Sunday TODAY with Willie Geist - Season 8

Former President Jimmy Carter and his wife Rosalynn surprised and thrilled residents of Plains, Georgia when they took a drive through the annual Plains Peanut Festival. The Carter's outing comes seven months after the former president entered hospice care.

96-year-old George Freeman fronted his first band as a teenager in the mid-1940s before eventually playing along the likes of jazz legends like Billie Holiday. Some eight decades later, Freeman is still performing for crowds with the release of his new album, "The Good Life." NBC's Shaquille Brewster shares Freeman's story in this week's Sunday Spotlight.

Bobby Schiffman, the man who transformed his father's Harlem Apollo Theater into a mecca for rhythm and blues, has died at 94. Schiffman's mission to showcase new talent at the theater became a hub for music stars, politicians, civil rights leaders and athletes and remains a mecca of Black culture. Sunday TODAY's Willie Geist remembers a life well lived.

New Jersey's indicted Democratic Senator Bob Menendez says he has no plans to resign amid mounting pressure from his own party to step down. Federal prosecutors indicted the senator and his wife on charges they took hundreds of thousands of dollars in bribes.

In this week's Sunday Sitdown, TV personality Ryan Seacrest joins Wille Geist to discuss his new gig as the host of "Wheel of Fortune," his journey into becoming a media titan and the opening of a new Seacrest Studios inside a children's hospital.

Willie Geist runs through the Highs & Lows of the week, including the Taylor Swift and Travis Kelce fascination that made its way to the White House briefing room, the furball fashion spectacle at Paris Fashion Week, the 104-year-old sky diver appearing to break a world record and the yule log video that had residents concerned about an actual fire.

In this week's Sunday Sitdown, Darius Rucker opens up about dedicating his new album, "Carolyn's Boy," to his mother, how an appearance on "The Late Show with David Letterman" changed the trajectory of Hootie & the Blowfish and how he was able to overcome the initial negative response to his first country single after going solo.

Kevin McCarthy was removed from his role as speaker of the House in a historic vote this week. With a leadership vacancy at a crucial time, what happens next? NBC's Julie Tsirkin reports in the Sunday Focus.

There is a growing movement to utilize oysters to clean waterways in the United States — and now farms for the mollusk are popping up thanks to different organizations. NBC's Harry Smith repots in the Sunday Spotlight.

In this week's Sunday Sitdown, Grammy Award-winning musician Jack Antonoff joins Willie Geist for a conversation about his music shaped by the loss of his sister Sarah, a new album from his band Bleachers and the hit-making magic between him and pop superstar Taylor Swift.

Porto's Bakery is a family-owned institution that has been a part of the fabric of Los Angeles since its owners fled Cuba nearly 50 years ago and have passed the business down through generations. The bakery is a must-stop shop in California for its famous potato balls, guava cheese strudels and countless Cuban specialties. NBC's Gadi Schwartz reports in this week's Sunday Spotlight.

Hughes Van Ellis, one of the three known remaining survivors of the 1921 Tulsa Race Massacre, has died at 102. Van Ellis lived a life of service by fighting in World War II and righting the wrongs against Black families in American history. 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 Will Ferrell taking over the turntable at a USC fraternity party for parent's weekend, a bear grabbing a late-night snack from the freezer and more!

In this Sunday Sitdown lookback, actor Kate Hudson talks with Willie Geist about her role in "Glass Onion: A Knives Out Mystery" and how she keeps herself busy with her three companies, including the activewear line Fabletics. She also talks about overcoming her fear of singing in public, her upcoming album and her celebrity support group that helps her cope with her kids going to college.

Those trying to buy or sell a house are entering into a tough housing market with high prices and skyrocketing interest rates that put the cost of buying a home out of reach for many Americans. NBC's Liz Kreutz reports in this week's Sunday Focus.

Gene Woods is a prominent healthcare CEO whose successful side gig as the front man for the jazz band Gene Woods and the Soul Alliance has him strapping on a guitar to pursue a life-long passion of spreading healing in a powerful way. NBC's Anne Thompson shares his story in this week's Sunday Spotlight.

Rudolph Isley, a founding member of the famed Isley Brothers who created wedding staples such as "Shout" and "It's Your Thing," has died at age 84. 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 Travis Kelce's reported "good luck charm" Taylor Swift, a baboon's humorous frustration with the relative intelligence of human beings and more!
 

In this week's Sunday Sitdown, country music icon Chris Stapleton joins Willie Geist for a wide-ranging conversation about guitars, his new album "Higher" and his Super Bowl performance that brought grown men to tears.

School districts grappling with teacher shortages are getting creative in their efforts to attract candidates by building affordable housing for faculty to live closer to the classroom. NBC's Jake Ward reports in this week's Sunday Spotlight.

Herbert "Bertie" Bowman, the longest-serving African-American congressional staffer, has died at 92. Bowman was hired as an aide to the Senate Foreign Relations Committee in 1966 and served the country until his retirement at 90. Sunday TODAY's Willie Geist remembers a life well lived.

In this week's Sunday Sitdown, John Stamos joins Willie Geist to share revealing details from his new memoir, "If You Would Have Told Me," his journey to "Full House," his struggle with sobriety and a last meal he shared with his late friend Bob Saget. Last week, a group of state attorneys general sued Meta, the parent company of Facebook and Instagram, over claims the company knew its products were addictive and harmful to young people. Meta denied these claims. NBC's Dana Griffin reports in this week's Sunday Focus. Dr. Rex Marco, a prominent spine surgeon at UTHealth Houston, found a new purpose in his profession when a serious bicycle accident turned him into a patient. Now at TIRR Memorial Hermann for rehab, Dr. Marco's life-changing injury has given him a new perspective on the importance of hope. NBC's Priscilla Thompson reports in this week's Sunday Spotlight. Dr. Wanda Półtawska, a Holocaust survivor who helped to treat traumatized survivors and offered counsel to Pope John Paul II, died last week at 101. Sunday TODAY's Willie Geist remembers a life well lived. 

In this week's Sunday Sitdown, Henry Winkler joins Willie Geist at Katz' bustling deli in New York for a discussion about his new memoir, "Being Henry: The Fonz… and Beyond," in which he gets candid about his difficult childhood, his charmed career and his defining role in "Happy Days." One morning about 15 years ago, United States Vietnam veteran Ric Ryan pledged 25 cents for every friendly wave he got on his long daily walks to Operation Mend, which provides free, lifesaving care to America's wounded veterans. Ric's pledge has reached over a couple of a hundred thousand dollars and counting. NBC's Harry Smith caught up with the vet in this week's Sunday Spotlight. The FDA has approved Zepbound, the latest in a growing number of drugs that are revolutionizing weight loss as America faces an epidemic of obesity. Will insurance companies begin to cover the cost and are doctors sure they are safe? NBC's Liz Kreutz reports in this week's Sunday Focus. Cody Dorman, a boy with Wolf-Hirschhorn syndrome, has died one day after his namesake horse, Cody's Wish, made a miraculous victory at the Breeders' Cup. Dorman was 12 years old when the Make-A-Wish Foundation introduced him to the horse that he would form a special bond with. Sunday TODAY's Willie Geist remember a life well lived.

Early polling for the 2024 election is already pointing to a Joe Biden-Donald Trump rematch, but this time around they may not be alone on the ballot. Senator Joe Manchin has shown interest in joining a crowded group of candidates, including Robert F. Kennedy Jr. NBC's Vaughn Hillyard reports in this week's Sunday Focus. The 107-year-old Baltimore Symphony Orchestra has named 31-year-old Jonathon Heyward as its first Black music director. Heyward is the youngest music director at any of America's top-tier orchestras and he says his goal is to captivate a younger audience. NBC's Joe Fryer reports in this week's Sunday Spotlight. Sunday. TODAY's Willie Geist runs through the highs and lows of the week including the Lewiston High School soccer team winning the state title just weeks after the community was shaken by a mass shooting, Harry Styles' new haircut and more! Peter Tarnoff, the principal architect behind the hostage escape plan that inspired the Oscar-winning film "Argo," has died at 86. Tarnoff's "Canadian Caper" scheme involved six CIA operatives posing as filmmakers to rescue 52 hostages held in Tehran. 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 shout out to Clarke, Logan, Ruth, Cinnamon and Spice-Leroy! To share your photos, use #SundayTODAY on social media.  

Artificial intelligence is revolutionizing holiday shopping by helping you narrow down choices or pick out gifts for the people you love. NBC's Brian Cheung reports in this week's Sunday Focus.

The University of Iowa football team has a memorable tradition. At the end of the first quarter, thousands of fans stand to wave to the patients at Stead Family Children's Hospital, which overlooks the field. Now, a former patient at the hospital is taking to the gridiron as a member of the team. NBC's Harry Smith reports in this week's Sunday Spotlight.

Lyn McLain, the founder of the D.C. Youth Orchestra program, has died at 95. McLain is remembered for sharing his love of music with generations of young Americans. NBC's Hallie Jackson for Sunday TODAY remembers a life well lived.

Sunday TODAY's Hallie Jackson runs through the highs and lows of the week, including a second grade class' take on a Thanksgiving parade, a daughter's holiday chore chart and more!

In this week's Sunday Sitdown, five-time Grammy-winner Jon Batiste joins Willie Geist for a discussion about his new Grammy-nominated album "World Music Radio," growing up in a legendary New Orleans music family and the gig with Stephen Colbert that changed his life. Batiste also opens up about his wife's Suleika Jaouad's cancer battle depicted in their new documentary, "American Symphony."

In recent weeks, prominent brands pulled their advertising from social media platform X in response to an antisemitic comment made by the platform's owner, Elon Musk, who later apologized. So why does the world's richest person continue to overshadow his "genius for innovation" with a problematic persona? NBC's Jake Ward reports in this week's Sunday Focus.

Charleston, South Carolina, a city not afraid to confront its painful history, will honor enslaved people at a new memorial using the hands of descendants who live in the city today. NBC's Priscilla Thompson reports in this week's Sunday Spotlight.

Mary Cleave, a trailblazing astronaut and environmentalist who became the 10th woman to travel into space when her crew launched in the shuttle Atlantis, has died at 76. Dr. Cleave was the first woman to fly on a space shuttle mission following the Challenger disaster. Sunday TODAY's Willie Geist remembers a life well lived.

As Americans look to cut back on subscriptions, streaming giants like Netflix and Max are teaming up in an effort to retain customers by offering bundles. NBC's Christine Romans reports in this week's Sunday Focus.

In the summer of 2018, the world was gripped by the rescue of a junior soccer team with 12 players, aged 11 to 16, who were trapped while exploring a cave in northern Thailand. Five years later, one of the players is now living a new life as a student in the United States. NBC's Anne Thompson reports in this week's Sunday Spotlight.

Bronka Sundstrom, who survived years of Nazi concentration camps and became a legendary mountaineer, has died at 98. Sundstrom, an avid hiker, continued her daily five-mile walks right up until her final weeks. 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 Taylor Swift fans attempting to recreate her Time Person of the Year cover with their cats, China's hottest new snack of grilled ice cubes and more!

In this week's Sunday Sitdown, Willem Dafoe joins Willie Geist to talk about his Golden Globe nomination for his latest role in "Poor Things" and why he's still holding out to win his first Oscar. Dafoe reflects on getting fired from his first movie to becoming a recognizable face globally as the Green Goblin in "Spider-Man." With Christmas eight days away, the holiday shipping season is reaching a fever pitch which means delivery drivers will now need to be on-guard for a rise in thefts. NBC's Jesse Kirsch reports in this week's Sunday Focus. NBC's Joe Fryer runs through Sunday TODAY's Highs and Lows of the week, including a bull on the loose on a New Jersey train track and a grandpa tucking and rolling his granddaughter into bed.

2023 saw a huge boom in the use of artificial intelligence in many aspects of people's lives. In this week's Sunday Focus, NBC's Jacob Ward looks back at the hype, concerns and what could be ahead for technology in 2024. Ethan Hill, 13, has been spending the last few holidays helping thousands of people in need with his nonprofit Ethan's Heart-Bags4Blessings. With the help of his family, donations and volunteers, Ethan's Heart has distributed over 5,000 care packages to those experiencing homelessness. NBC's Kristen Dahlgren reports in this week's Sunday Spotlight. Elliott Erwitt, the legendary photographer who captured moments in history like Nixon's "kitchen debate" with Khrushchev and Jacqueline Kennedy holding a folded flag at the burial of her husband, has died at 95. 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 nativity play that is reminding people of "Love Actually," an 11-month-old who can't contain her excitement for Christmas and more!

From riding through Central Park with Melissa McCarthy to grabbing lunch with Henry Winkler, Willie Geist wraps up 2023 by looking back at the highlights from his Sunday Sitdowns this year. The daily news can feel overwhelming and heartbreaking, but there are agents of change making a positive difference in their communities. NBC's Harry Smith takes a look back at some of the people he met in 2023. Sunday TODAY's Willie Geist looks back at the best and worst moments of 2023, including Taylor Swift's "Eras Tour," Will Ferrell taking over the turn tables at his son's frat party, a slew of naughty bears and more.

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.