from nbc news, this is "today" with kathie lee gifford and hoda kotb, live from studio 1a in rockefeller plaza. hello, everybody. welcome to thirsty thursday. usually i'm happy about that, but you know what, today is january 16th. >> what's wrong with that? >> every 16th means i'm one more month older. yeah. >> your birthday is on the 16th? >> yeah. isn't it funny? it just -- but that doesn't matter to the people who were nominated for oscars. they're thrilled. they don't care. >> we do look formal for oscar nomination day.

>> i just saw your dress, and i love it. >> tell me what's happening here. >> this is donna morgan. like a velvet. >> it looks really pretty. al was about to get up on it, you know what i mean? he was. it was weird. i was, like, wow. >> you know what i love about al? he tells you what he thinks. >> he really just said he wanted to get on that. that's exactly what he said. all right. so the oscar nominations are out. before we list them all and they are so deserving, what happened to "the butler"? >> hoda's been championing that movie -- when did "the butler" come out? who knows? because it was a long time ago. people have short memories, hoda. i thought for sure that oprah would get a nod just because she's beloved by the industry. >> by the way, she was great in it. >> she was great in it. and forest whitaker, oscar winner. >> okay. anyway. >> i'm sorry. >> i know. anyway, the most nominations if you want to look at the big headlines, "gravity" and "american hustle" each got ten. >> each got ten. want to make predictions? that would be fun. >> these are the nominations for best actor.

>> then we'll give our predictions. >> christian bale from "american hustle." bruce dern from "nebraska." leonardo dicaprio from "wolf of wall street." this is for you. chiwetel ejiofor "12 years a slave." matthew mcconaughey for "dallas buyers club." let's right now predict. >> matthew mcconaughey. >> leonardo dicaprio. >> and go. >> best actress here are the nominees. amy adams "american hustle." you go. >> i can pronounce it. cate blanchett, "blue jasmine." >> sandra bullock "gravity." >> dame judi dench, "philomena." >> and meryl streep "august: osage county." i'm going with meryl streep. >> go back again for the ladies. i'm going to go cate blanchett, "blue jasmine." phenomenal performance. best picture "12 years a slave." i'm saying that right now. slave," "american hustle," >> "captain phillips," "dallas "her." "dallas buyers club."

"gravity." and "the wolf of wall street." >> i'm going with "12 years a slave" because they're giving the top acting awards to "dallas buyers club." five more too -- >> we read them off. >> i'm going with "philomena" because i feel like it. >> have you seen it? >> no. but everybody who's seen it loves it. >>? other surprises. what do you want to say is best -- we said that. all right. what about other surprises? jonah hill nominated. for "wolf of wall street." >> jonah hill. he does some funky, weird kinky things in that movie. >> which is one reason i don't want to see it. >> "american hustle" i want to see and all the leading actors were -- and supporting actors were nominated. that happened with "silver linings playbook." david o. russell, he must be a dream for actors to work with. >> it was hard watching this. tom hanks was left out, by the way. >> in two big movies this year. "captain phillips" and "saving

mr. banks". >> forest whitaker as we said was left out. robert redford. people thought this was his big role. he didn't have any dialogue. >> just like under 20 words or something like that. he's very good at whatever he does. sometimes it's just not your year. >> yeah, it's not. >> boy, do i know. >> and the 86th annual academy awards are going to be on march 2nd. and ellen is going to be hosting. >> oh, my god. >> she's always terrific. the producers have announced the show will basically honor heroes. >> yes. >> of film this year. >> i wonder -- we don't have jimmy kimmel? jimmy kimmel has this funny -- he had fun with "august: osage county" that we're going to effort to get to you. but our editors are busy bleeping out things. not quite ready. >> are we brilliant today in the "daily news"? >> i don't remember. >> yes. we were basically talking about -- i forget. >> something smart and edgy. can't even find our page. >> we'll look for that. >> all right. >> this upset us this morning, this new chapter in trace adkins' life.

we really like trace. >> he's a friend of the show. we like when he comes on, always a lot of fun. well, he was on a cruise. he was headlining a seven-day-long concert cruise ship and he was also celebrating his 52nd birthday. tmz is reporting a trace adkins look-alike got into a tangle -- or they got into a tangle, the real trace adkins and his look-alike. >> a kerfuffle. >> and there was punching going on apparently and -- >> that can be a cruise ship. i know. >> well, trace got off the boat at the next stop and the statement from trace's people is trace has entered a treatment facility after a setback in his battle with alcoholism. "as he faces these issues head on, we ask that his family's privacy be respected." >> he's apparently been sober for about 12 years and he's always -- we never know what we're going to get with trace when he comes, though. he's always interesting. but there are different facets to this man's life. >> yeah. he's got -- he's got the beautiful -- those pipes that are so low.

>> he's done a lot of great work with wounded warrior foundation. so we wish him all the best in the world. i do remember one time on a carnival cruise ship, can i tell that story? >> yeah. tell it. >> i was shooting on a carnival cruise ship. all those commercials i did for 20 years were actually shot while we were at sea. >> oh. >> so my family often came, almost all the time came. and so one time frank and i were shooting a scene and we were in the back of the ship. the bow. no. the stern. and some guy was crazy drunk and his friends were urging him on, go tell frank -- get in his face about something. i don't remember what it was. just -- >> a drunk idiot. so what did he do? >> he threw a drink at frank. i'm telling you, i thought that that guy was going to go overboard. >> yeah. >> because, you know, it was a stupid thing to do. >> what an idiot. >> yeah. >> and you're stuck out there. you're confined on the boat. >> frank was such a gentleman. but i thought oh, boy, if ever he was going to lose it it would

be something like that. now, if the guy had thrown it at me -- >> he would have thrown the guy over. >> yeah. his body would have never been found. yeah. sharks. >> so there is some big news at the westminster dog show. big changes are happening. >> yeah. we didn't talk about that. >> no. >> hold it up. we love the westminster dog show. >> yes. there are three new breeds in the competition, okay? here they are. the chinook. or is it chinook? >> chinook. >> okay. the sled puller, beautiful. known for its power and endurance. you do this next one. >> okay. thank you, hodi. it is the portuguese podengo pequeno. this dog is a compact rabbit hunter. >> you can't really tell -- >> he looks like he's sitting on a hamburger bun. >> he does. and then we have the rat terrier. >> yeah. >> yeah, those are to get rid of rats on farms. ooh. >> i need one of those. >> ooh. oh, my god.

>> no, we're not talking about it. okay. so they're opening the doggy door this year to welcome mutts. what is the world coming to? there's a chance for bambino now. >> and for blake. >> oh, my gosh, we love our mutts. >> you can't be best in show, but there are mixed breed competitors. that will be kind of cool. >> a new agility contest that will be seen for the first time at the great show. and the dog show is february 11th. and it comes just in time for the dog days of winter. >> you're right. you're right. >> it gives you a good laugh. i love that. if you've never seen it, you've got to see "best in show." one of my favorite movies of all time. >> it really is. >> brilliant about the dog show world. >> we've got to talk about lena dunham on "vogue." talk about her being on "vogue," they were asking her about it and lo and behold, here it is. you don't -- it's one of those head and shoulder shots. >> i think she looks awesome. her eyes, i didn't realize how big her eyes were. yeah. inside there are more revealing photos.

you should say. her tattoos. you can see this. she's with the guy who plays her boyfriend on "girls." but it does show kind of a switch -- it seems like with "vogue." usually you don't expect to see a lena dunham on "vogue." i thought it was so cool to see her on. >> always. >> when they go toward the more -- what they call the more average-looking woman and they give her, you know, some credit. they all think she's the voice of a generation. that sort of frightens me. because i just -- there are things about that show that frighten me. and so anyway, we were happy for her and wish her well. now, your play list. we have to get this out of the way. >> i can't get out of my carole king mode. >> then i'm going to love it. >> i saw "beautiful," the broadway show. and we're going to go again. i can't wa to go again. >> in february. >> this is one of the songs i just loved. so let's hit it. ♪ >> "so far away ♪ first note. ♪

♪ so far away doesn't anybody stay in one place anymore ♪ ♪ it would be so fine to see your face at my door ♪ ♪ doesn't help to know you're just time away. ♪ long ago i reached for you and there you stood ♪ >> i love this song. >> isn't that beautiful? ♪ holding you again ♪ would only do me good >> i knew you would like it. >> how can you be the same person that likes all that other -- i don't understand it, hoda. this is -- this is genius music. >> i do love it. i love it. she's awesome. >> i'm so happy for her. >> okay or not okay? >> not okay. >> is it okay for celebrities to get involved in politics? >> here's what we had to say about it. let's do it quickly. >> wow.

>> every citizen has a right to exercise his or her political beliefs in the hopes of implementing them into society. but that doesn't mean we have to vote for them. >> i like what you said. i say of course it's okay. it's a free country, after all. >> i say what she said. >> mine was shorter. >> i like it when they get to it just like that. >> i do too. we have a big show coming up, don't we? >> we do. who's on it? we don't know. but last we looked we had a fine line of people -- >> "ambush makeover" coming up. and we have a segment on worrying. does worrying equal love? when you worry about -- >> i'm worried about who's on. you know? you know, you can't worry about these things. >> you can't. all right. we'll have a lot coming up for you. we'll be right back. >> after this. this is for you.

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you worry about. stomach ache something more serious to who your children's friends are. >> there is always one mom in the bunch who has to outworry the best. kara corgan is the health director at "parents" magazine and she wrote all about this. and dr. janet taylor -- >> i like her a lot. >> a psychiatrist. >> hi, ladies. >> welcome. >> thank you. >> the genesis of this article is an interesting concept, that moms trying to outworry each other. >> yes. i was finding i was having a lot of conversations with moms who told me they were too worried to let their kids do things that my kids were doing, like going on a certain carnival ride or me dropping them off at a birthday party and then leaving. >> were they sort of trying to dig at your mothering or were they truly just, gee, i can't believe you did that, i'm so afraid? what did you get from them? >> after a while it started to feel like judging and started to feel like if i weren't concerned about those things, then maybe i don't care enough about my child's well-being. >> yeah. is that what's happening? are they trying to outdo one another or are they really just

sharing their concerns? >> as moms certainly we keep our child's health and safety first and foremost, and for some people that is a worry. but if you think about what a worry is, which is a negative occurrence, these negative thoughts, in no way does that equal love. and for some people that -- you think that smothering, that control over your child, you'd have to say like that's not really the best way to show them how much you care. >> to me it's a lack of faith in the child or a lack of faith in -- >> lack of faith in themselves and -- but it gets back to as mothers that the competition or, you know, that sense of -- what that is. >> you even see kids on a playground and sometimes you've seen it, one kid is going crazy and swinging and everyone is like where's the mom? and the mom's over there just enjoying herself. and you worry that this kid -- and i get that way. if i'm at the beach and i see a kid swimming, i'm always on the lookout, like is the mom around and why don't they seem to care and why are we all having to feel responsible for this child? >> yeah, i mean, i think every parent worries. i certainly have fears. i'm not anti-worrying. and at my job, you know, i

literally -- it is my job to know every bad thing that could happen to a child, but at a certain point you have to do your research, you have to, you know, take precautions, say your prayers and then you have to just let it go and hope that you can let your kids lead a normal life and not let your fears impact them. >> isn't that the whole point of parenting, you're supposed to raise them up in such a way that you then let them fly the coop? leave the nest. you can't be hold on to them. they will fall if you're holding on. >> it's in stages. we want to raise kids that are independent and can make the right choices. but the fact is, we all have some worries that you think about. but most of what we worry about doesn't happen. but it's those mothers -- and fathers can do it too but primarily mothers because they're the caregivers that say make sure you get -- look both ways, do that, but the fear that something bad can happen. can transmit to your child. >> and it must scare your kid to death because -- >> it passes on fear. >> i remember as kids, my parented moved into the d.c. area, my parents said don't answer the door. we were like oh, my god, we were terrified, right?

then we heard someone ring the doorbell. so we went to the intercom and we're going who is it? they said we're christmas carolers. and we're like who is it really? but they made us crazy afraid. >> that's the danger, isn't it? >> we got a lot of interesting feedback to the article and one mom said worrying doesn't make your kids feel more loved, it makes them feel more worried. >> anxious. >> i agree. and i think that worrying doesn't prevent bad things from happening. and also even sometimes being there doesn't prevent bad things from happening. i think we all have experiences where our kids got hurt and we were right there. >> if you worry so much, so much anxiety that it stops you from doing what you should do, kids don't want to go to school, they're afraid to play, as a mother you're afraid to go out, if that happens you should go see your health care provider because that really differentiates the worry to an anxiety disorder. >> that's what a helicopter parent is, that's the term that comes -- >> helicopter parents are more into control and, you know, if a kid gets a b they're swooping in, talking to the teacher about

getting an "a." so yes, they may be worried about how their kid is going to be perceived but they really want to control every aspect of their child's life. >> sometimes you meet a person and you meet their mother and meet their mother, you understand this one is a worrywart, it is going to rain, don't forget this, you're getting a cold, and you can see it's one of those generational things that keeps going. >> and yet my sister has a daughter and i've got the two kids and my brother and we're all so different in the way we parent. completely. my sister is a worrier, about everything. >> and parenting styles are different. and so it's not to label parents who maybe do want to spend more time with their child or are more controlling, but just to know the impact it may have on other parents and just because your styles are different doesn't make you a bad mother. >> exactly. so you don't feel bad. you're fine, sweetie. you come back and see us again. thank you. all right, the video inspiring people to charge ahead and follow their dreams. >> it's webtastic. then talk about inspiring. our "everyone has a story" winner whose strength is music to his mother's ears.

>> plus our ambush ladies are about to see their gorgeous new looks for the first time. >> don't miss the big reveal, coming up soon right after these messages. >> it will be good. hi. jessica! you said in a focus group, "you'd like to have a product oh! that eliminates odors and doesn't just mask them." oh my gosh, come on in. we're looking for the smelliest area. i have not cleaned the cat box in probably about two weeks. ♪ [ male announcer ] febreeze doesn't mask odors, it actually eliminates them. we are ready to check out this room. [ sniffs ] it completely took the odor out. it smells really clean. [ male announcer ] don't just mask odors, eliminate them with febreeze air effects. for digestive health? yes and did you know that trubiotics is a daily probiotic that helps in two ways. it supports digestive and immune health by working in your gut where 70% of your immune system lives. try trubiotics today.

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♪ i got my eyes on you it is time for "webtastic" when we dig up the next video that will put a smile on your face. >> this one is an incredibly touching commercial about a professional football player that we hope will inspire you. >> it has millions of hits online and something tells us millions more will be on the way. check it out. >> derrick coleman. >> they told me it couldn't be done. that i was a lost cause. i was picked on. and picked last. coaches didn't know how to talk to me. they gave up on me. told me i should just quit. >> and the last pick is --

>> they didn't call my name. told me it was over. but i've been deaf since i was 3, so i didn't listen. >> derrick coleman. >> and now i'm here, with a lot of fans in the nfl cheering me on. and i can hear them all. >> okay. >> i can't even look at that commercial. >> that is a perfect commercial. >> that's the best commercial i've ever seen. >> that is a perfect commercial. wow. so getting me in the mood for "everyone has a story." >> oh, my god. they're ready to turn around and face the mirror. >> wow. >> makeup! >> don't walk away. we're going to see our "ambush makeovers," everybody. and our "everyone has a story" is going to get new some tears too, i hope. we'll be right back. ♪ everyone has a moment that changes their life ♪ ♪ it's suddenly clear in that

moment ♪

we're back with more of "today" to do what we always do on thirsty thursday. >> plaza "ambush makeovers." >> two lucky ladies plucked from our crowd, whisked into our studios for new hair, new makeup, new clothes, new everything. >> new life. doing the whisking as always, "today" contributor and stylist to the stars, everyone please sing along. ♪ louis licari ♪ la, la, la, la, la >> thank you, ladies. >> and contributing editor for "people star watch" and author jill martin. >> day off today? >> great day. the "today" show gets the best crowd. our biggest problem is keeping it down to two makeovers. >> i know. we could do a week's worth of -- >> wow. that's dramatic. theresa fleetwood is our first lucky lady. she'll be 54 this saturday. she's from nashville, tennessee. she's been too busy taking care of everybody else to focus on herself. so her sister begged us to take care of her for a change. >> and her sister's already

crying, too. let's take a listen. >> we're laughing. we're crying. i know you need this new start. >> yes. yes, i do. >> i know you don't want to talk about it so you're not in hysterics. so i'll ask your sister. it's been an emotional year for you guys, huh? >> very much. especially my sister. and she's just the greatest person. she does everything for everybody else but herself. so this is going to be terrific for her. >> i'm sorry about your loss. i know you had a big loss of your mother this year. but we are going to give you this gift and a new start. >> i'm so excited. >> no more tears. >> thank you. >> she's already got all the basics, doesn't she? >> she looks beautiful. >> nancy is here with her. nancy has her blindfold on. we scared her. just keep it on for a second. i'll tell you when to take it off. here is theresa fleetwood before. >> all right, theresa, let's see the new you. ♪ isn't she lovely >> oh, my god. >> are you ready, nance? get ready. >> oh, my god. >> you're going to freak.

>> oh, my god. you've got to turn around. >> you're not going to believe. >> you're going to freak. >> get ready. >> that's you. can you believe it? >> don't hide the kleenex. >> there is plenty. >> nancy probably needs a little bit. >> peek right here. >> here you go. right there. >> oh, my god. >> theresa works in an accountant's office. one thing you would never guess is she works in an accountant's office. of course this is the miracle of hair color, washing away the gray. just wash away years. and add fashion. it's so pretty, right? it's really -- what is this? a honey warm brown red. it's all of it together. >> it's licari red. >> louis and you guys, awesome. >> vanessa's haircut. she just shaped it around the face and opened her up. >> nancy, tell us. what do you think? >> oh, she just looks wonderful. >> oh.

>> you guys have such a great relationship. jill, that dress, perfect. made for her. >> isn't it? first of all -- what were you going to say? >> and a size 2. >> she kept saying what size is this? >> is that one of those woo or new -- >> it's a woo new whatever. you see the cutout here, you mentioned. there's nothing sexier than just a little bit of a cutout. >> a hint. you should know, jill. >> practice what you preach. >> big round of applause for theresa. >> beautiful. >> join your sister over here. >> our second lady is melissa caldwell. she's 46 from brownsburg, indiana. she told us her daily beauty routine consists of washing her face. so that's it. so she jumped at the chance to get a glam new look. let's listen to her. >> the perfect candidate, we said to you, do you want a whole new look and you said, yes! >> yes! >> so tell us why. >> because it's time. you know, i'm in my upper 40s, so it's time for a new look, do something different with the

hair, color, cut my hair. whatever you want to do. >> i assume we can do whatever we want. >> oh, yeah. oh, yeah. i'm excited for it. so see what you guys come up with. >> all right. blank check. okay. >> she's here. blindfold on. >> her son blake and a few members of the blend, a boys' choir from indiana who's going to be performing at carnegie hall this sunday. all right. so let's take one last look at melissa. >> keep your blindfolds on, guys. >> and let's bring out the new melissa right now. >> no, not yet. >> oh, my gosh. >> all right, you guys, now, take a look. >> oh, my god! >> melissa. >> where did she go? >> you look beautiful. >> you're adorable. take a look at yourself, sweetie. >> oh! >> what a nice transformation. of an already beautiful woman. >> gorgeous. >> peek at camera 12 for me.

>> thank you so much. >> i hate to tell you, but you look more like his date than his mom right now. >> okay. >> that's creepy, louis. >> sorry. >> a little uncomfortable. >> there i go again. let me take my shoe out of my mouth. again a great haircut by vanessa. makeup. and she didn't know what to do with her hair, so she just kept growing it, and it did nothing for her. the other option was highlights, highlights, highlights. she overhighlighted herself. it almost looked gray. this color, again, slightly warm golden brown, just made her skin color come alive. makeup by inna. >> what do you all think? >> beautiful. >> she looks wonderful. wonderful. >> good job as usual. >> the dress. >> a little touch, a little twist on the little black dress. you see the detail on the shoulders. so you don't need a lot of jewelry. >> let's bring theresa back out.

come back out, theresa. >> thank you. >> round of applause. >> you guys are awesome. >> vanessa, everybody, the glam team, thanks so much. okay. we have a very talented "everyone has a story" winner. >> music has helped save his life. >> he's going to sing for us, everybody. he's awesome. ♪ [ female announcer ] it figures.

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♪ everyone has a moment today we get to meet our newest "everyone has a story" winner. elsa hadley conklin sent us a story about her son ken's lifelong health struggles. >> his music and the family's faith have given him strength -- well, you know where it comes from. we'll meet everybody in a moment. but first let's listen to what elissa had to say. >> my son ken is a 25-year-old singer-songwriter-musician who has a rare immunodeficiency disorder, but he does not produce sufficient antibodies in

his cells to fight disease. in 2006 after ken landed in the hospital with what appeared to be pneumonia, infectious disease specialists looked into his cells and discovered the disorder. ♪ however, music has saved his life. his music teacher told me when ken was in ninth grade that he was a true musical genius. ♪ i never know if he's playing a paul mccartney song or one of his own. when the sound of his playing wafts down the hallway from his room. he's won first place in every talent contest he enters and has even played at madison square garden. last month an er doctor told ken that he now has developed a lung disorder called bronchiectasis. the linings of his lungs are scarred from repeated infections and from going almost three years without proper medical treatment. to complicate his life he and i both have a form of muscular atrophy that affects our arms and legs and one muscle in the diaphragm.

he will never die from this, just progressively cripple up. i watch your kathie lee special when you sang "make my heart a manger." i went. i cannot let ken's songs die inside of him. please bring the manger back into my life. >> and ken is here with his mom elissa and his brother terrence. and i also remember we must have cut it out from the letter, you mentioned that when he would perform you would perform, ken, you'd have to go to the hospital and he would luong at you and go, mom, was i a trooper? was i a trooper, mom? tell us about those days. >> yeah. it was the first time they entered a contest separately. and we had to keep ken in a soundproof booth for four hours before he went on. he was sick. but you pay for this months in advance. you never know if he'll be sick or well. when he performed, my husband took him immediately to the emergency room. i stayed behind to see if he had won. of course he got first place. and there he was --

>> of course you did. >> 13-year-old lying there in the hospital bed, all these nurses around. i bring him the gold statue. and he's like, mom, was i a trooper? >> wow. >> and you've loved music since the beginning, haven't you? >> yes. >> we talked about how it got you through difficult times. what does the music physically -- what does it do for you? >> it takes my mind off being sick. and missing, you know, dances or whatever i would have to miss when i was sick. so it just got me through everything, took my mind off of it. >> and when you perform -- like you said you performed in the garden. that must have been such an incredible experience. >> yeah. that was amazing. especially since i played with weezer on stage. >> that's good. >> paul mccartney i know. weezer not so much. and you've been a good brother to him. >> i try. >> we have our little peccadillos but we get through. >> they used to perform together for a year and a half. they had a regular gig every other tuesday at a local restaurant.

and then ken had a car accident and they said you'd never play again. so terry tried to put the show on alone. but when they're together it's like a combination of dick and tom smothers meets the beatles. >> fun, fun. >> we know you found your strength through music and we're hoping the song that's coming up will inspire you too. >> a special performance by tony-nominated broadway star jeremy jordan. >> jeremy's here. wow. ♪

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♪ [ male announcer ] bob's heart attack didn't come with a warning. today his doctor has him on a bayer aspirin regimen to help reduce the risk of another one. if you've had a heart attack, be sure to talk to your doctor before you begin an aspirin regimen.

♪ we're here with our "everyone has a story" winners ken conklin and his mom elissa and brother terrence. >> time to hear the song david friedman and i wrote just for you. please welcome broadway performer jeremy jordan singing "was i a trooper, mom." ♪

♪ life for some people seems simple things ♪ ♪ they find it easy to sing a song they're meant to sing ♪ ♪ then there are people who find life a challenge to live ♪ ♪ i'm still a young man but what most take for granted for me has taken quite a toll ♪ ♪ but i have a family that's up to the task ♪ ♪ and each time they're there for me ♪ ♪ i want to be sure they see ♪ the best me that i can be ♪ so i always ask

♪ was i a trouper mom did i pass the test ♪ ♪ did i give it all when i gave it my best ♪ ♪ did i make you proud that i'm your son ♪ ♪ did i leave anything undone ♪ was i a trouper mom ♪ now there's so much music i still want to make ♪ ♪ i want to share with each and every breath i take ♪ ♪ so i'll keep believing that's why i'm still here ♪ ♪ and each time that things get rough ♪ ♪ i'll show you i've got the stuff ♪ ♪ my faith's going to be enough to conquer all fear ♪ ♪ i'll be a trouper, mom i'll

pass every test ♪ ♪ i'll give it my all ♪ when i give it my best ♪ i know you're proud that i'm your son ♪ ♪ i won't leave anything undone ♪ ♪ i'll be a trouper mom ♪ 'cause i'm a trouper, mom ♪ i'm a trouper, mom [ applause ] >> awesome, jeremy. awesome. we'll be back with a surprise for the conklin family and a little bit of another special performance from the man himself. but first, this is "today" on nbc.

♪ we're back with our "everyone has a story" winners, the conklin family, who were just treated to an amazing performance by jeremy jordan from broadway and "smash" and movies, who appeared also -- all over the place. he's got a new movie coming out in the fall. and composer dear friend david friedman. >> what did you guys think of the song? >> it was great. >> you liked it? >> you have a great voice. >> the lyrics, if i said it myself, the lyrics from a mother's heart, just beautiful. and your performance was amazing. and your music is gorgeous. >> it takes a village. >> was that stressful, by the way, getting up and performing when you know the people sure singing to are right in front of you? >> well, i was singing to a camera with lyrics on it. so i don't have to think about it. i'm just kidding. >> wow, jeremy. >> it takes the stress off. you know? i looked at the end, like, it's okay. because otherwise you don't know what's going to happen there. >> you never know. >> we like to give a little something away. ken, we know you a lot of medical bills and a hard time meeting some of your expenses.

so visa donated a prepaid card for $500 for some help with some extra expenses you guys may have. we'd like you to have that. >> there you go. congratulations. i think it's actually $500 each i think it should. it should cover the medical situation you all were telling us about. >> absolutely. >> we're happy about that. now, come on. we've been waiting. >> tell us about -- you write your own songs? is that what happens? >> i do. i do write my own songs. i have about 140. i wrote two last week. >> of course you did. >> i may have said 138, but i have 140 now. >> you played one called "get me through the night"? >> "make it through the night." i wrote it a while ago. it's copyrighted to me. >> you've got to be careful around people like me and david. >> you might like it. it's got your kind of -- >> vibe? >> yeah. >> headi won't like it. >> if you don't, i'm sorry. >> we'll like it, because you're doing it. >> here we go. ♪

♪ going out from 9 to 5 ♪ pushing through to get on in life ♪ ♪ ♪ thinking about the day that was lost ♪ ♪ if i hang on ♪ i will be all right ♪ but if she holds me tight i know i'll make it through the night ♪ ♪ ooh >> that's just a little sample. >> all right! [ applause ] >> great. >> have a great thirsty thursday, everybody. >> we will see you for try day friday. >> yes. >> god bless. >> thank you.

thank you, ken. thank you. >> nice job. >> i'm here to help. you and i will get through this together. ♪