good table manners and an Aussie determined to break an underwear record.

In part one of this week's Sunday Sitdown, Tina Fey joins Willie Geist to talk about the return of "Mean Girls" 20-years later with a musical movie and recalls landing her dream job at "Saturday Night Live." Both the federal prosecutor investigating former President Donald Trump and judges presiding over his trials were targets of "swatting" in a series of false emergencies. Are the threats to public officials expected to increase as we enter the heat of an unprecedented presidential race? NBC's Gabe Gutierrez reports in this week's Sunday Focus. 

In this week's Sunday Sitdown, actor Colman Domingo joins Willie Geist to talk about his long road to the Hollywood spotlight, which began on stage and continued with major projects like "Fear the Walking Dead," "Euphoria" and his acclaimed performance in "Rustin." With the New Hampshire primary just two days away, former President Trump has ramped-up attacks on his rivals, especially Nikki Haley who questioned his mental fitness after he confused her with Nancy Pelosi. NBC's Ali Vitali reports for Sunday TODAY. Israeli troops bring NBC's Raf Sanchez through underground tunnels in Gaza where some of Hamas' Israeli hostages were in imprisoned. Meanwhile the Health Ministry reports the death toll in the war has topped 25,000. With sub-zero temperatures across most of the country, drivers of electric vehicles are growing frustrated over the flaws of lithium batteries that struggle to hold a charge. Now Ford is reducing production of electric vehicles, signaling a slowdown in the race toward an electric future. NBC's Adrienne Broaddus reports in this week's Sunday Focus.

This week the WWE announced a massive streaming deal with Netflix, signaling that live sporting events may be heading away from cable. Are televised sports on their way to streaming services for good and what will consumers end up paying? NBC's Steve Patterson reports in this week's Sunday Focus. An innovative new holographic exhibit at New York's Museum of Jewish Heritage called "Courage to Act: Rescue in Denmark," tells an extraordinary and relatively unknown story of how Denmark saved the vast majority of its Jewish population from the Nazis. NBC's Harry Smith reports in this week's Sunday Spotlight. An innovative new holographic exhibit at New York's Museum of Jewish Heritage called "Courage to Act: Rescue in Denmark," tells an extraordinary and relatively unknown story of how Denmark saved the vast majority of its Jewish population from the Nazis. NBC's Harry Smith reports in this week's Sunday Spotlight. Dr. Arno Penzias, the Nobel prize-winning physicist who helped find evidence to confirm the Big Bang theory, has died at 90. Penzias fled Nazi Germany before joining his colleague Dr. Robert Wilson to settle a long scientific debate over how the universe was born. Sunday TODAY's Willie Geist remembers a life well lived. Sunday TODAY's Willie Geist runs through the Highs and Lows of the week including a shirtless Jason Kelce cheering on his brother Travis in sub-freezing temperatures, a rise in visits to a mysterious rat hole on a Chicago sidewalk and more!

The heads of major social media companies traveled to Capitol Hill to face a group of United States senators who criticized them for not doing enough to protect young people online. Will this push the popular platforms to change for the sake of kids? NBC's Kate Snow reports in this week's Sunday Focus. Col. Roger Donlon, the first Medal of Honor recipient of the Vietnam War, has died at 89. Col. Donlon was honored for his extraordinary courage in battle running through gunfire to care for wounded soldiers when his unit came under attack. Sunday TODAY's Willie Geist remembers a life well lived. Sunday TODAY's Willie Geist runs through the Highs and Lows of the week, including the monthslong saga of Taylor Swift and Travis Kelce reaching the Super Bowl, Ed Sheeran at a cat café, a boy stuck inside a claw machine and more! Anti-immigration advocates descended upon the U.S.-Mexico border in Arizona, California and Texas to demand stricter laws and enforcement. Meanwhile the United States Senate could reveal details of the bipartisan immigration reform bill. NBC's Priscilla Thompson reports for Sunday TODAY. Mike Gill, who worked at the U.S. Commodity Futures Trading Commission under former President Trump, has died days after he was shot in a carjacking. Gill was a married father of three.

In this week's Sunday Sitdown, actor Catherine O'Hara joins Willie Geist for a conversation about her new movie "Argyle," the wild popularity of her eccentric character in "Schitt's Creek," the legacy of "Home Alone" and her early comedy days with future hall-of-famers. The kickoff for Super Bowl LVIII, the first ever in Las Vegas, is just hours away where Kansas City Chiefs will take on the San Francisco 49ers in a game that could break viewership records because of the demographic that's been tuning in to watch Taylor Swift. NBC's Kaylee Hartung reports for Sunday TODAY. King Charles III spoke out for the first time since his cancer diagnosis, thanking the British public for its support. For the first time ever, the Super Bowl is in Las Vegas and it's all thanks to a state-of-the-art arena that cost taxpayers a pretty penny. Local communities are told stadiums will bring jobs and boost income levels, but economists say many stadium investments have not paid off for their cities. NBC's David Noriega reports in this week's Sunday Focus. Aston "Family Man" Barrett, the legendary and longtime bassist of Bob Marley and the Wailers who helped spread reggae music around the world, has died at 77. Sunday TODAY's Willie Geist remembers a life well lived.

In this week's Sunday Sitdown, John Oliver joins Willie Geist at a pub to watch his beloved Liverpool football club and talk about the season premiere of "Last Week Tonight" following another round of Emmy wins. Oliver also looks back at his decision to come to America for a dream job on "The Daily Show." Former President Donald Trump is back on the campaign trail for the first time since a New York judge ordered him and his company to pay more than $350 million in damages for fraudulent business practices. NBC's Vaughn Hillyard reports for Sunday TODAY. University of Iowa superstar Caitlin Clark has become the NCAA women basketball's all-time career scoring leader. While leading the nation in scoring, Clark is filling arenas at home and on the road with record television ratings as millions watch to see what she will do next. NBC's Harry Smith reports in this week's Sunday Focus. New Orleans' forgotten history of opera music is being brought back to life after centuries of neglect through the discovery of lost works of local composers of color. NBC's Priscilla Thompson reports in this week's Sunday Spotlight. Sunday TODAY's Willie Geist runs through the Highs and Lows of the week including Jason Kelce stealing the show at the Kansas City Chief's victory party, a dog taking his stolen snack to new heights and more!

In this week's Sunday Sitdown, Emmy-winning star Sheryl Lee Ralph joins Willie Geist to celebrate her recent success after four decades in the business and her support of teachers like the one she plays on her hit show "Abbott Elementary." Ralph also recalls the conversation with Robert De Niro that kept her moving in the right direction. Former President Donald Trump took another big step toward the Republican presidential nomination after taking the victory over former South Carolina governor Nikki Haley in her home state's primary election. NBC's Garrett Haake reports for Sunday TODAY. The 2024 Screen Actors Guild Awards gave another window into who may win the upcoming Oscars with "Oppenheimer" scooping top honors. The ceremony featured grateful speeches and some epic reunions from the cast of "Breaking Bad," "The Devil Wears Prada" and more! NBC's Priya Sridhar reports for Sunday TODAY. In 2020, the Dome Fire killed more than a million Joshua trees as it ripped across the Mojave National Preserve in California. Now an effort is underway with the help of camels to save the iconic trees by distributing seeds across the Mojave Desert. NBC's Liz Kreutz reports in this week's Sunday Spotlight. Sunday TODAY's Willie Geist runs through the Highs and Lows of the week including Beyonce's record-breaking country hit, a dad embracing his newly inflated reality and more! 

In this Sunday Sitdown lookback, actor Sydney Sweeney joins Willie Geist to talk about her rise to fame on the two massively popular series "Euphoria" and "White Lotus," her film "Reality" and her passion for restoring vintage cars. Firefighters are battling the largest wildfire in state history as strong winds and low humidity all fuel the Smokehouse Creek Fire that has killed at least two people and burned more than 1,700 square miles. The Israeli military says the civilians killed near an aid convoy in Gaza last week were trampled and that Israeli troops did not carry out a strike. This contradicts the accounts of eyewitnesses and doctors who say many people were shot. LeBron James, 39, has become the first player in NBA history to reach 40,000 career regular-season points. Iowa's Caitlin Clark could become the greatest scorer, man or woman, in Division I college basketball history as she plays in her final home game. The current record holder is basketball legend Pete Maravich. NBC's Jesse Kirsch reports for Sunday TODAY.

n this week's Sunday Sitdown, seven-time Grammy winner Kacey Musgraves joins Willie Geist at the historic Electric Lady Studios to talk about her new album "Deeper Well" and how she built a music career on her terms despite some early doubters. Kensington Palace has released the first official photo of Catherine, Princess of Wales, since she underwent abdominal surgery, adding a message thanking the public for their well wishes. The 96th Academy Awards will be held Sunday with "Oppenheimer" leading the list of favorites across several categories. Fans can expect some surprises and some singing from Ryan Gosling. NBC's Priya Sridhar reports for Sunday TODAY. A young sailor named Cole Brauer from Long Island has joined the exclusive club of people who have sailed nonstop around the world alone, making history in the process. NBC's Emilie Ikeda reports in this week's Sunday Focus. Juli Lynne Charlot, the amateur designer who created the poodle skirt that came to define the 1950s, has died at 101. Charlot sang as a soprano in the Los Angeles Civic Light Opera and toured military bases during World War II with the Marx Brothers. Sunday TODAY's Willie Geist remembers a life well lived. Willie Geist wraps up Sunday TODAY by sharing mug shots sent in by viewers. This week, Willie gives a shoutout to Catalina celebrating her 91st birthday in Detroit! To share your photos, use #SundayTODAY on social media.

In this week's Sunday Sitdown, Academy Award-winning actor Kate Winslet joins Willie Geist to talk about her new role as a dictator losing her grip in the buzzed-about new series "The Regime" and the head-spinning whirlwind of life after starring in one of the biggest movies in Hollywood history. With a handful of conference championships still to be decided this afternoon, college basketball fans are ready to fill out their March Madness brackets when the men's and women's fields are announced. NBC's Jesse Kirsch reports for Sunday TODAY. The House of Representatives passed a bill that could ban TikTok if the popular app does not separate from its Chinese parent company ByteDance. The vote was bipartisan and passed in a landslide even after millions of users spoke out against the ban. NBC's Savannah Sellers reports in this week's Sunday Focus. As sensational as MLB all-star Mookie Betts is at baseball, he spends his time away from the field on another American pastime that he says helps his success at-bat. NBC's Morgan Chesky reports in this week's Sunday Spotlight. Sunday TODAY's Willie Geist runs through the Highs and Lows of the week including Ryan Gosling's performance of "I'm Just Ken" at the Oscars, rats raiding a police evidence room and more! 

In this week's Sunday Sitdown, country superstar Kenny Chesney joins Willie Geist to talk about his new album "Born," taking his show on the road with the "Sun Goes Down" tour and finding his groove thanks to fans of his No Shoes Nation. Pope Francis skipped reading his homily while presiding over Mass in St. Peter's Square on Palm Sunday. The Pope's been dealing with several health battles the last few weeks, including bronchitis and the flu. Two people were killed, including a child, and about 10 others injured when a school bus coming back from a field trip was hit by a concrete truck going the wrong way. The school district said the bus did not have seatbelts and will be looking into adding them in the future. With the second round of March Madness 2024 wrapping up later for the men, the women are just getting started with underdog teams winning at a historic rate and Iowa's Caitlin Clark once again showing why she's the most exciting basketball player in the country right now. NBC's Marissa Parra reports for Sunday TODAY. Kate Middleton, the Princess of Wales, has been in the harsh glare of the public spotlight recently with commenters online wondering why she hadn't been seen out since her abdominal surgery in January. Now that Kate has put those questions to rest by announcing her cancer discovery, will it be enough to stop the rumor mill? NBC's Molly Hunter reports in this week's Sunday Focus.

In this week's Sunday Sitdown, comedy icon Carol Burnett joins Willie Geist to talk about her new series "Palm Royale" and her rise from a difficult childhood to become one of the funniest and most influential people in American culture. In his most significant appearance since his announcement that he is battling cancer, King Charles attended Easter Sunday services in Windsor. The king has not resumed public duties since his announcement. NBC's Meagan Fitzgerald reports for Sunday TODAY. AT&T is warning more than 70 million current and former customers that their personal information may have been leaked on the dark web and to reset their passwords. The company is offering free credit monitoring to those who are affected. The men's Final Four is gearing up with the UConn Huskies facing the Alabama Crimson Tide and on the women's side, the Iowa Hawkeyes are preparing for a highly-anticipated rematch with LSU in the Elite Eight. NBC's Jesse Kirsch reports for Sunday TODAY. Demolition crews have started removing the wreckage of the Francis Scott Key Bridge as the families of six construction workers grieve and investigators question how the fully-loaded cargo ship tragically lost control. NBC's Tom Costello reports in this week's Sunday Focus.

Larry David explains to Willie Geist why he deserves credit for inventing a coffee cup with a hole in the lid from his days working as a cab driver. "I invented the hole in the lid — haven't made a nickel from it." The NCAA women's basketball championship game is set with the Iowa Hawkeyes taking on the undefeated South Carolina Gamecocks. Meanwhile on the men's side, the UConn Huskies look to go back-to-back against the Purdue Boilermakers. NBC's Jesse Kirsch reports for Sunday TODAY. Cities and towns across the U.S. will descend into darkness on Monday for up to 4 and a half minutes as the moon blocks the sun. The path of totality will stretch across 15 states from Texas to Maine and pass over an estimated 31 million people. NBC's Priscilla Thompson reports in this week's Sunday Focus. Sunday TODAY's Willie Geist runs through the Highs and Lows of the week including a couple giving daily pregnancy updates through their neighbors Ring camera, a thief in a trash bag caught on camera and more! Lou Conter, the last known survivor of the USS Arizona that was attacked during the Japanese bombing of Pearl Harbor, has died at 102. During the attack Conter tended to the wounded and rescued fellow servicemen for 30 minutes before the command was given to abandon ship. Sunday TODAY's Willie Geist remembers a life well lived.

In this week's Sunday Sitdown, 16-time Grammy winner Alicia Keys joins Willie Geist as she prepares to open her acclaimed coming-of-age musical "Hell's Kitchen" on Broadway that's inspired by her own life and more than a decade in the making. The Israeli people are back out on the street and air restrictions have been lifted after the country foiled a massive drone and ballistic missile attack from Iran. All of the drones were shot down and only a few ballistic missiles made it into the country causing minimal damage. NBC's Richard Engel reports for Sunday TODAY. Nearly 30 years ago, on the night of June 17, 1994, Americans sat glued to their televisions watching a slow-speed chase with beloved former football star O.J. Simpson in the back of a white Ford Bronco and a convoy of police cars. The chase was the beginning of a long saga that captivated the country with Simpson on trial for the murder of his ex-wife Nicole Brown Simpson and her friend Ron Goldman. NBC's Steve Patterson reports in this week's Sunday Focus. Sunday TODAY's Willie Geist runs through the Highs and Lows of the week including a science class from 1978 reuniting with their teacher to witness the once-in-a-generation total solar eclipse, a racehorse trotting on the wrong track and more!  Trina Robbins, the first female cartoonist to draw a full issue of "Wonder Woman," has died at 85. Robbins' legacy was immortalized when a group of women paid tribute by drawing her in a scene with the superhero she helped bring to life. Sunday TODAY's Willie Geist remembers a life well lived. 

In this week's Sunday Sitdown, Emmy-winning actor Hannah Waddingham joins Willie Geist to discuss her role in "The Fall Guy" and reflect on her climb from being a leading lady on stage to a breakout star in the hit series "Ted Lasso." After the NBA banned Toronto Raptors reserve player Jontay Porter after a sports gambling probe, the leagues that have been doing business with betting sites are scrambling to protect the integrity of their games. NBC's Adrienne Broaddus reports in this week's Sunday Focus. Sunday TODAY's Willie Geist runs through the Highs and Lows of the week, including Caitlin Clark's reported shoe deal with Nike, a behind-the-scenes look at the hilarious "Beavis & Butthead" sketch on "Saturday Night Live" and more! In a preview of Kevin Bacon's return to Payson High where "Footloose" was filmed, the actor tells NBC's Kaylee Hartung exclusively on TODAY about one student who gave him a reality check by reminding him that it's been 40 years since iconic film premiered. The future of popular social media platform TikTok is in jeopardy after a rare bipartisan vote in the House will force the app's Chinese parent company to sell the platform. NBC's Aaron Gilchrist reports for Sunday TODAY.

In this Sunday Sitdown lookback, Golden State Warriors star Steph Curry joins Willie Geist at the driving range to talk about his recent victory on the golf course, his new documentary, his journey to four NBA titles and his plans for the future. Another dangerous tornado outbreak swept across the Midwest and Plains states with the town of Sulphur, Oklahoma flattened. NBC's Marissa Parra reports for Sunday TODAY. Disgraced movie mogul Harvey Weinstein has been hospitalized just days after a New York appeals court overturned his 2020 rape conviction. Weinstein's attorney says the former film producer was being checked out at the Rikers Island jail when doctors decided to send Weinstein to Bellevue Hospital for more extensive testing. Former Olympic champion gymnast Gabby Douglas returned to competition for the first time in eight years at the American Classic in Texas, where she qualified for a spot at the U.S. Championship with a chance at joining Team USA in Paris. Sunday TODAY's Willie Geist runs through the Highs and Lows of the week including sleuthing Swifties who say that "So High School" is about Travis Kelce, a boy writing a song to celebrate his grandma's good health and more! A shoe repair expert in Central Florida named Jim McFarland has become an unlikely social media sensation known as "America's Cobbler" while continuing a family tradition that stretches back over a century. NBC's Sam Brock reports in this week's Sunday Spotlight.

In this week's Sunday Sitdown, Glen Powell joins Willie Geist to talk ‘Hit Man,' the new film he co-wrote and stars in and shares the wisdom from acting legends like Denzel Washington and Tom Cruise that guided his success. With just over two months until the Paris Olympics, Simone Biles, Suni Lee and Gabby Douglas faced off at the Core Hydration Classic. NBC's Adrienne Broaddus reports for Sunday TODAY. Scottie Scheffler had a rare rough day on the course at the 2024 PGA Championship just one day after he was arrested in a traffic stop outside Valhalla Golf Club. He is set to be arraigned on Tuesday. David Sanborn, the Grammy-winning saxophone player who took up the instrument on the advice of a doctor and would go on to play some of the most memorable songs in the history of music, has died at 78. Sunday TODAY's Willie Geist remembers a life well lived. Benny Gantz, a top member of Israel's war cabinet and a rival of Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, is warning he will resign if the prime minister does not change course in Gaza.

PGA golfer Grayson Murray has died at age 30 just one day after he pulled out of tournament in Texas. The cause of death remains unknown. NBC's Erin McLaughlin reports for Sunday TODAY. Richard Sherman, the man who with his brother Robert wrote hundreds of songs for Disney including "Chitty Chitty Bang Bang" and "It's a Small World," has died at 95. NBC's Joe Fryer runs through the Highs and Lows of the week on Sunday TODAY, including a successful promposal with an assist from Bryce Harper, a little girl proving you're never too young to worry about inflation and more! Actor Scarlett Johansson has hired a lawyer after ChatGPT debuted the voice of a new interactive assistant that she says sounds similar to hers. While the OpenAI's CEO says it was never intended to sound like Johansson, the accusation has added to the growing concerns over voice cloning abilities. NBC's Dana Griffin reports in this week's Sunday Focus. The TSA is reporting that Friday was busiest day ever for air travel with more than 2.9 million passengers going through America's airports. That beats the previous record set this past Thanksgiving. Joe Fryer wraps up Sunday TODAY by sharing mug shots sent in by viewers. This week, Joe gives a shout out to drivers Josef Newgarden, Will Power and Scott McLaughlin ahead of the Indianapolis 500! To share your photos, use #SundayTODAY on social media.

NASA is hoping it will get another chance to send the Boeing Starliner into space after it was scrubbed with less than four minutes before liftoff because of a problem with one of the computers. When the Starliner is launched, it will be the first time Boeing sends a crewed ship into space. Some of the biggest retailers and fast food chains in the United States have cut prices to get customers back into their stores. NBC's Christine Romans reports in this week's Sunday Focus. Megan Khang and Alison Lee are leading the rise of a new generation of Asian American players that have been inspired by pioneering stars like Michelle Wie, who has helped to change the face of women's golf in America. NBC's Kathy Park reports in this week's Sunday Spotlight. Bette Nash, who holds the Guinness Book of World Records title for being the longest-serving flight attendant in the history of aviation, has died at 88. Nash became such a fixture on the flight between Washington and Boston that the route became known as "the Nash Dash." Sunday TODAY's Willie Geist remembers a life well lived. Sunday TODAY's Willie Geist runs through the Highs and Lows of the week including American Abby Lampe winning her second cheese roll race in England, a man with a suspended licensed joining his Zoom court hearing while driving and more!

In Part 2 of this week's Sunday Sitdown, Jon Bon Jovi tells Willie Geist about his love for his home state of New Jersey and dedication to his wife Dorothea and their children. With the Paris Olympics less than six weeks away, the U.S. Olympic Swimming Trials are giving fans a clearer picture of the swimmers who will represent Team USA including legend Katie Ledecky, who's already back in gold medal form. NBC's Jesse Kirsch reports for Sunday TODAY. More than 100 comedians from around the world, including Jimmy Fallon, Chris Rock and Julia Luis-Dreyfus, were invited to the Vatican for an event hosted by Pope Francis. Sunday TODAY's Willie Geist runs through the Highs and Lows of the week including Henry Winkler being safely evacuated by firefighters after a hotel fire in Dublin, a cautionary tale about the consequences of running onto the field during an MLB game and more. 

Dangerous hot temperatures will linger across the country from California all the way to New England impacting 94 million people with some places reaching well into the triple digits. NBC's Ryan Hanrahan tracks the latest forecast on Sunday TODAY. The U.S. Olympic swim finals are winding down as the track and field trials are heating up. Sprinting sensation Sha'Carri Richardson flew to victory, marking her second chance after she was Tokyo-bound before testing positive for THC. NBC's Jesse Kirsch reports for Sunday TODAY. Taylor Swift took a selfie backstage with Prince William and two of his three kids, Prince George and Princess Charlotte. The Royal Guard marked the first leg of Swift's eight-night sold-out run at Wembley by playing "Shake It Off" during a changing of the guard outside Buckingham Palace. Lynn Conway, the woman who blazed a trail in supercomputing all while being forced to keep a part of her life secret, has died at 86. Conway was among the first Americans to undergo transition surgery and became a prominent activist for trans rights. NBC's Joe Fryer remembers a life well lived on Sunday TODAY.NBC's Joe Fryer runs through the Highs and Lows of the week on Sunday TODAY including an influencer's hot dog fail caught on camera, a group of goats' day of fun at an amusement park and more! 

In this week's Sunday Sitdown, country music artist Lainey Wilson joins Willie Geist for a discussion about her upcoming album, "Whirlwind," her breakout role on the hit Western show "Yellowstone" and her induction into the Grand Ole Opry. Members of Team USA are claiming their spots for the 2024 Paris Olympics as the gymnastics and track and field finals wrap up. Noah Lyles punched his ticket to the games while Gabby Thomas earned her spot in the women's 200-meter final. NBC's Jesse Kirsch reports for Sunday TODAY. Russell Morash, the godfather of do-it-yourself television who created "This Old House" and produced "The French Chef" with Julia Child, has died at 88. Morash pioneered putting people on TV to teach viewers specific skills. Sunday TODAY's Willie Geist remembers a life well lived. The Olympic Games has always specialized in pageantry, and Paris is in the final phases of turning itself into a Summer Olympics venue. Instead of walking into a stadium during the opening ceremony, athletes from around the world will float into the City of Light down the Seine River before competing in the shadow of notable landmarks. NBC's Keir Simmons reports in this week's Sunday Focus.

Millions of people in Texas are bracing for Tropical Storm Beryl, which is expected to strengthen into a hurricane again as it makes landfall. NBC's Priscilla Thompson reports for Sunday TODAY. Khyree Jackson, a 24-year-old NFL rookie who was drafted by the Minnesota Vikings in April, has been killed in a car accident in Maryland. Investigators believe the car Jackson was riding in was struck by another vehicle changing lanes at high speed. The TSA is expecting Sunday, July 7 to be the busiest day ever for air travel in the United States. NBC's Adrienne Broaddus reports for Sunday TODAY. Caitlin Clark has made WNBA history as the first rookie ever to record a triple-double after scoring 19 points, 13 assists and pulling down 12 rebounds in a win over the first place New York Liberty. Sunday TODAY's Willie Geist runs through the Highs and Lows of the week, including Joey Chestnut's show of dominance after being barred from Nathan's competition, a dog's epic mud bath and more! Willie Geist wraps up Sunday TODAY by sharing mug shots sent in by viewers. This week, Willie gives a shout out to Emily getting ready for her wedding by enjoying a spa day with her mom, Maria! To share your photos, use #SundayTODAY on social media.

In part one of this week's Sunday Sitdown, Sunday TODAY's Willie Geist joins music legend Billy Joel at his home on Long Island to look back through fifty years of his iconic music. Joel reflects on the end of his record-breaking run at Madison Square Garden and reacts to the sing-along legacy of "Piano Man." In part two of this week's Sunday Sitdown, Billy Joel tells Willie Geist about the origins of his classic songs "Piano Man" and "Uptown Girl" and shares his thoughts on fan theories about one his songs. Joel also reveals how he spoke with Don Henley and Bruce Springsteen about plans for his next move after the final show of his record-breaking residency at Madison Square Garden. France put on a show for the ages and Team USA, chock-full of gold medal stars, delivered a resounding win for the United States. The Games closed with Tom Cruise bringing the Olympic flag in true Hollywood style from Paris to Los Angeles, which has big plans of its own for 2028. NBC's Anne Thompson reports in this week's Sunday Focus. 

Israeli officials say they've launched a preemptive strike across southern Lebanon bombing Hezbollah rocket launchers embedded in civilian areas. Hezbollah rejects this version of events and said they used rockets to knock down Israeli infrastructure. NBC's Daniele Hamamdjian reports for TODAY. NASA says the two astronauts who were scheduled to spend only eight days on the International Space Station from Boeing's Starliner space capsule are now set to return home on a SpaceX capsule in February 2025. NBC's Marissa Parra reports for TODAY. Ruth Johnson Colvin, the extraordinary woman who started a literacy organization in her basement that turned into the global movement called Literacy Volunteers of America, has died at 107. Sunday TODAY's Willie Geist remembers a life well lived. Sunday TODAY's Willie Geist runs through the highs and lows of the week including a new twist to a routine bureaucratic tradition at national political conventions, Coldplay honoring Taylor Swift fans in Vienna and more.

The Israeli military has reported that six hostages were found dead in a tunnel in southern Gaza. Among them was 23-year-old Israeli-American Hersh Goldberg-Polin. NBC's Matt Bradley reports for Sunday TODAY. Vice President Kamala Harris put out a statement criticizing former President Donald Trump for his controversial visit to Arlington National Cemetery. Trump said he did not use the graves for "public relations." NBC's Gabe Gutierrez reports for Sunday TODAY. San Francisco 49ers rookie receiver Ricky Pearsall is recovering and in stable condition a day after he was shot in the chest during a robbery attempt. Police say he was walking alone when a 17-year-old confronted him and shot him during the struggle. A viral photo from 2023 of teens in Bhutan playing baseball caught the attention of the New York Yankees, leading those unlikely fans to make pilgrimage to the house that Jeter built. NBC's Steven Romo reports in this week's Sunday Spotlight. Sunday TODAY's Willie Geist runs through the highs and lows of the week including Shohei Ohtani's dog Decoy throwing the first pitch, a dad documenting his daughter's first of days of school and more!

In this week's Sunday Sitdown, Oscar-nominated actor Don Cheadle joins Willie Geist to talk about his new series, "Fight Night: The Million Dollar Heist." Cheadle reflects on his prolific career that spans the stages of New York, an all-star ensemble in the "Ocean's" movies, a superhero role in the Marvel universe and an Academy Award nomination for "Hotel Rwanda." A shooter opened fire on drivers along Interstate 75 in Kentucky. Five people were seriously hurt, and a manhunt is underway for a suspect identified as a 32-year-old man. NBC's Priya Sridhar reports for Sunday TODAY. WNBA star rookie Angel Reese will sit out the rest of the season after suffering a wrist injury during a game on Friday. In her debut year, she set a WNBA record with 15 double-doubles, already breaking the league's single-season rebounds record. The NFL is officially back with fans, tailgates and fireworks on and off the field. With a new series of international matchups, an increase in female viewership and can't-miss games, the new level of popularity for the league promises another blockbuster season. NBC's Shaquille Brewster reports in this week's Sunday Focus.

In this week's Sunday Sitdown, Ryan Reynolds joins Willie Geist for a wide-ranging discussion about the record-breaking "Deadpool & Wolverine," his family and career. Reynolds also opens up about his late father's twenty-year battle with Parkinson's. Former President Trump's amplification during the debate of a baseless online claim that Haitian immigrants in Springfield, Ohio are eating local pets has led to a flood of threats in the city. NBC's Maggie Vespa reports for Sunday TODAY. The red carpet is out for a big night in Hollywood to celebrate the best of the year in television at the 76th annual Primetime Emmy Awards where "Shogun" and "The Bear" have combined for almost 50 nominations. NBC's Sam Brock reports for Sunday TODAY. The four civilian astronauts aboard SpaceX's historic Polaris Dawn splashed down safely after a 5-day mission to space that included the first-ever civilian spacewalk. The successful trip to Earth's orbit was another step in the direction of civilians traveling into space. NBC's Priscilla Thompson reports in this week's Sunday Focus.

Police say at least four people were killed and dozens more injured when several shooters fired into a crowd in a popular entertainment district of Birmingham, Alabama. Local law enforcement is asking the FBI and the ATF to help in the search for the suspects. Former President Trump campaigned in the battleground state of North Carolina, making no mention of embattled GOP candidate Mark Robinson. Trump addressed the possibility of another debate after the Harris campaign accepted CNN's invitation for October. NBC's Dasha Burns reports for Sunday TODAY. The WNBA 2024 playoffs is set to begin with eight teams competing for the women's basketball championship after a record-setting season and skyrocketing interest in the league. Caitlin Clark will lead the Indiana Fever to the postseason for the first time in eight years. NBC's Shaquille Brewster reports for Sunday TODAY. Will Jennings, the Oscar-winning co-writer of Céline Dion's "My Heart Will Go On," has died at 80. The Hall of Fame songwriter was quietly behind some of the most famous songs of the last half-century including Eric Clapton's "Tears in Heaven" and countless other classics. Sunday TODAY's Willie Geist remembers a life well lived. 

The Southeast is dealing with the devastating impact of Hurricane Helene after the storm destroyed entire communities from Florida to North Carolina with flooding and mudslides that caused widespread damage. The death toll has risen to at least 64. NBC's George Solis reports for Sunday TODAY. Governor Tim Walz is set to go toe-to-toe with Senator JD Vance in their sole vice presidential debate as former President Donald Trump rallied on the western edge of Wisconsin, blasting Vice President Kamala Harris' trip to the border. NBC's Vaughn Hillyard reports for Sunday TODAY. The SpaceX rocket sent to bring home the two Boeing Starliner astronauts stranded in space will dock at the International Space Station after blasting off on Saturday. NBC's Tom Costello reports for Sunday TODAY. Congress is pushing companies like Ozempic and Wegovy, which make weight loss drugs that have changed the lives of millions of Americans, to lower their prices and make them more affordable to the masses. NBC's Dana Griffin reports in this week's Sunday Focus. As the Tennessee Titans' rookie head coach Brian Callahan looks to lead his team to their first win of the season, he doesn't have to look far for fatherly advice. When Callahan was hired in 2024, he also brought an unlikely coaching playbook, an offensive line coach who happens to be his dad. NBC's Jesse Kirsch reports in this week's Sunday Spotlight.

In this week's Sunday Sitdown, rapper-turned-country star Jelly Roll joins Willie Geist for a conversation about his new album "Beautifully Broken" and his long road to success and redemption from his troubled past. Jelly Roll reflects on the time he spent in prison and how he later turned his life around to become a voice of inspiration. A new tropical storm is now forming in the Gulf of Mexico and could hit Florida as a major hurricane. Meet the Press moderator Kristen Welker joins Sunday TODAY's Hallie Jackson to discuss the recent wild card talking points of the election including a new jobs report, escalation in the Middle East and Hurricane Helene fallout. It would be catastrophic since the state's already reeling from the impact of Helene. Unranked Vanderbilt football stunned top-ranked Alabama in one of the biggest college football upsets in history. It's the first time ever the Commodores have beaten a top-ranked team and their first victory against Alabama in four decades. For 27 long years, a New York City man fought to prove his innocence after he was sent to prison for a murder he didn't commit. Jon-Adrian "JJ" Velazquez's fight for justice was helped by NBC News journalist Dan Slepian who was determined to find the truth. NBC's Lester Holt reports in this week's Sunday Spotlight. Sunday TODAY's Hallie Jackson runs through the Highs and Lows of the week including the father of the bride who wouldn't let Hurricane Helene stop him from walking his daughter down the aisle, and more! 

In this week's Sunday Sitdown, Jason Segel joins Willie Geist to talk about how simply smiling helped him land the lead role in the acclaimed series "Shrinking" and the opportunity to work with Harrison Ford. Segel reflects on "Freaks and Geeks,' the advice Judd Apatow gave him and shares his mother's reaction to the famous full-frontal scene in "Forgetting Sarah Marshall." At least seven people have died after part of a ferry dock collapsed in Sapelo Island, Georgia. An investigation is underway. NBC's Jesse Kirsch reports for Sunday TODAY. The lights in Cuba are slowly coming back after the power went out for almost all of its inhabitants. The grid failed for a second time on Saturday as Hurricane Oscar bears down on the island and crews work to restore the electricity. Voters in Georgia came out in droves to cast a record number of early ballots. Georgia's secretary of state praised the massive turnout and the security of the vote four years after Georgia was at the center of an attempt to overturn the election. NBC's Allie Raffa reports in this week's Sunday Focus. 

In this week's Sunday Sitdown, Kelsea Ballerini joins Willie Geist for a New York City hot dog to celebrate her new album "Patterns." Ballerini reflects on her career ride, from writing her first songs amid her parents' divorce to moving to Nashville and getting advice from Taylor Swift. Dozens of people were injured after a truck rammed into a bus as it was letting off passengers at a station outside of Tel Aviv near a military base. Police are investigating the circumstances of the crash. Miami Dolphins quarterback Tua Tagovailoa is expected to be back in action just a month and a half after he suffered another concussion during a game, despite some calls that he should retire from the sport for his long-term health. NBC's Jesse Kirsch reports for Sunday TODAY. In a preview of their first television interview exclusively with TODAY's Savannah Guthrie, Matthew Perry's family opens up about their grief after his death and finding meaning through tragedy. For generations, a trip to Cape Cod has meant the beginning of summer or a family vacation. With all of those visitors, one special group who call themselves the Old Ladies Against Underwater Garbage take matters into their own hands to preserve the natural beauty. NBC's Stephanie Gosk reports in this week's Sunday Spotlight.

Vice President Kamala Harris took a brief detour from the campaign trail for a surprise appearance on "Saturday Night Live." Harris will travel next to a church in Detroit before heading to a local rally on the last day of early voting in Michigan. NBC's Aaron Gilchrist reports for Sunday TODAY.Meet the Press moderator Kristen Welker joins Sunday TODAY's Willie Geist to discuss a new NBC News poll showing a deadlocked 2024 race and breaks down what the Trump and Harris campaigns need to do in the final days of the election. Take a look back at Sunday Sitdown to revisit Willie Geist's interview with Larry David on "Curb Your Enthusiasm," "Seinfeld" and his roots in New York City. A group of young campers are finding peace and inspiration far from home in the great outdoors thanks to a non-profit initiative called Camping to Connect, which allows teens to disconnect from their phones and find healing in nature. NBC's Rehema Ellis reports in this week's Sunday Spotlight. Julia Hawkins, who took up running at age 100 and broke world records, has died at 108. Hawkins was a school teacher in Honduras and became a competitive cyclist in her 80s before becoming a centenarian sprinter. Sunday TODAY's Willie Geist remembers a life well lived. Sunday TODAY's Willie Geist runs through the Highs and Lows of the week including a young hockey fan's heartwarming costume, Timothée Chalamet crashing a lookalike contest and more.  NBC's Steve Kornacki hits the big board for this week's Sunday Focus with a list of the states and counties he'll be watching as early signs of where election night 2024 is headed. 

In this week's Sunday Sitdown, Grammy, Tony and Emmy-winning actor Cynthia Erivo joins Willie Geist to talk about starring as the green-skinned witch Elphaba alongside her friend Ariana Grande in the highly-anticipated movie musical "Wicked." Firefighters are battling raging wildfires on both the East and West Coasts with the smoke reaching all the way to the New York City skyline. New York state reports that one forest ranger died while helping fight the blaze. NBC's George Solis reports for Sunday TODAY. When Donald Trump reluctantly left office in 2021, weeks after his supporters stormed the U.S. Capitol, his popularity only grew when he launched his election bid in 2022. Despite being convicted on 34 felony counts, Trump's reelection raked in millions and eventually led to a swing state sweep. NBC's Julie Tsirkin reports in this week's Sunday Focus. President Biden has promised a peaceful transfer of power, inviting President-elect Trump to the Oval Office on Wednesday for a customary meeting that will restore decades of presidential precedent after Trump didn't extend the same invitation in 2020. NBC's Marissa Parra reports for Sunday TODAY. Princess Kate is back in the public eye, making her first high-profile appearances since she finished chemotherapy. Kate was joined by Prince William and King Charles for the Festival of Remembrance at Royal Albert Hall, honoring the nation's sacrifices in World War I. NBC's Meagan Fitzgerald reports for Sunday TODAY.

In this week's Sunday Sitdown, Hugh Grant joins Willie Geist for a conversation about his performance in the new movie "Heretic," his habit of seeking out negative reviews, and a look back at his blockbuster romantic comedies that made him a star. Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy says the country's air defense shot down dozens of missiles and drones targeting Ukraine's energy infrastructure. President-elect Trump has announced Elon Musk will lead a new cost-cutting agency called the Department of Government Efficiency. Democrats have raised "serious concern" over Musk's companies having major contracts with the federal government. NBC's Julie Tsirkin reports in this week's Sunday Focus. President-elect Trump has tapped oil industry CEO Chris Wright as energy secretary and part of his newly-formed energy council. Meanwhile, there may be new trouble for Trump's pick for defense secretary Pete Hegseth who reportedly paid a woman for her silence years after a sexual encounter at a Republican conference in 2017. NBC's Allie Raffa reports for Sunday TODAY. Just days after appearing in his first professional fight in nearly 20 years, boxing star Mike Tyson says his main event bout against Jake Paul on Netflix may be his last. NBC's Marissa Parra reports for Sunday TODAY.

Meet the Press moderator Kristen Welker joins Sunday TODAY's Willie Geist to discuss the future of President-elect Trump's other controversial cabinet picks after Matt Gaetz withdrew from the attorney general consideration. World leaders at the COP29 climate conference came to an agreement to give $300 billion a year by 2035 to developing nations to manage the impacts of climate change. After 1,000 days into Russia's war on Ukraine and Biden working to get more aid into Ukrainian hands before President-elect Trump returns to the White House, many on both sides of the conflict are wondering what comes next. NBC's Richard Engel reports in this week's Sunday Focus. Erik and Lyle Menendez will appear before a Los Angeles Superior Court judge as they fight for their freedom, 35 years after killing their parents. The procedural hearing is drawing a lot of public attention, even a lottery for seats in the courtroom. NBC's Dana Griffin reports for Sunday TODAY. The annual Thanksgiving holiday travel rush is underway as tens of millions hit the road and head to airports, but severe weather is already having an impact on travel plans across the country. Record rain in Northern California has triggered flooding and mudslides and parts of the Northeast are digging out of heavy snowfall. NBC's Priya Sridhar reports for Sunday TODAY. Sunday TODAY's Willie Geist runs through the Highs and Lows of the week including 50,000 University of Colorado spectators celebrating the birthday of 100-year-old super fan Peggy Coppom, a banana art display selling for $6.2 million at auction and more!

A winter storm has brought freezing temperatures and heavy snow, making travel potentially dangerous for many headed home after Thanksgiving. NBC's George Solis reports for Sunday TODAY. A huge fight broke out on the Ohio State field after Michigan won Saturday's game and attempted to plant their team's flag on the Ohio State field. Police reportedly had to use pepper spray to break up the fight. President Biden plans to roll out a new plan that would require coverage of weight loss drugs for patients of Medicare and Medicaid. The move could potentially help some seven million Americans pay for the expensive drugs, but it may be up to the Trump administration to actually carry it out. NBC's Maggie Vespa reports in this week's Sunday Focus. Notre Dame football's 22-year-old quarterback Riley Leonard is a star player who received a lucrative NIL deal, but decided he'd only accept it if the company cut in his teammates. NBC's Morgan Chesky reports in this week's Sunday Spotlight. Sunday TODAY's Hallie Jackson runs through the Highs and Lows of the week including a chef who drove 6 hours to lead a team of volunteers and feed more than 5,000 people recovering from Hurricane Helene in North Carolina on Thanksgiving, a tongue and cheek encounter between a cow and a woman and more! 

Syrian rebel forces have overtaken the capital city of Damascus and toppled the Assad regime that has ruled Syria for generations. Russian officials have confirmed President Bashar Al-Assad has resigned and fled the country. NBC's Raf Sanchez reports for Sunday TODAY. Police continue the search for the suspected shooter in the killing of the UnitedHealthcare CEO on a New York City Street. The NYPD released two new images of the person of interest. NBC's Tom Winter reports for Sunday TODAY. President-elect Trump met with French President Emmanuel Macron along with Ukraine's President Zelenskyy ahead of the official reopening of the Notre Dame cathedral. Back in the U.S., Trump's pick for defense secretary Pete Hegseth is still trying to win over Republican senators. NBC's Vaughn Hillyard reports for Sunday TODAY. Meet the Press moderator Kristen Welker joins Sunday TODAY's Willie Geist with a preview of her extensive interview with President-elect Trump and his response to pardons for Jan. 6 Capitol rioters, President Biden's pardon of his son Hunter and more. Willie Geist wraps up Sunday TODAY by sharing mug shots sent in by viewers. This week, Willie gives a shout out to Ashley and David welcoming their baby girl in New Orleans! To share your photos, use #SundayTODAY on social media. 

In Part 1 of this week's Sunday Sitdown, Billy Crystal takes Willie Geist on a walk through his alma mater, NYU, where he was taught by then up-and-coming director Martin Scorsese. Crystal talks about his new thrilling series "Before" and the interaction with Muhammad Ali that led to a comedy career starring in movies so iconic, they're teaching classes about them. In Part 2 of this week's Sunday Sitdown, Billy Crystal shares the story behind the iconic "When Harry Met Sally..." scene in Katz's Delicatessen and opens up about his chemistry with co-star Meg Ryan. Residents and local officials are growing frustrated and alarmed by a lack of answers from the FBI and Department of Homeland Security over the slew of mysterious drone sightings in New Jersey and other states. NBC's Sam Brock reports in this week's Sunday Focus. Former House Speaker Nancy Pelosi is recovering from surgery after she fell while traveling with a congressional delegation in Luxembourg. Pelosi was airlifted to a U.S. military hospital in Germany where she underwent a hip replacement. President-elect Trump spent the weekend at the annual Army-Navy football game with Tulsi Gabbard and his defense secretary pick, Pete Hegseth. Meanwhile, ABC News will donate $15 million for a future Trump presidential foundation and museum as part of a settlement to a defamation case. NBC's Aaron Gilchrist reports for Sunday TODAY. "Meet the Press" moderator Kristen Welker joins Sunday TODAY's Willie Geist to discuss the shift in tone by Republicans toward President-elect Trump's cabinet picks, including Pete Hegseth.

Two U.S. Navy pilots were able to safely eject over the Red Sea after their F/A-18 fighter jet was shot down by the USS Gettysburg that reportedly mistook it for an enemy drone or missile. NBC's Raf Sanchez reports for Sunday TODAY. The man accused of driving his truck into a crowded Christmas market in Germany, killing five people and injuring more than 200 others, is now facing murder charges after his first appearance before a judge. Meanwhile, investigators are learning more about the suspect's possible motive. NBC's Daniele Hamamdjian reports for Sunday TODAY. Jonathan Lemire, co-host of MSNBC's Morning Joe, joins Willie Geist on Sunday TODAY to discuss whether President-elect Trump and Elon Musk's work to kill a government funding bill ahead of the holidays is a preview of what Trump's second term will look like. Actress Blake Lively has filed a complaint against her "It Ends with Us" costar and director Justin Baldoni, accusing him of sexual harassment on the set of the film. Lively says Baldoni sought to retaliate and destroy her reputation with a coordinated smear campaign after they worked together. NBC's Priscilla Thompson reports for Sunday TODAY. Rickey Henderson, legendary baseball Hall of Famer who was nicknamed "Man of Steal," has died at 65. Henderson was Major League Baseball's all-time leader in both stolen bases and runs scored and was viewed as the greatest leadoff hitter of all-time. Taylor Swift's billion-dollar "Eras Tour" lead a year in entertainment that also saw box office records with "Deadpool & Wolverine" and "Wicked" and a new era in media as influential podcasts like "The Joe Rogan Experience" helped to shape the historic presidential campaign. NBC's Adrienne Broaddus reports in this week's Sunday Focus. Former Pittsburgh Penguins star and two-time Stanley Cup winner Kevin Stevens sits down with NBC's Joe Fryer to share how his Power Forward 25 organization has turned his own experience with addiction into the most important work of his career. NBC's Joe Fryer reports in this week's Sunday Spotlight. 
 

From the hottest new acts in music to the biggest stars in Hollywood, Willie Geist wraps up 2024 by looking back at the highlights from this year's Sunday Sitdowns.