Michael Strahan's ABC special explores how America healed after 9/11

Michael Strahan is leading ABC News’ two-hour special 9/11: United We Stand – 25 Years Later, a program that examines how sports, music, Broadway and comedy helped Americans heal after the September 11 attacks and features a wide roster of guests including Jon Stewart, Jon Bon Jovi, Billy Crystal, Matthew Broderick, Jimmy Fallon and Pete Davidson, with Derek Jeter and Strahan’s ABC colleagues also appearing. The project, produced with SMAC Entertainment and partnered with Cap 2 Productions and others, relies on archival footage and personal testimony to explore how shared public experiences on the field, stage and screen provided comfort and resilience in the days, weeks and months after 9/11. Strahan recalls his own experiences as a Giants player and his view that returning to the football field helped demonstrate that healing could come through collective action, not just grief. The special also highlights how leagues like the NFL and the Yankees used their platforms to support victims and communities in the immediate aftermath, emphasizing a broader cultural response beyond traditional journalism. ABC will stream the program on Disney+ and Hulu the day after the broadcast, with encore airings and ABC News Live availability to extend its reach. The reporting underscores a national look at healing through everyday spaces and public performances, aiming to honor those affected and celebrate the communal resilience that followed the tragedy.