so lo artist, including elvis. thanks for being with us. >> thank you for having me. and for singing with me. >> larry: you should have sang with me. but i understand. >> we'll plan our duet next time. >> larry: okay. -- captions by vitac -- www.vitac.com tonight, it's a night for heroes. we've all got one. >> he reminds me every day to see things for the first time. >> larry: find out who inspires matthew mcconaughey. >> she is the strongest woman that i know. >> larry: see who made tyra banks what she is today. >> i can relate to him. i can relate to him. >> larry: and learn the identity of mariah carey's inspiration. a night for heroes, a special thanksgiving edition of "larry king live."

>> larry: our thanksgiving special saluting heroes, mariah carey joins us. did you have a hero growing up? >> did i have a hero? well, i loved marilyn monroe since i was a little girl. my mom was watching one of the tributes to her, and i was like 5 years old. and i just -- it was diamonds are a girl's best friend. >> larry: with jane russell. >> yes. and it was the -- obviously the pink number. i was like, she looks like a doll. i don't know what it was, but i was very drawn to her. ♪ diamonds are a girl's best friend ♪ >> then i started getting norman mailer books at like 9, which was clearly inappropriate. >> larry: great writer. >> great writer. no, i don't know that she was a hero. she inspired me. i don't know that i -- >> larry: was your mother a

hero? >> yeah. she got us through everything we needed to get through. so yeah. >> larry: do you have heroes now? >> i will have to say, and i know they're going to be like, oh, please, but for real, president obama. michelle obama. because for him to go from where he came -- what he came through, he's just -- i can relate to him. i can relate to him. >> larry: what a proud moment that must have been, great moment for you on election night. where were you? >> well, we were at the house, my apartment in new york first. and then me and my friend, rachel, well, whatever they're calling her, they're calling her kiki backstage. but we're not going to listen. but me and rachel decided we're going to stay at home because we didn't want to miss the moment. then i had to be at the studio. and all the people that sing backup for me and everything like that, my dear friends, and

i just were crying, and laughing and we were just like -- because we never thought it would happen. >> larry: one of your signature hit songs is "hero." in the lyrics you say there's a hero within each of us. ♪ that a hero lies in you ♪ oh, love grows >> larry: where did the idea come from? >> how did that idea come to me? i just remember writing it, and feeling like, is this too corny? i don't know. honestly, i always sat there and said, i don't know about this song. and now, over the years, because people have said it meant so much to them, and they lost people in their lives, or, you know, different -- during 9/11 especially, and, you know, everyone from firefighters to police, and then just average people who have gone through stuff really -- i mean, i never

expected. but i did a concert recently, i wasn't going to do it. i said, you know what, i'll put this in as an encore. and they were all -- like so many people were crying. and just really -- it's touching for me. i love doing it now. >> larry: you realize you're a hero to people. >> well -- >> larry: you are. >> if i am, then you are. >> larry: mariah carey. happy thanksgiving. >> happy thanksgiving. >> larry: we've got an incredible show coming up at the top of the hour. honoring the top ten cnn heroes of the year. let's go to brooke anderson who is on the red carpet outside the kodak theater right here in hollywood for a previe. >> larry, i am here now with the star of nbc's "heroes." he's actually a blue ribbon panelist for cnn's heroes. he helped whittle down the nominees for the top ten finalists. i know that was a very difficult job. how have these people inspired

you? >> it's absolutely amazing. each individual, an individual just leading with their vision and inspired by so many people around them. all around the world, people are making such a difference. it's just incredible to know there are so many people make such a great impact on this world. >> absolutely. you're a part of the american red cross national celebrity cabinet. what specific initiatives are you involved in? >> just to get the word out there and make everyone aware they can definitely make a difference. no contribution, how small it is, makes a difference and can save many lives. go to red cross.org/gifts, and give a gift that could save someone's life. >> masi, thank you so much for helping us out tonight. he was a presenter two years ago. great guy. thank you. stay tuned for more "larry king live," a night for heroes.

>> larry: on this thanksgiving night in which we salute heroes, there is an extraordinary documentary movie, it's out in about -- you'll see it in some theaters, opening in others, it's called "the cove." it exposes an annual dolphin slaughter in the town of taigi in japan. joining us is ben stiller, actor, director, producer, and writer. and with him is richard, the former dolphin trainer turned activist. he's featured in this film.

ben, what brought you to this? >> i just saw the movie at the nantucket film festival this summer. i was blown away by it. i had no idea what was going on over there. and i didn't know who rick was. but i went to a screening, and he was there, and my friend fisher stephens produced the movie. and it was incredible. his story, what he's been doing for the last 30 years. and the movie really put it into a -- it's a great movie, because it's exciting. it's actually funny at times. and then it's also really moving. >> larry: and tragic. >> and tragic. but it draws you in as any great movie does. and it tells rick's story, which is pretty amazing. >> larry: rick is your hero. he's my hero. >> i walked out of that screening and i walked up to him and said, you're amazing. i said, you're my hero, rick. and he looked at me strangely. >> larry: it's called "to free a

dolphin." how did you learn about this in japan? >> i heard about it, but i didn't go there until around 2002, something like that, with earth island institute, who i work for. and i saw this happening. and i couldn't believe it. it's so unbelievable. and i've been going back ever since. there's a media blackout, i must tell you, in japan on all while and dolphin -- >> larry: you sneak in, go in in disfwizs, right? >> disguises, yeah. >> larry: can you say briefly about what they do to them? >> they capture them. they're captured and sent to different dolphinariums around the world. if they're not selected, they're slaughtered. >> i told everybody i knew about it. we had a screening in new york. and there's a guy named jeffrey wells who blogs about movies. and he saw the movie and loved it. and he got me in touch with the director who was on the jury of the tokyo film festival. and basically said, hey, can you

do anything about getting this movie shown there? and so literally, i just, like, september an e-mail to him and connected fisher and him. and aradu really did it and got them to show this movie in a place where really -- you can preach to the converted, but to show it there for people to see it there, has really made a difference. and they've stopped doing it. it's not happening right now. as long as you're there checking up on them, right? >> i'll go back as soon as i can. >> larry: i know you will. in the '60s, by the way, rick captured and trained dolphins, including flipper. now you free them from cab tith. are you against the sea worls and seaquariums? >> i don't enjoy seeing dolphins do tricks in a tank.

>> larry: they're amazing. >> literally, in the last two or three years, i've got two yoing kids, i've been in jamaica, taken my kids to swim with dolphins. done it in mexico. and you see this movie, and immediately you feel so guilty, you feel so bad because you realize, okay, i want my kids to have that experience, but not at the expense of the lives of these doll phipps, and the humane treatment of them. and in the movie you see how in this cove, you know, the dolphinarium sr dolphinariums come to buy the dolphins. so i cannot go and support this. >> that's the solution to the problem. don't buy a ticket. the consumer has all the power. >> larry: are you glad you trained flipper? >> when i saw "the cove" for the first time at sundance, i can look back 50 years, and that makes sense to me, i can understand why i was doing that. i wouldn't be talking to you guys. it sort of empowered me in some

ways. >> that's one of the amazing things about the movie, you see rick's story and how he started out and his connection with the dolphins that he trained for "flipper." were there five of them? >> yes, five. >> and the story of one of them that died in his arms, that really for you is a turning point, right? in terms of -- >> yeah. that was on earth day 1970, about that time. i walked away from that industry. and never really looked back. >> and then he committed himself to saving dolphins. >> larry: i've seen the film. i hope to see it again. ben, i think we've chosen an accurate hero here. >> i think he's an amazing man. >> larry: you're an amazing man. >> i hope your audience will go to this website and take action. >> larry: savejapandolphins.org. on this heroes night, what a deserving here rove. that's why we created the tide "loads of hope" program, a free laundry service that provides clean clothes

to families affected by disasters. [ woman ] it feels so good to be able to know that i've got clean clothes. you don't know how very basic essentials are until you have none. ♪ this is what gives us hope. [ female announcer ] you, too, can help familie affected by disaster by purchasing yellow-cap tide. together we can provide loads of hope.

>> larry: we're saluting heroes. and looksing at famous people and who are heroes to them. matthew mcconaughey is with us. the founder of the j.k. liven foundation. who's your hero? >> who's my hero? i have to start with my cad and mom. pop taught a lot of self-reliance. they were a couple of outlaws. they used to say, i love you, but i don't like you. and it really was a good example for them. they were married three times, divorced twice from each other. so they were very resilient, you know? heroes, growing up, my older brother, pat, was a hero. he was 17 and i was 10. he was seven feet tall. he was james dean. everything he did was just iconic. john mellencamp sort of shaped my foreign patriotism growing up

in high school and middle school. levi, my son, in a way is a hero now. he's 15 months. >> larry: 15-month hero? >> check this out. here's what they do. he reminds me every day to see things for the first time. as we grow older, we go into a situation, i know what's going to happen and i expect what's going to happen. i see him every single thing he looks at, it's a magic trick. every single thing he does is the very first time. that's a good reminder for me to see things for the first time. >> larry: do you think it's important, matthew, to have a hero? >> yeah, i do think it's important. it gives you something to look forward to. i know one of the main basis of being happy, in whatever form that is, is having something to look forward to. if you've got something to look forward to, if the sort of bar is set, even if it's not factual. sometimes heroes are fictional. but if you can pull it in and relate it in your own life, it

gives you incentive. >> larry: you can make batman your hero. >> incredible hulk was a hero of mine. >> larry: what about sports heroes, though? >> one of my sports heroes was a running back named john rigins with the washington redskins. >> larry: kansas. >> what i loved about him was, diesel named desire, right? is he would -- his lifetime average was 3.4 yards a carry. all right? >> larry: he earned every one of them. >> if you add it up, real simple, if you run rig ins on first down, 6.8, third down, 10.2. just enough for a first down. >> larry: are heroes born or do you think they're created? do you think some people are just boern heroes? like derrick jeter. >> no. i wouldn't think so. i think it has to be circumstances. i mean, i was talking about levi being a hero. he's more of an inspiration.

i wouldn't say he's a hero. but i think circumstances brings out the hero. >> larry: finally, was any actor ever a hero to you? >> paul newman for his onscreen, what he did, and offscreen. >> larry: not a bad choice. matthew mcconaughey.

>> larry: tyra banks is the host of the tyra show, and creator of the executive producer and host of america's next top model, which airs wednesday nights on the cw and recently launched an online magazine called tyra beauty, inside and out. do you have heroes now? >> i do. >> larry: like? >> my mom is my hero. i mean, she is the strongest woman that i know. you know, she -- my paernts divorced when i was 6 years old. and my mom and my brother and i moved into a one-bedroom apartment. and she created a space that was so physically and emotionally beautiful, where we had less, but we didn't feel it. my mom slept on the couch. my brother and i shared the bedroom. and my mom, we lived in a southern part of los angeles, california. not the best area. and she said that, you know, she was going to take extra jobs so that we could continue to move north, and to continue to get an extra bedroom. so she worked extra jobs.

and we moved about a mile north. and got a two-bedroom apartment. and then she took on some more work and we moved a couple more miles north. and then we had a three-bedroom apartment. so that i could have my bedroom, my brother could have his bedroom and she had hers. >> larry: like the jeffersons. >> moving on up. >> larry: so she was your hero as a kid, too, your mom? >> yes. >> larry: she's your perpetual hero. >> she most definitely is. >> larry: why is it so important for young people to have heroes? >> without the knowledge, you don't know how to get there. you know, with the hero, you can look at that path and figure out how they got to where they are. or the foundation that they stand on so that you can -- i always say, you can copy it, but make it your own. >> larry: what's a hero to you? >> a hero to me is -- >> larry: someone who -- >> someone who defies the odds. someone ho is a -- slightly rebellious. because they're constantly hearing that they can't do something. and they figure out ways to go

around, to get what they want, or to accomplish what they want. but staying positive. my mother always said, you know, to get where you want to go, there's going to be doors that are slammed shut and they're going to have like ten deadbolts. but she said there's a window on the side of that building, there's a cellar that you can crawl through, there's a back door that you can come up. there's a side of a wall where you can scale up and go through the attic. but you can get in through that door. that's a hero that understands that to get into that house. >> larry: a tough mantle to wear. >> to be a hero? >> larry: yeah. >> i think it's important for the world to understand that heroes are human. human heroes. which means that they're not perfect. that they make mistakes. >> larry: the ballplayer may be rushing to go somewhere, when you ask for the autograph. >> i'm so happy you said that. because i've had so many people tell me, oh, my gosh, i met that person and they were so rude.

like she was sitting there and eating and didn't want anybody to talk to her. i said, do you have any idea maybe she had a fight with her boyfriend that day? or maybe she's just having a bad day. maybe she's sick. maybe you can never judge somebody on one moment. >> larry: you're an ace. you're my hero. >> am i? can you sing the song to me? let's try together. ♪ did you ever know that you're my hero ♪ ♪ you're everything i wish i could. >> larry: you're everything i wish i could be. ♪ i can fly higher than an eagle ♪ ♪ you are the wind beneath my wings ♪ ♪ >> larry: oh, geez. >> oh, the wind beneath my wings. >> larry: i'm an old jew in love. always good to see tyra. we had a lot of fun. coming up at the top of the hour, cnn heroes, an all-star

tribute. let's check in again on the red carpet arrivals outside kodak theater. brooke anderson has caught up with someone special. >> i am indeed here with somebody special. this is doc hendley, one of the finalists out of more than 9,000 nominations for cnn's hero of the year. congratulations. >> thank you. thank you so much. >> your work as a bartender in north carolina inspired you to start the wine to water program. in a nutshell, what does that do? >> basically we host wine events all over the country now, and the funds raised from that go to clean water projects all around the world. we're in seven different countries. serve 26,500 people now. >> you're digging the wells, keeping it sustainable. >> the whole idea is not just to go give people water for free. to get them involved and teach them and train them how to access their own water. we're not just digging wells, we're including water filtration systems. it's awesome to be a part of. >> you are an inspiration to so

many. congratulations. best of luck to you tonight. doc hendley. >> thank you so much for having me. >> thank you. of course. stay tuned for more of "larry king live," "a night for heroes."

>> larry: welcome back. happy thanksgiving. and she needs only one name, shakira is with us, the

grammy-winning superstar. her new album "she wolf." the bare foot foundation and unicef goodwill ambassador. this special heroes show tonight deals with people, famous people talking about people who may be heroes in their lives. did you have a hero when you were a kid? >> yeah, absolutely. my dad was my hero. >> larry: in what way? >> in so many ways. he was always optimistic. he had a difficult life, you know. he underwent loss and mourning and bankruptcy. however, his spirits were always high. that, i think, is my most amazing example, most amazing example i can follow. >> larry: where did you grow up? j in colombia. >> larry: beautiful country. mountains, right? >> beautiful. mountains, jungle. 55% of the country is jungle. we also have all sorts of

weather, climates. very interesting topography. yes. so contrast from my country, i think. >> larry: daughters and daddies are always close. >> very much. i have an an oedipes complex. elizabeth ii, or harry tupman. i have heroes today, people who i have met in my own country, colombia, in central america, and developing countries like bangladesh. teachers, mostly educators. people who wake up very early in the morning and travel long distances, just to bring education to underprivileged kids. they work in challenging conditions, in the middle of extreme poverty or conflict.

however, they don't give up the fight. because they know that that's the only opportunity that kids deserve. and that they can hold on to, to be able to develop and have dignified futures, and be productive members of society. >> larry: teachers don't often get saluted as heroes. but without the good teacher, what are we. >> exactly. the foundation of society. and the future of the world, i think. bringing education to every child in the world i think should be our next goal. as citizens of the world, we have to make sure that all those 75 million kids out there who don't have any access to any kind of primary education, finally receive the opportunity. because education is the strategy to combat poverty and eradicate it from the face of the earth. >> larry: how about those figures that are larger than life? people that we know. do you have heroes among them?

famous people. >> famous people? >> larry: for example, the great latin american author and nobel laureate, he's 82 now, he once wrote that you, you, shakira, have a will of granite. is he one of your heroes? >> he is one of my heroes for sure. >> larry: do you know him? >> absolutely. we are close friends. he interviewed me a few years ago. actually, probably 12 years ago. and since then we've developed this close friendship. and, of course, the admiration that i have as colombian, and as a reader of his books is endless. >> larry: what's a quality, shakira, that you consider heroic? >> i believe that being a hero consists of not giving up the fight, believing strongly in something and defending it

independently from the circumstances. being brave even when you feel fear. and really speaking up for those who don't have a voice. >> larry: do you think it's important to have heroes? >> absolutely. because they inspire us. they motivate us to be better, to become better people. >> larry: because of your philanthropic work, you advocate childhood education. a lot of people would consider you a hero. >> i don't consider myself a hero in the entire sense of the word. but i do believe that each one of us has a hero inside. and we just have to let it out so it can manifest itself, you know. if it wasn't because that capacity that a human being has to be brave when we have fear, and to nurture others when they're hungry, and to provide love and nourish people with

love, when they need it, i think humanity would not have survived all the plagues, all the wars, all the many tragedies that we have undergone, you know, as a human race. i think that we all have heroic aspects within ourselves. >> larry: well said. thank you. shakira. the latin influence continues. comedian george lopez will get serious about the hero in his life next.

>> larry: it's heroes day on "larry king live" on this thanksgiving day. we're talking with george lopez, the famous comic and actor, the host of "lopez tonight" which airs every night on tbs, our sister station. did you have a hero growing up? >> you know, i did. but it wasn't somebody who was related to me, larry. i had a very fractured family. and i knew early on that what i was going to get, i wasn't going to get it in the house. and i was very introverted, very shy. i got into this class that was about justice and youth and justice, kids, and the legal system and things, because i was drawn to that, probably because of some of the people in the house. there was this teacher, mr. kroel, who understood that i couldn't speak publicly and i had trouble and i sat in the back of the class. >> larry: where was this? >> in san fernando high, in

1978. i mean, deathly shy. and to the point of shaking and stuttering. and he knew that. and i had him from 10th grade through my senior year. and every opportunity that i had, i took his class. and he understood that about me. and he made me gradually hand out papers. made me gradually come up, maybe gradually do things. and by the time i was a senior, i was fully engaged in conversation, and somebody completely different than i was in the 10th grade. and we talked about it. and he purposely did it. because he saw it, and he saw that -- i think that i was a good kid. and he knew that he could help me with that issue. >> larry: heroes is kind of a forgotten word, isn't it? >> it absolutely is. i don't think a hero you have to be related to. i think it takes time for somebody. a lot of times people look for heroes in their father figures, in their father. and it just could be somebody who just takes time to give you some really meaningful advice.

>> larry: and most kids choose heroes as sports people or entertainers and the like. there are some kids in poor neighborhoods who might choose a drug dealer as a hero. >> absolutely. you look at somebody, and hopefully with age and hindsight, that you can look at somebody who is supposedly a negative and look what happens to him. a lot of times they live a fantastic life. then it all comes crumbling down. you can take that positive out of that negative and say, i don't want to be like that. i thought i wanted to be like that, but i see how this guy ended up. but the pain it's caused and choose somebody else. >> larry: do you believe you're a hero to someone else? >> i believe that you can inspire people by just doing what makes you happy. i don't intentionally try. i don't think it has to come out of the goodness of your heart. a lot of people that cnn has had over the years are angels above a hero for what they do and the commitment they have for the

world. but if somebody sees me and says, you know, i admire what he's done, i'm a little bit from where he's from, and can get inspired by that, absolutely then i'm a hero. >> larry: is this a special holiday season for you? >> you know, anytime that -- >> larry: the new show and everything? >> anytime that you can have some success in this business, because it is so tough for everybody, not anybody of any particular color, it's hard for everybody, that you celebrate successes. if you're able to celebrate them with, now my family, it's always great. and i always watch cnn heroes. >> larry: isn't your wife a hero, heroine? >> absolutely, gave me part of her life where most wives wouldn't give the hubble the remote. >> larry: the time of day. >> absolutely, the time of day. but yes, she has changed my life. and really gave me an appreciation for every day of life. >> larry: thanks, george. >> absolutely. always a pleasure.

20 minutes later, she'll bring one into the world in seattle. later today, she'll help an accident victim in kansas. how can one nurse be in all these places? through the nurses she taught in this place. johnson & johnson knows, behind every nurse who touches a life... there's a nurse educator... who first touched them. ♪ you're a nurse ♪ you make a difference

>> larry: welcome back to a special edition of "larry king live," a night for heroes. everybody's got a hero, or two. let's see who's inspired some well-known achievers. surely al gore has a hero. who is your hero? >> one was roger ri vel, the teacher that started me focusing on the climate control years ago. and my father and mother were heroes to me as well. >> larry: i'll never forget your dad. do you have a hero? >> i have a couple of great heroes. in my life, when i came to this town, you know, i knew no one.

and of course, my father was my first hero. i must tell you. i truly admired him as a hard-working guy. and when i came here, sidney portier and quincy jones were my heroes. >> larry: not bad. nicole? >> my heroes are my parents. >> larry: both? >> yes, both. >> larry: do you have a hero? >> well, i did have a hero. and i suppose i still do. a hero is somebody you look up to and that has guided your life and that would be my father. he made me feel special all of my life. my growing-up years were spent with the understanding from him, and a clear concise way, that i could do anything that i set my mind to doing. >> larry: what did he do? >> he was a dentist. he said i couldn't be a dentist. >> larry: do you have a hero? >> i do, yeah. my high school drama teacher,

frank roberts. >> larry: what did he do? >> taught me all about -- well, got me out of michelle basically. one of the first people to ever say, you've got to believe in yourself, and you have to work hard and pound the pavement. so -- >> larry: good hero. >> absolutely. >> larry: still around? >> yeah. good friend. >> i have a number of heroes in my life. i'll quickly mention two. my wife, for putting up with me for over 27 years of marriage, i think there's got to be a medal there. but my sister who often says to me, i don't know how you can get on live television and talk to millions of people. she's a nurse. a critical care and cardiac care nurse. she deals with life-and-death situations every day. what i do is a lot easier. what she does makes her one of my heroes. >> for me, the heroes are the children that i've seen in the hospitals i work with a foundation that we do dance therapy for young cancer patients. every time i've gone in to work with them, i come out learning so much and so enriched.

so those children that are fighting for their lives and doing it with such dignity, those are my heroes. >> i think my biggest hero is my mother. because shef's a cancer survivor. she kept my family together with everything. and she taught me that if you want something bad enough, you can work as hard as you want, but you have to want it and you have to work for it. so it's my mom. >> larry: up next, a musical tribute on a special edition of "larry king live." "a night for heroes." 

>> larry: it's our heroes show for this thanksgiving night. founder and senior pastor of the powders house in dallas. his sermons are broadcast all over the world. he has a novel "a christmas story for our times." did you have heroes when you grew up? >> yes. and i still do today. >> larry: who were your growing-up heroes? >> my parents were when i was growing up. i grew up in a small community in west virginia. many of the people in the community left an indelible impression on my life. i think many times we don't realize we don't have to be famous to be somebody's hero. >> larry: what to you is a hero? >> somebody who gives themselves selflessly for the needs of others. no gin. tremendous sacrifice made. i think they're made out of different fabric. >> larry: more than someone who

hits .320 or scores touchdowns? >> i think it's much bigger than that. >> larry: why is it important for people to have heroes do you think? >> it gives us something to aspire to and a source of inspiration. it gives us some measurement whereby we can measure ourselves and something that we hope to attain. many of us may in fact be heroes. we don't know it until the crisis comes how we would react. >> larry: the foxhole. how can people are heroes to others do you think? >> first of all, listening and looking for needs, and just responding to those needs selflessly. what is normal to one person, a normal reaction is a miracle to another person, if they're really in need at the time. >> larry: other than parents and people around you, have you had heroes you didn't meet? they were just heroes to you? >> nelson mandela. a life-long wish to meet him. >> larry: i know him. we'll get you to meet him. had him to my house, had him on

this program. >> his grandson is equally impressi impressive. >> larry: many consider him maybe the greatest hero of the 20th century. >> he left a lasting impression that we will never forget. the entire world is riveting from the impression that nelson mandela left behind. >> larry: a lot of people consider you a hero. you ever think of yourself in that vein? >> not really. i'm honored that they think that. i just do what comes very natural to me, very instinctive to me. if it helps somebody, i'm glad. i don't think i'm a hero, though. >> larry: do you think we're in an age of heroes or not? >> i think we're in an age of heroes, but they don't get the spotlight. many times our greatest heroes go unnoticed. >> larry: sad. >> it is sad. >> larry: t.d. jaks. happy thanksgiving. >> and to you, sir. >> larry: now, an update from brooke anderson at the kodak theater. minutes away from the third

annual cnn heroes, an all-star tribute. now a thanksgiving tradition. what's it like out there? >> larry, the all-star tribute is set to kick off in just a few minutes. everybody's truly energized by these honorees. right now i have kneel patrick harris. thank you for being here and helping us out. >> my pleasure. what's going on, larry king? >> tell me how this award show is different than the countless you're asked to host, attend, be at every year? >> just because of the people involved being honored aren't celebrities that are used to attending these kind of events. these are people who have done extraordinary things, who continue to provide in ways most people aren't aware of. it allows awareness to their cause, to them. and it's one of those rare award shows, where the awards are really warranted. i think that's great. >> thank you so much for being here. have a wonderful time tonight. neil patrick harris. stay tuned for more of "larry

king live" "a night for heroes."

>> larry: steven curtis chapman, the christian music star, the loss of their youngest daughter, was fatally injured in their driveway after being excellently run over by their suv. he created show hope, an adoption ministry. and his new cd "beauty will rise." how's your boy doing, the boy who ran over your little girl? >> franklin is doing remarkably well. i text messaged him, said, i'm

going to see your buddy larry again. we visited with you a few months ago. he said, so what do you want me to tell him? say i'm hanging in there. these are his words, he said, have some good days, have some really still very hard days. but it's the hope that i'm going to get to see my little sister again that keeps me showing up for life. >> larry: we wish you a happy thanksgiving. >> thank you. >> larry: thank you for closing out our thanksgiving heroes show. we're going to hear a song. but before that, did you have heroes when you grew up? >> absolutely. yeah, my dad was one of the first guys that comes to mind. musical here rove. great man. and my big brother, herbie, was a great hero of mine. and, you know, obviously you've got your -- i've watched some football and baseball and have those sports guys. >> larry: did you have a musical hero? >> again, my dad really is the first guy that comes to mind because he was a great musician. still a great musician, great singer, great man.

and i listened to a lot of different styles of music. there was actually a guy, very few people will know the name, but a guy named dallas holmes. he was sort of my musical mentor in a lot of ways. a guy i used to watch. >> larry: do you have a hero now? >> yeah, i do. i've got some new heroes after the last year and a half. last time we were together we talked about billy graham. of course, he's a great man, reached out to us in our time of loss. a lot of dear friends that reached out to us. but, you know, my family, my wife has become an amazing hero of mine, watching her take this journey. my son, all of my kids, but my son will franklin, he's the bravest, most courageous guy on the planet as far as i'm concerned. >> larry: what do you tell people who think you're a hero? you help individuals in communities. you care for orphans around the world. are you humbled by that a little? >> absolutely. very humbled. it's crazy. the things that i guess have

made me a hero, you know, in some people's eyes, music, it's a gift. something that god kind of gave me. and i just did what came most natural. doing something like show hope, opening a special needs orphanage in china. helping families adopt kids. we are the ones who have been blessed by that. >> larry: your new album "beauty will rise" is all about struggles, fears, prayers as they relate to your faith, missing your daughter. your heroes help in this process? i imagine you turn to christ a lot. >> absolutely. i think a lot of folks, it is interesting the people that become -- that as those who were heroes, i received a letter from billy graham or my wife from a dear friend of hers, beth moore, that has inspired my wife, those were somehow even more significant. because they came from somebody that you really looked up to, that you really respected. and they helped sustain.

>> larry: the new cd is "beauty of rise." i have it right here. and steven will now sing a song for us as we close out our thanksgiving day special. this is from his new album "beauty will rise." the song is called "heaven is the face." and as we bid you all a happy thanksgiving, this is dedicated to his daughter, maria. ♪ heaven is the face of a little girl ♪ ♪ with dark brown eyes that disappear when she smiles ♪ ♪ heaven is a sweet kiss ♪ a thousand other little things that i miss with her gone ♪ ♪ and heaven is a face where she takes my hand ♪ ♪ and she leads me to you

♪ and we both run into your arms ♪ ♪ and god, i know it's so much more than i can dream ♪ ♪ it's far beyond anything i can see ♪ ♪ so god, you know i trust in you ♪ ♪ until i see heaven in the face of my little girl ♪ ♪ heaven in the face of my little girl ♪ >> larry: to see the entire musical tribute to maria sue, go to our website, cnn.com/larry king. i want to thankll