christmas. >> thanks so much and thanks to all of you for making us a part of your christmas morning. we appreciate it. a live look, santana row. merry christmas to you all. back here next week. good morning and merry christmas. a day for traditions, faith and family, more important this year than ever before as the pandemic alters the way we celebrate festivities across the country and throughout the world, taking on a much different feel, but in many ways very much the same, with a lot of love, laughs and today, christmas day, friday, december 25th, 2020. and hi, everybody, good morning, welcome to this special christmas edition of "today," we're always happy when you wake up with us, never more so than

when you wake up with us on christmas morning. >> we hope you have good presents under the tree. we know 2020 has presented the world with a lot of challenges that make for, i guess we could call it a unique holiday, there are still plenty of reasons for joy. we are hoping to bring that for you this morning. >> we have lined up special christmas messages from some of our favorite people, people who always inspire, and brighten our spirits, cardinal dolan is going to join us in a few moments. bishop michael curry and our own harry. amen. plus songs and spirits from brett eldridge, and the reknowned ina garten will join us. >> nice. >> get the kids rea >> the reverend harry. >> >> let the church say amen plus songs and spirits from brett eldredge, and the renowned ina garten will join us. >> nice. >> get the kids ready because we have the big man himself, santa, telling us how he's handled the challenge of going house to house in a year like no other. >> all right we have a lot to get to and fun to have this morning let's get started with a check

of the morning's top stories morgan is on duty. morgan, good morning and merry christmas. >> that's right, guys, merry christmas and good morning the storm that's disrupted us backing snow, high winds and now also the threat of flooding. nbc' shaquille brewster joins us with the very latest. shaquille, good morning and merry christmas. how are things looking and what should we expect >> reporter: merry christmas, morgan we are dealing with some bitterly cold temperatures here in chicago bu when you look across the rest of the country, you can see the situation could be much more intense. santa claus really having to deal with a massive winter storm. while the upper midwest is going to have that white christmas, you can expect along the east coast things to be wet and rainy. we saw storms and power outages, thousands waking up without power this morning the storm also bringing threats of tornadoes to folks in the south, and this also bringing travel disruptions so while health officials advise millions to stay off the roads,

we saw scenes of packed airports and dangerous road conditions. i'll tell you, morgan, we are expecting temperatures similar to what i'm standing in right now once this storm makes its way through the east coast cities like miami and atlanta bracing for their chilliest christmas in decades morgan >> stay bundled up it does look mighty cold in chicago. thanks for joining us. now we go to west palm beach, florida, different temperatures and where president trump is be spending the holiday he's under growing pressure to sign off on the deal that was struck by congress that would provide stimulus payments to millions of americans facing the financial pain of this pandemic. let's go now to nbc's garrett haake. garrett, we have these massive bills still hanging in the balance. what is the latest and what are the president's plans this holiday? >> reporter: hey, morgan, good morning and merry christmas from palm beach where it was basically a silent night

the president deciding to forego his typical church trip and avoid his usual tweeting he's been ensconced at mar-a-lago, his resort here, where we're wait ing to find out if he will sign that massive spending and covid relief bill. he has a copy of it as of last night. if he chooses to sign the bill with the $600 direct payments that his administration had originally supported, those checks could go out before new year's but if the president continues to hold out on that bill, we would start to see some of the provisions in the last covid relief bill, like the expanded unemployment benefits, begin to expire just the day after christmas as the country now waiting and watching for the president. he has no public events on his schedule today, morgan, so there's nothing for us to do but wait >> wait and see with a lot at stake as we wrap up the year garrett haake, thanks so much for joining us live this morning. now let's get a look at the national forecast where flooding is possible in new england today with the christmas storm bringing heavy rain to the east coast. you can also expect some snow around the great lakes as temperatures tumble across the southeast. meanwhile, a western storm will

also bring some coastal rain and mountain snow to the pacific northwest. be sure to stay with us because we will get to your local forecast in the next 30 seconds. don't go anywhere. whoo, what a ride! i invested in invesco qqq a fund that invests in the innovators of the nasdaq 100 like you you don't have to be a deep learning engineer to help make the world a smarter place does this come in blue? become an agent of innovation with invesco qqq good morning. i'm meteorologist kari hall. as we take a look at storm ranger and mobile doppler radar rain approaching the coast and the north bay. the rain will continue across the bay area. as we go into today you can see the steady rain that's pouring across our north bay counties,

and as we go into the rest of today all of this rain continues to roll in moving from north to south and going into the next several days still more rain in the forecast, even extending into the end of the year. 2020 has 2020 has been such a topsy-turvy year, really creating a new normal and we are so happy -- >> everyone has beloved holiday traditions, and right now we want to turn to one of our very favorites. >> this is one of our best traditions cardinal timothy dolan is here to share his christmas message, an to reflect on the year that was. you're a sight for sore eyes usually you'd be here drinking our eggnog are you at least having your eggnog now >> that's a violation of hipaa lawes. i can't -- i do hear that you're doing carry-outs during covid. so come across the street and bring me some with those great chocolate chip cookies, will you? >> we always have them here for

cardinal dolan >> we do >> we'll do it in exchange for some of your beautiful christmas wisdom you know you always have a message on christmas for your parishioners you're so kind and generous to share it with us what are going to tell them this year of all years? >> savannah and hoda, thanks >> it's a cherished tradition for me to be with all of you and it gives me a chance to give christmas blessings to everybody. savannah, how are you kids okay >> thank you trying to remind them of the reason for the season, not the gifts under the tree >> you hurry up to get home and be with them how is al doing? is he all right? >> al is a-okay. he's just off framewright here, and he's back in business. >> hi, al, good to see you >> thank you so much >> our love and continued prayers to you, al good to see you. >> thank you you, too >> cardinal dolan, you know what was interesting, we were looking back to last year at this time

and the message you had for 2020, and we asked you what people should be focused on in 2020 and you said, connection with people i mean, we had no idea of knowing what was ahead >> you're a prophet, too >> well, we sure miss that this year when you think about it, with the message of christmas, how important connection is and pope francis has been emphasizing that, so god wanted to be connected with us so much that he became one of us at christmas. he sent his only begotten son to become one of us, to take flesh to enter the human scene so even god knows that that connection is so essential and even with the birth of the savior, the messiah, that first christmas at bethlehem, savannah and hoda, he just didn't show up out of nowhere he was -- his mother, his earthly father, the shepherds, the wise men, the angels, he was -- there were people with

him so that connection with humanity -- i love the word that our jewish neighbors use so often, emanuel, god is with us and for us, that's never more evident than on christmas morning. >> no question about it. when times are hard, the thing we really need is perspective. and i think having a faith provides that perspective. how have you been reflecting on how this time and this time of loss and suffering and hardship in our country fits into a larger story >> it does fit into a larger story because, see, here's the scoop for both jews and christians hanukah and christmas are about darkness, darkness, darkness there's darkness over the earth. we're at the darkest time of the year right now, as december comes to an end. and, of course, jews and christians celebrate light, light conquering darkness.

you've got the menorah, hanukah, celebration of light you've got the birth of christ who is the light of the world. light conquers darkness naturally. as the sun now begins to ascend and we get more sunlight every day. super naturally, the darkness that oftentimes we find ourselves in in the human condition will -- light will triumph. there's no doubt about it realistically this christmas, there's a lot of darkness out there. there are people still suffering with covid there's fear, there's apprehenon, siere's waiting and impatience about the vaccine. and all of that. there are people alone this christmas who usually would relish the connection of family and friends. there's a lot of darkness. but what we say at this time of the year is that when all is said and done, when god has the last word, and he does, light conquers darkness. i don't know what is -- what will and we need hope

>> and i think, too, people are struggling with not only loneliness and loss, because we're talking about more than 200,000 people have passed because of this covid-19, but we need each other. and i think we're separated from one another. and i think we're all trying to figure out how to have a connection with one another. what advice do you have during this season? >> well, i'll tell you this, first and foremost, and you won't be surprised that i would say this as a pastor, as a believer first we have to enhance and revive our connection with the lord and i'm just so inspired over the number of people that tell me this has happened to them over the last nine months, that they had always thought that their faith muscle was kind of limp and here they found an interior resilience they found inside a reservoir of faith and hope and they have re-discovered a connection to the lord, that there is no quarantine when it comes to god

he is with us. secondly, let's just make an act of faith that we are united with one another. when i talk to mom in a little while, i'm going to say, mom, i'm with you when i talk to my sisters and brothers and nieces and nephews, i'm going to say, look, we have a love that space cannot destroy. it's more powerful than that and it does not depend on physical presence. i know you think right now, hoda and savannah, the number of husbands and wives and kids that are zooming to their -- to moms and dads, husbands and wives who are in military service in different parts of the world they're connected with them. they desperately miss them, but, boy, there is such a glow of their love and it dawns on them, our love conquers this space. and if anything, we're more in love than ever and i think that's how we are with the lord. that's how we are with one another at christmastime >> and in the final moments we have with you, cardinal dolan,

can we talk about love in action there are so many people in need right now. and if you are feeling the love of god and the love of your family, how we can kind of put that out into the world in acts of generosity and service to our friends and family who are in need right now >> in tiny practical ways, tiny practical ways last night i called a lady who i know is very sick and isolated and i try to keep in touch with her. she's a very faithful joyful catholic and i've gotten close to her and i called her expecting her to be down, and she said, you know what? i heard a knock on my door i opened the door, and there outside is a tray of christmas cookies and a glass of eggnog. she said, i don't know from whom that came. there's no sign here but somebody in this apartment building knows about me and cares for me and wants to express appreciation and closeness at christmastime and she said, that means the

world to me. we talk about a lot of heroic charity and service. hallelujah, when you think about health care workers. but i'm talking about, too, the wonderful touching simple tender everyday signs of love and affection that seems to have flourished during this covid and that really is what christmas is all about, right? >> yes, right. >> and all the people said, amen you know what i love, cardinal dolan? we started with eggnog, we're ending with eggnog all is right with the world. merry christmas. >> merry christmas >> a blessed good to see you >> you, too. thank you. have a good one. >> craig over to you >> let's head to a place cardinal dolan knows very well the vatican. millions turn to the pope for guidance this holiday season this year those messages are coming in different forms. nbc's ann thompson has more on that ann, good morning. >> reporter: good morning. this is the day catholics and all christians celebrate the birth of jesus christ, when god

became man and, yes, there are many changes at the vatican this year but in some ways they magnify the true meaning of christmas. this christmas the vatican is a reflection of our covid-plagued world. to what extent has it impacted the vatican's christmas celebrations >> we are not going to be able to have as many people as we used to have >> reporter: father manuel durantes is a chicago priest and adviser to the vatican communications department. >> all those lines of people who would request tickets or make it a special moment to go to the vatican, this year that's not going to be possible even some of the cardinals and usual people who can celebrate along with the holy father, those numbers are going to be limited due to social distancing >> reporter: though visitors are few, the nativity scene, and christmas tree are still in chant says father david mccallum >> just behind me a christmas

tree >> reporter: an american jesuit on assignment in rome. the pope says there are signs of hope are those signs of hope we need this year more than ever >> when we see something physical, like a symbol of the tree pointing upward, it's incredibly beautiful the way it kind of reaches up and likewise, when we see the nativity scene, we know that this was a homeless family seeking shelter, and nobody wanted to take them in and when we think about all the people who have been affected by this in an economic way and the way in which this has really hurt the poor even more so, i think there is a poignancy this year that is very powerful about the nativity scene >> reporter: it hasn't changed christmas. has it changed the message >> i don't think covid has changed the message of christmas. what covid has done is accentuated. christmas is the moment in which we christians celebrate the fact that god emptied himself, sent

his only son, became incarnate and became part of our reality god did this out of love for humanity we need to replicate that. >> reporter: it is a quieter rome that surrounds the vatican. its famous buzz, muted and yes it still inspires. >> it's hard to walk by places of the coliseum, pantheon. they've been around a long time. they've been through so much despite such damage and hardship and that resilience is there right in front of you. >> reporter: resilience that this year we draw from both the physical and spiritual worlds. merry christmas. >> all right, ann thompson ann, thank you >> coming up, guys, in a year when everything's been different, our tree is no exception. we're going to look back at the journey to 30 rock with a surprise stowaway hidden inside. and an update on little rocky the owl. >> and also ahead, that wasn't

the only tree we helped light. we'll share the trimming traditions we all use to bring the studio 1-a tree to life. bufirst, this is today ot n

but first, this is today on nbc. and just ahead on this christmas morning, did santa leave presents under your tree, mr. roker? >> of course, he did >> of course and he left them under yours as well pandemic can't stop the big man. >> the big question is how did he pull this off in a safe and efficient way. leave it to keir simmons to get the story straight from the jolly old elf himself after a quick check of the news and your quick check of the news and your wwas proven superior to humira® in providing significantly clearer skin. serious allergic reactions may occur. tremfya® may increase your risk of infections

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♪ and auld lang syne ♪ we'll take a cup of kindness yet ♪ ♪ for auld lang syne next customer please. ♪ ♪ good morning. it is 7:26. i'm marcus washington. today's national top story for you this morning, we begin with that breaking news out of nashville. according to police there has been an intentional explosion in downtown that happened earlier this morning. police believe a parked rv exploded causing widespread damage. you can see here how the chaos is this morning. at least one apartment building destroyed. three people were taken to the hospital. i used to live in nashville, and that area very popular with restaurants and a lot of people normally hang out there. but on christmas day normally everything is shut down, so that

minimized the damage to businesses. of course we'll continue to follow this story bringing you all of the information and updates we get as well. just a glorious sunrise. a beautiful shot. rain is on the way. we need the rain and this beautiful shot is a good way to start our christmas morning, kari. we are going to see a lot more of these as we go into today. tracking it on storm ranger and mobile doppler radar. we've seen the steady rain over parts of the north bay as we get a look at more rain coming in today. we'll see it off and on and becoming more widespread.

this moves out later on tonight. we'll see a new storm system approaching on sunday night into monday and more rain for the middle of next week. marcus? we'll have another local news update coming up in 30 minutes.

♪ back now, 7:30 this christmas morning, friday, december 25th, 2020, with a look at the holiday decorations at the white house. this year's theme, america the beautiful, paying tribute to the majesty of the u.s beautiful as always. >> lovely. and now to a holiday tradition a little closer to our address, the iconic rockefeller center christmas tree >> indeed. we miss the crowds this year, the tree lighting, but it was still so special to be able to bring it to everybody at home. >> and if you remember, when that norway spruce made its way here to the plaza, unbeknownst to everyone, it brought along a

little friend. let's just say no one will forget that adorable owl in the hamlet of west oneonta, new york, there's a home called the christmas tree house. the plac this year's giant norway spruce was first spot by a rockefeller employee on the front lawn of the dick family home >> they found us about four or so years ago it was only 71 feet tall once it grew a few more feet, the christmas call came. >> we were more than honored to donate it and hopefully we bring some joy into some people's lives this season. >> a season like no other. harkening back to 1931 whe construction workers raised the unofficial first tree on rockefeller plaza. it became a symbol of hope and started an annual tradition. but is this 11-ton spruce went up after its 200-mile journey to

new york city, so did some unflattering comments on social media. some comparing it to the charlie brown christmas tree because of its shaggy appearance. >> yes, there was a lot of social commentary online about the tree and how it's, you know, looking a little scraggly. somebody tweeted, i thought it was really funny, like in 2020 form the rockefeller christmas tree tried to cut its own hair. >> that changed with the discovery of a tiny owl found buried in the tree's branches. the 7-inch wide eyed resident was rescued by tree workers who then gingerly placed the owl in a cardboard box and sent it to the ravens beard wildlife center for care >> i was thrilled that he was alert and looking up at me >> the northern owl nicknamed rocky became the new symbol of hope and resilience. after a week of monitoring, rocky, she, not a he, was

released in upstate new york back where her journey began >> watching her fly today was really a beautiful thing it's just the perfect ending to all the work >> a perfect ending indeed capped by the lighting of this magical tree >> rocky >> oh, love rocky. >> you named it rocky. >> well, he was rockefeller. it took too long to say it we had to get to it. >> it was a girl, could be rockette >> maybe next year >> by the way, it is a girl. >> it's a girl rockette >> by the way, rockette's house, the tree, it stays up through early next month just remember, if you do want to see it in person, there are, of course, new covid safety rules in place >> rockette, i like it coming up next, what are your beloved family tree-trimming traditions we share a few of ours we brought it to our studio tree

right here, we brought it to life >> we have that and more on a lovely christmas morning and a friday, too. but first these messages (sound from wind chimes) neighbor 2: (laughing) at least geico makes bundling our home and car insurance easy. which helps us save even more. neighbor 2: hey, sarah, hey, peter! neighbor 1: touché. neighbor 2: ahhh! neighbor 1: pret! neighbor 2: en garde! for bundling made easy, go to geico.com ♪ i was born right in theof my doorway♪ ♪ i don't know where i am, ♪ i don't know where i've been ♪ but i know where i wanna go

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♪ ♪ and welcome back if you are just waking up, let us be the first to wish you and yours a very very merry christmas. >> merry christmas we took a look back at the rockefeller christmas tree of course, being part of its lighting is a yearly highlight for all of us. >> it got us thinking about some other tree traditions, the ones we do at home with our family. >> that is right so we all contributed a little bit of them to one big "today" family tree. the result well nothing short of spectacular >> oh, looky, looky. there she is our tree is always puny, and so we do a really elaborate lighting >> one >> wow >> get ready

two! you got to have white lights because it speaks to christmas and it feels like peace. the kids make their own ornaments. start with haley little hope. you got to have lots of tinsel there's a technique. you take a lot of it and you just keep throwing it in blobs it has to look like it's dripping with icicles. i need a little help carson, can you help me out with some lights? >> thanks, hoda. oh, no, no, not white lights there you go no, no, no here's some lights for the tree. it's only colored lights what kind of person would put white lights on a tree i mean i know it looks fancy. christmas shouldn't be fancy and elegant. it should be festive and fun ♪ have yourself a merry little christmas ♪ grab this book right here. it's always under the tree,

called "a special gift." my father would read it. all of us would sit around him now that he's not here, i have carried on the legacy of reading this book on christmas eve we like to hang a stocking with all of ours, that's camouflage, we do it in honor of the troops who are overseas and couldn't get back home for christmas. we put this front and center as a reminder ornaments, craig, you can start with these >> thanks, carson, but we actually use a pickle ornament we also started hiding the pickle in the tree and one of the kids finds the pickle and they get a surprise and then we have the pickle again. it's baby jesus there. ♪ happy birthday to you ♪ >> when we were dating, outcomes the birthday cake and these people begin singing happy birthday to jesus. i was in and ever since we've been singing happy birthday to jesus. ♪ happy birthday, baby jesus

happy birthday to you ♪ ♪ >> savannah, i believe this i for you. >> thanks, craig >> i always like to put something a little sweet on the tree we used to love putting candy canes on the tree an by the time christmas came around all the candy canes were gone put it up high so the kids don't get all of them. i love christmas tree ornaments that have a sense of humor and have some personality. a christmas cactus because i'm from arizona i like ornaments that are kind of weird honestly. here's a new york city taxicab and a little pretzel the weirder the better and look at this fancy little flamenco right up front. one thing i started doing was making a photo ornament of the kids every year, and i love opening the ornament box and seeing how they have grown each year here's our family. there's our family, our "today" show family. tree looks good.

al, you have to finish it off. >> i can never get it untangled. our tree topper is a beautiful blac angel. >> almost there. >> you don't feel it's christmas until she's on top of the tree >> yay >> we have ornaments that represent the beautiful black angels and put the angels next to the baby jesus. we've done the ugly christmas sweater. we've done the ugly christmas suits. even if you don't want to wear an ugly christmas sweater, you can always put one on your tree. bad taste is always timeless really looks lovely, but something's missing. oh, there's no pine scent. the scent, you know, especially when you cut it down and you've got the pine sap on your hands nick and i have been going out and cutting a tree since he's been about 6 or 7. we're kind of lumber jacks we go out, put on flannel shirts we got our tree. >> yeah, we did. >> i stole these out of a new york city cab.

that says merry christmas. >> good stuff. >> thanks so much for the bacon ornament you gave me >> that's the best >> what's a little charcudery on the tree always makes it so joyous. >> should we toast to the tree >> we've hidden a little bit of wine >> wine not? cheers >> cheers. >> merry christmas love you guys. merry christmas. >> by the way, what are you wearing, carson? >> just a little santa sweater >> that is so carson >> which list are you on this year naughty or nice? i think both >> the naughty according to the sweater. i say nice >> he has a naughty tattoo and a nice tattoo. we good morning. i'm meteorologist kari hall. our mobile doppler radar, we have some rain passing by and it's starting to roll into parts

of the north bay and approaching san francisco as well as parts of the east bay as well. we've seen the rain in the north bay the past couple of hours, and it's just going to continue to roll in. we'll be tracking this as it moves from north to south today and becoming more widespread. maybe some pockets of heavy rain as well and, of course, we'll have more updates throughout the morning. and that is your latest weather. >> al, thank you coming up, we are heading to london for the story behind some long-time royal christmas traditions that are being broken this year. right after this ♪ and i know it's gonna be... a lovely day. ♪ ♪ lovely day, lovely day. lovely day. ♪ ♪ lovely day. ♪ lovely day, lovely day. ♪ no matter how you celebrate this year, make this holiday extra special

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course, most families have been forced to rethink how they are spending this holiday. >> and that includes the royal family, skipping their traditional get together as the queen and prince philip spend a quiet day at windsor castle instead. nbc's kelly cobiella join us with more on that. kelly, good morning. >> reporter: craig, good morning and merry christmas to all of you. here in the u.k. covid means families can't get together this christmas, so the queen for the first time in years is spending the holiday away from her kids and grand kids christmas cheer at windsor castle, the queen and her family all socially distanced, saying thank you to key workers earlier this month a rare public family reunion for the royals and the only one this festive season as she made her way back inside, grandson prince william called out, bye, gran he won't be seeing her christmas

day because christmas with the queen is canceled this year. buckingham palace says queen elizabeth and prince phillip who are 94 and 99 ar celebrating quietly in windsor castle the first time in more than three decades the church service canceled so royal fans don't gather. >> the royal family used to spend christmas at windsor up until about 37 years ago when they switched to sandringham it's going to be familiar territory. she's going to feel cozy and christmassy even though she's not up in norfolk. >> reporter: buckingham palace may have been home for princess elizabeth and sister margaret like in season i in netflix "the crown. but christmases were almost always in windsor, and as i found out on visit to the castle in 2018, the royal sisters were the stars of family plays and christmas cards. >> that's the queen. >> that's the queen at age 13 and her little sister. >> reporter: the last royal windsor christmas was in the '80s

the era of ronald regan, margaret thatcher and shoulder pads princess diana was a young mom, just 26, when the royals held their final christmas here in 1987 this year the halls are decked with six christmas trees, including this 20-foot stunner from windsor great park. the queen starting new traditions, too, like video calls with help from daughter princess anne. >> good morning. i'm very glad to be able to join you. >> can you see everybody >> the queen has embraced new technology she has been using video conference calls to speak to her nearest and dearest. >> reporter: with harry and meghan, and archie home in entrash, prince williams kate, likely celebrating with her parents will they join the queen for a game of charades online. it's hard to imagine the royals doing charades on zoom

>> it is hard to imagine this is very much an attempt from the queen to lead by the top. look, we know it's not going to be a normal christmas, we're part of it, too, and we're not going to get special treatment >> reporter: the queen will be sending out her christmas message today just as she has done every year since 1952 guys >> all right, kelly cobiella there in london. kelly, thank you >> thank you, my lady. >> thank you, my lady. >> just ahead, a man we came to love during the royal wedding. the most reverend bishop michael curry. he joined us to lift our spirits throughout the pandemic and he is joining us again today. he's got a special holiday message, something we all need >> we definitely do. and then harry smith reflects on the year that was with a little help from a classic christmas tale but first your local news. ♪ should auld acquaintance be forgot ♪ ♪ and auld lang syne

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good morning. it's 7:56. i'm marcus washington. breaking news out of nashville this morning. according to police an intentional explosion in downtown. this happened not far from the honky-tonk bars. police believe a parked rv exploded. several buildings are damaged, at least one apartment building destroyed. we're checking with bay area agencies to see if they're ram upping up security after this explosion. we'll bring you any updates as we get them right here as well as online. moments ago we saw the sunrise. take a look at this rainfall on the peninsula. a live look around the bay area.

not as rainbowy right now in some areas. meteorologist kari hall has been tracking that for us. we do know the rain is coming in. yes, i think we'll see more rainbows. i love that video captured by kira klapper. a band of rain rolling down the peninsula into the east bay. what caused that rainbow and we're going to see more waves of rain like this. marcus? we'll have another local update coming up in 30 minutes. i'll see you back here then. merry christmas.

♪ have a holly, it's 8:00 on "today," coming up, merry christmas. this morning we'll take time to reflect with bishop michael curry and his thoughts and wisdom and harry smith will share his thoughts this time of year plus making spirits bright, ina garten will have drinks that will make you feel very merry. and santa's little helper, country super star brett

eldredge is rocking around the christmas tree you won't want to miss today is friday, december 25th, 2020 ♪ >> good morning. welcome to our winter wonder land >> today's the day merry christmas. >> merry christmas, "today" show >> thank you, santa claus. >> so cute >> oh. >> remember to thank santa good morning, everybody. so glad you're with us this special morning as the world wakes up and celebrates a new world, christmas >> merry christmas >> merry christmas, everybody. 2020 is a year that's been hard on everyone, but that does not mean there are not a lot of reasons to celebrate today >> that is right we are going to do just that in the next hour including festive music from brett eldredge and festive drinks with one of our favorites, ina garten. >> we do want to begin with a check of the news, nbc's morgan radford has that covered for us. good morning >> hey there, guys, good

morning, and merry christmas the east coast is now dealing with a roaring winter stor unleashing snow, rain and powerful winds leaving many waking up this morning without power. that storm has already disrupted plans for many holiday travelers in the northwest we saw blankets of snow and heavy winds. shaquille brewster joins us from chicago. shaquille, good morning, what are you seeing out there right now? >> reporter: merry christmas, morgan it's bitterly cold in chicago. you can look across the country and see conditions that are much more intense. it will be a white christmas for folks in the upper midwest once you hit the east coast, you can expect things to be wet and windy. we saw the winter storm packing rain, snow and wind gusts 60 miles an hour. that storm still making its way through the northeast. santa had to fight this massive storm as he was dropping off those gifts last night we also know tha thousands are waking up without power with the same system that

brought tornado warnings to the south. and also those massive travel disruptions, we have scenes of packed airports and dangerous road conditions. that of course despite warnings and pleas from health officials asking people to stay off the road and try to avoid those holiday gatherings on the back end of this storm, we can expect some chilly temperatures, similar to what i' standing in right now. cities like miami and atlanta expecting their chilliest christmas in decades morgan >> definitely chilly temperatures stay bundled up and merry christmas. thank you so much. high stakes for president who has big decisions to make about covid relief and a possible government shut down. nbc's garrett headache is traveling with the president in florida. good morning and merry christmas. there is so much in limbo and so much at stake for millions of americans who are waiting to find out whether some financial help is on the way with that covid relief bill. where do things stand right now? >> reporter: hey, morgan, good morning and merry christmas from

palm beach it was a silent night here, the president foregoing his usual christmas trip to church also foregoing his usual tweets. although he did fire off a few messages at republicans he says are not fighting hard enough to overturn election results. we are waiting to see what the president will do with the massive government spending and covid relief bill that arrived in palm beach awaiting his signature yesterday. the president has said he wants to see more than the $600 direct payments that his administration initially agreed to in this bill if he signs it as-is, those direct payments could go out before new year's. if the president decides to hold off and keep fighting for higher payments, we could see some critical programs like expanded unemployment benefits begin to expire as early as tomorrow. the country, the congress waiting to see what the president will do. morgan, he has no events on his public schedule this morning so there's nothing left to do but open presents and wait to see what the president has in store. >> waiting and watching this christmas morning. all right.

garrett haake joining us live from florida garrett, thanks so much. now a look at the national forecast where the christmas storm is bringing rain to the east coast today snow could get heavy around the great lakes. meanwhile the pacific northwest is in for some rain along the coast and snow in the mountains. and now your local forecast in >> good morning. i'm meteorologist kari hall. we look at the rain rolling into the bay area. we're going to see it becoming more widespread. make sure you have the nbc bay area app so you can get alerts as the rain moves in. more widespread for parts of the north bay but continuing to move through into this afternoon and to the evening. most of the rain will start to taper off later on tonight. there may be pockets of heavy rain through early tomorrow morning and then as we go into the rest of the forecast, we're going to see some more showers headed our way into the middle of next week.

and coming up on this christmas morning, we can always count on this man, bishop michael curry to spread some joy in this holiday season he has a message that may be music to our ears. he's going to tell us why he thinks that the greatest gift you can give this year actually costs nothing at all >> and then for those who want something, well, let's say a little more tangible, perhaps drinkable, ina garten is going to mix up something merry, cocktails to make sure you are feeling festive. but first these messages ♪ still warm. ♪ thanks, maggie. oh, alice says hi. for some of us, our daily journey is a short one. save 50% when you pay per mile with allstate. pay less when you drive less. you've never been in better hands. allstate. click or call for a quote today. to visit your doctor right now. but if you're experiencing irregular heartbeat,

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welcome back. christmas is a holy day for billions of christians around the world, and it's a time of year when everyone reflects on the year gone by while looking with hope toward the year ahead >> and if you need added inspiration, well, we've got just the person with us now. the most reverend michael curry, presiding bishop of the episcopal church good morning and merry christmas. >> merry christmas to all of you.

great to see you >> your presence is a gift, that's for sure. we have counted on you again and again this year. what's your message going to be to parishioners on a really difficult year, but a morning of hope >> it's been a tough year. it's been a tough year and, you know what the truth is, at the root of christmas, there is that wonderful passage in john's gospel, god so loved the world that he gave his son god loved the world enough that he gave the gift of his own self, his very life. and you know what? the greatest gift that we can give each other is the gift of ourselves. and we can do that it's been a tough year it's been a tough year for so many, and yet we've got each other. and if we give ourselves to the other in new ways, that's the reason we give little gifts and things it's not because the gifts mean all that much. it's because i'm giving you a gift of myself remember that christmas carol "the little drummer boy" the

drummer boy didn't have much to give he gave all he had and just played his drum an the tale says the mother mary smiled and the baby jesus smiled when we give the gift of each other to each other, we bless each other and bless the world even in the most difficult times. so if you're not high tech, then email. if you're high tech, zoom. if you're no tech, pick up the telephone and call give yourself to somebody and say merry christmas. >> bishop curry, you had some great insight. a lot of people as you talked about it, are suffering. they've loews loved ones because of this pandemic this is what you said. you can't jump to hope there is a process you have to go through there are no shortcut to it. people are always saying, find hope, find hope. but how do you get there >> you know, you just have to acknowledge that there are some things you're sad about.

and if loved ones have been lost in the course of the year, remember them. say their name say their name to god, and you're going to feel sad for a moment and then stop and think, the reason you're sad is because you're going to miss them. the reason you're sad is because somewhere in that past there's a memory of joy and hope and happiness. and go back and think about that joy and that hope and that happiness, whatever it was, and remember that and pray that that memory, the memory of them, will continue to be a blessing for you today. and then hope that you can be a blessing to someone else's memory >> bishop curry, for those of us who consider ourselves people of faith and so many folks have had their faith tested in so many ways this year i contend that on the other side of this, we are all going to be

better off in a myriad of ways what would you say to people of faith who have had their faith tested so mightily in 2020 what do you think it's going to look like post pandemic? >> hope. don't give up on hope. the bible says, god so loved the world that he gave his only son. the world was a mess then, and god came anyway. god did not give up on his world and god has not given up on us even now let me tell you a quick story. my daddy, when he was sick, he had a stroke and i was in the hospital room with my aunt carrie and she was rubbing his legs, and she start ed singing blessed assurance and amazing grace. she was rubbing his legs aunt carrie, why are you rubbing his legs she said, didn't you know? i said didn't you know what, she said, didn't you know your daddy had polio when he was a little boy. and that's what his mama would

do, she would rub his legs and put some ointment on them and sing those songs the truth is he eventually opened his eyes after all the surgeries. it took several days, while she was standing there singing those songs. and i don't know how that all works. i don't know that he hears mama's voice in his sister's voice. i don't know all i know is there was hope for him in that deep memory of his own mother's voice singing we've all got some deep memories of something good, and there is hope and god has been in that hope and if god hasn't given up on us, then we don't have to give up on each other, and somewhere along the way there will be and is a vaccine for this disease just as there was for polio. >> bishop curry, at this time a lot of people are, you know, really riven by the election that just happened we're in a time of forgiveness how do we reach out to those who may not agree with where we

stand at this time of peace? >> you know what we've got to reach out you've just got to cross the street, put out your hand, and put it out without an agenda the only agenda is, i want to sit down and have lunch with you because you're my brother, you're my sister we are siblings. we are all children of god and if we are all children of god -- last time i checked, if you have the same parent, that means you're intrinsically related. and last time i checked, we all come from the same god, same god and creator of us all. and if that's true, then that means we are family. we may be dysfunctional, but -- we are family. >> the best ones are bishop curry, you talk a lot about the power of love, love is the way is your latest book. for those watching now on this day, how can somebody, you know, issue the power -- what is the power of love and how can it be spread >> you know what it really is -- it's not a sentiment. it's a commitment.

the power of love is found in my willingness to seek your good as well as my own and if i do that toward you, and you do that toward me, then we actually create a new space where both of us can live together when we agree and when we disagree. that's the miracle of love it actually creates space for all of us. i give up a little something, you give up a little something and then in the miracle of this kind of mathematics, we all get something more >> my goodness >> good time to hear that. >> thank you so much merry christmas. thank you for your wisdom. >> merry christmas to you guys >> we'll be looking for you in 2021 >> i'll be there >> yes >> let us take a bit of a turn here on this christmas morning turn to a certain person who flies around the world this time of year, delivering gifts. the pandemic has even presented

him with a bit of a unique challenge. >> that's right. but from his home in the arctic circle, santa had it all figured out, the social distancing, the elves with the ppe, all of it. >> and before his yearly ride, he found a time to tell "today's" senior international correspondent keir simmons how he was going to pull that off keir, good morning, merry christmas. >> reporter: hi there, hoda. merry christmas, everyone. the headline this morning, santa made it. despite the coronavirus, father christmas paid his traditional overnight visit to millions of homes around the world and delivered presents for millions of children. covid has hit tourism to santa's groto in lap land by 80% but with the magic of christmas and th magic of technology, we can still stay in touch. it's the most wonderful time of a year when everything changed. so it's good to see you santa at last it's true, even his groto in

lapland looks a little different from christmas past with elves in face masks and plexiglass >> i have some excellent news for you. christmas will not be cancelled. >> my name is ariana and i'm 8 years old. >> reporter: millions of little ones wrote their letters >> i have been very good this year >> reporter: just like our girls. but who could have predicted last christmas that this year santa would be talking to many youngsters on zoom this is elia and this is ariana. >> please tell me, you're both 8 years old, you're twins. >> yes >> elia, you wrote me that you've been really good this year >> yes, we have. >> is it so? the elf told me something about you, too let's see what it says about you

have been nice or not. oh, oh. oye-oye, oopsy this says you have been very good [ laughter ] it says something about dad also that was the woopsy part [ laughter ] >> reporter: some traditions turn out to be even more important this time around >> you have to remember, i can't deliver the presents if you are awake. >> reporter: oh. so you've got to be asleep otherwise santa won't deliver the presents . >> yes. >> reporter: okay. because of the social distancing >> reporter: and sometimes it's children who suggest what really matters this holiday >> people who do not get to, like, be celebrating christmas with their family and friends. i was thinking everyone could join up on like a zoom meeting and we could have a christmas party. >> that's true this is the new way to be in contact with people and i love this this is wonderful.

and everybody should do this >> reporter: around the world from the u.s. to europe to russia, adults have been doing their best to keep the magic alive. >> it's important to say to all children in the country that w regard santa claus's travels as essential travel >> reporter: and while life has changed, even in santa's groto, our children's joy is the best reminder of the christmas spirit bye-bye, merry christmas >> merry christmas >> reporter: and santa has been doing as many of those video calls as he can to keep the magic alive for children around the world. hopefully by next year, it will be a christmas like the ones we used to know hoda >> all right, keir, thank you. >> and now we know let's get a check of a very merry popstart carson >> merry christmas to everybody. first up earlier this month we

featured some fun match ups in our head-to-head holiday challenge. and now we've got four more. i want to reveal those from "today" show fans. they voted on them on twitter. here are the results first up, what happens when you pit sugar cookies against candy canes? we thought this would be close but my goodness, 90% said sugar cookies >> of course >> i agree >> can you imagine christmas without a candy cane >> absolutely can. >> without seeing them >> no. >> but i don't see a sugar cookie at christmas. >> how can you not have sugar cookies? >> you have to leave them out for santa. >> you can leave a butter cookie and some brownies. >> here's another one. we have christmas roast beef versus christmas ham 57% said ham i would have said my whole life roast beef until i met a man named al roker who sent us all the roker ham.

>> best ham ever >> it is changed my life with ham. it is incredible ham we have another one for you. which decoration on the top of the tree do you prefer, angel or star 69% said a star. >> we go star. i go angel >> my soul says angel but i like a star i put the star >> we have a star on our tree here >> you are the star on the tree. >> look, guys, it's snowing outside, isn't that beautiful? >> there's a fire raging, too. >> one more for you. this is a close one. which christmas movie do you prefer christmas vacation classic or elf. christmas vacation christmas vacation was the oner, 52%. for me, it's elf elf is the new classic we have christmas music data w want to share with you from our friends at spotify they told us what the streaming service top songs are of all time we'll start at number 5. justin bieber's mistletoe. the belieber is pushing this into the top five. after that it's mr. christmas himself, michael buble, the

-- this is a good record to put on, the whole thing. "it's beginning to look a lot like christmas." number three is another pop star, ariana grande with her hit santa, tell me number two, bona fide classic m mother loves lam last christmas is a classic one. this is miley just covered this. >> another surprise. >> number one we all know. greatest -- >> it deserves to be there >> all i want for christmas, number one 400 trillion hits just today finally we have a fun christmas movie ranking done by rotten tomatoes. they look the critic tomato scores of 62 holiday movies based on percentage of critics who rate a movie fresh or rotten. and then compile them into a list with just a bunch of editorial input. >> what? >> i don't know. >> since it won last -- the last holiday head to head challenge, we have to mention christmas

vacation which came in at number 55 with a critic score of 68%. and featured these memorable moments here >> they want you to say grace. the blessing >> well, i don't know what to say, except it's christmas and we're all in misery. >> good, good, good. ♪ hallelujah >> that was funny. >> that's great. >> after that a true holiday classic. to me it was a christmas story before elf like this is fun to just put on your house and have on just play on an endless loop this comes in 21 with 89 positive critic score. classic scene putting the tongue on the flag pole there >> double dog dare you >> here's one some may find controversial.

they are classifying "die hard," the movie "die hard, which i'm not mistaken, came out in july of '83 >> yes, it did >> it ranks at number 14 critic score of 94%. uncle al, you are on the side of this is indeed a christmas -- >> absolutely. >> why because the plot itself takes place at christmas >> it can't go on without christmas. the reason he goes out there, john mclean goes out there to be with his estranged wife. >> there is a snap -- there is kind of a santa one of the bad guys end up as bad santa. doesn't end up well for him. little coal in his stocking. >> when i read, i studied this is it a christmas movie or not there are deep studies about this one is they say the word christmas like 100 times in the movie more than they say the word kill or die hard or other sort of words. >> should have called it christmas hard >> coming in number 2 on the list is charlie brown christmas. 94%. >> that's a great one. >> this is a classic, too. >> although it's not a movie it's a half-hour special, which

was not controversial, but for the first time they mentioned god and christ in a holiday special. >> wow >> which was neat. >> doesn't he read from the bible, luke? >> he does he reads from the bible. >> that's what christmas is about. >> i heard bruce willis tried out for the part of linusu and didn't get it, >> the classic, it's a wonderful life, critic score 94% 6% of critics rated this movie a thumbs down. hard to imagine. >> great >> goot good "popstart". >> if you're feeling, you know, like a little scrooge like this year, harry smith has the redemption story for you to turn things around. >> plus, the country king of christmas himself brett eldredge who collaborated with kelly clarkson, meghan trainor on this new holiday music this year just ahead he's going to perform just for us. but first your local news.

good morning. it's 8:26. i'm marcus washington. breaking news from out of nashville. according to police, there's been an intentional explosion in downtown. it happened earlier this morning not far from the city's famed honky-tonk bars. police believe the parked suv exploded causing the widespread damage you can see there. three people were taken to the hospital. we are checking with bay area agencies this morning to see if they are ramping up security around the city after this explosion. we'll continue to bring you those updates online. let's get a look at that forecast for you on this christmas day. kari hall has been tracking that. >> we've been tracking the rain moving in. here's a look live right now at storm ranger. you can view the same on the nbc

bay area app. and see where the rain is now. we've been watching more of it starting to roll in off the coast moving from north to south. we'll see more of these heavier downpours later this afternoon into the evening. a bit of a break as another storm system is set to move in late on sunday into monday. tuesday is also looking dry but we could see more rain in the forecast between wednesday and new year's day. it's going to be busy and we'll be tracking it all. marcus? >> kari, merry christmas to you. we'll have another local news update coming up in 30 minutes. see you then. the usual gifts are just not going to cut it.

we have to find something else. good luck! what does that mean? we are doomed. [laughter] that's it. i figured it out! we're going to give togetherness. that sounds dumb. we're going to take all those family moments and package them. hmm. [laughing] that works.

i would like to wish my family and friends in south dakota a merry christmas and happy new year >> i would like to wish my friends and family happy holidays >> happy holidays to my wife jasmin go saints. >> we'd like to wish our friends and family back home a happy holidays happy holidays >> we are back 8:30 on this christmas morning,

2020, with a few holiday wishes there from our service men and service women who are stationed overseas on this christmas we wish all of them and of course all of their families a happy holidays >> yes so grateful. especially this morning. >> coming up, guys, brett eldredge is bringing his festive farewell christmas this morning with a special performance right off hi holiday album. >> there are the tunes and ina garten playing bartender she's going to share some festive drink recipes you can make them, you can enjoy them at home today >> looking forward to that harry smith is also here to revisit a beloved christmas classic for a reminder that even in the toughest of years, showing kindness can make a big difference in the world and >> good morning. i'm meteorologist kari hall. as we go hour by hour, taking a look at the rain that will continue to spread into the bay area. a lot of the heavier downpours will be across the north bay and

the rest of the bay area seeing it spotty. some of the heavier rain arriving later this evening. even tonight, still looking at some rain that will be with us off and on, especially in parts of the north bay. and then we'll see some of the rain winding down as we get ready for a new round of rain coming in late on sunday. weather. savannah >> al, thank you with christmas coming at the end of a remarkably difficult year, the holiday is bringing much needed time for joy and happiness and reflection >> harry smith joins us with a little guidance from a classic christmas story. good to see you this morning merry christmas, harry >> good morning. merry christmas to one and all i'm looking at the screen and how much i love and enjoy each and every one of you it's great to be with you this morning. >> you, too. >> and in a year like this, sometimes you just have to go back to the old standards.

christmas, the traditions, the memories, the movies, the anticipation, the preparation. in any year, it's a lot. we get sapy. we get melancholy, lonely, too like santa's sleigh, christmas is often overloaded with the urge to get things right, to please, to be pleased. and this year christmas 2020, well, it's all that and more when we look at the lines of cars waiting at food banks, when we listen to the pleas of front line workers begging us to do our part in the epidemic, we whether we listen to the stories of loved ones lost, we cannot help but feel shrouded b the dark reality of our time what, then, of christmas it would be easy enough to cry, hum bug. every idiot who goes about with merry christmas on his lips should be boiled with his own pudding and buried with a stake

of holly through his heart he shoul so says ebenezer scrooge dickens knew about hard times. 1840s victoria england was ravaged with famine. cities were crowded with newcomers were in horrid conditions the poor were despised dickens wanted to awaken his country men to the needs of the less fortunate so he wrote a timeless carol about a man rich by any standard but poor in spirit oh, bu he was a tight fisted grind stone scrooge, grasping covetous ol sinner as scrooge is visited by the ghost of christmas past, present and future we see a man forced to look deeply into the mirror of his life the more he thought, the more perplexed he was and the more he endeavored not to think, the more he thought. and when he sees his true self, he is humiliated

he had been sobbing violently in his conflict with the spirit and his face was wet with tears. horrified by what the ghost had shown him, scrooge's hard heart was softened and he promises himself to be a better man i will honor christmas in my heart and try to keep it all year i will live in the past, the present, and the future. the spirits of all three shall strive within me i will not shut out the lessons that they teach. the newly generous joyful scrooge embraces the family of his employee bob, especially the ailing little boy tiny tim scrooge was better than his word he did it all and infinitely more and to tiny tim who did not die, he was a second father he became as good a friend as asod a master, and as good a man he good old city knew or any other good old city, town or

borough in the good old world. every era has its challenges it's up to us to acknowledge them to reach out to those whose needs are greater than our own and bring close, if even on screen, those we hold dear and as tiny tim said, god bless us everyone. so, my own children, i read the christmas carol to my own children over several nights for years and years and years because christmas is always so fraught and we were always traveling to family and it just was this busy insane time. and i thought, what's one way we can sort of drag it back a little bit and try to get a little bit more perspective? so my poor children listened to this story more times than i could count. and it's not an easy read, by the way. somebody needs to come up with a better little more modern

version. i bet it put them to sleep, though, and that's its own reward >> that's a gift in and of it self >> it's a nice family tradition. thank you, harry >> thank you so much merry christmas to you >> you bet you, too >> up next, the part of the show i've been waiting for, it is here there she is we're about to get a personal lesson on the perfect holiday drinks from the great ina garten. but first, this is "today" on

♪ we're going to find the perfect tree. we're going skating. we're going to nana's.

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ina, good morning and merry christmas. >> merry christmas to all of you, too >> let's get the nonalcoholic one out of the way and spend time on the alcoholic one. >> does it have to be non-alcoholic? spiced apple cider what i did for five minutes, i simmered really good apple cider, not apple juice, but the real thing, with a little pepper corns and cloves and cinnamon, a little orange zest so all of those spices get into it i'm just going to strain them now. it smells good i wish we had smell-a-vision you could smell how good it is then i'm going to pour it into a glass. a pretty glass, something like that and does it have to be non-alcoholic? i usually put a little bourbon in >> now you're talking, homemaker. >> you do you. >> it is christmas after all maybe like a tablespoon of bourbon. because it has that carmely thing that's really good >> cup of bourbon. >> that wouldn't be bad. and then i just put a little

orange and apple and a cinnamon stick in it as a stirrer and that's the drink >> that's delicious. >> merry christmas >> i'll taste it and see if it's any good >> let us know >> what's the other one? >> i wish you were here. >> we do, too. >> okay, that's the nonalcoholic one. >> can't wait to see the one with alcohol [ laughter ] >> that's the long island iced tea. >> we call it iced tea so what i'm making is a pomegranate gimlet my friend rob marshal made it for you once, and it's just so good the first thing i need is a pitcher. i'm going to make a lot. 1 1/2 cups of gin. this is for seriously later. one cup of pomegranate juice you can buy it in the store. i love the color of it it's good for you, right >> sure. >> one cup of freshly squeezed lime juice

>> ooh >> got to be freshly squeezed, right? little bit of sugar syrup, about half a cup that's one cup of sugar, one cup of water cooked until the sugar dissolves and chill it doesn't that look like christmas? >> delicious >> then i have a big cocktail shaker just going to pour it into a cocktail shaker. shake it up. and i have one more thing. i always freeze the glasses. i'm going to go get it >> ah. >> very classy that's what makes you you, ina >> is that a dumb question >> that's the cocktail shaker, yeah i'm going to shake it for about 15 seconds, if you can wait 15 seconds. >> we can wait get it right it's nice and cold actually, also, dilute it a little bit, which is nice. >> now, you used begin can you use vodka or any liquor you'd like >> you can use vodka i usually do hi, hoda

>> hi, honey >> hoda and i had a great time the other day. >> we did. we talked about ina's book it was awesome. >> >> "the comfort" food book >> her fan base is insane. i've never seen anything like it >> every night whatever meal you thin you've had, you make it out of ina's book, it's the best version of that meal >> oh, thank you isn't that lovely? this is the version of a pomegranate gimlet anybody ever had. ♪ it's beginning to look like christmas ♪ >> is that christmassy enough, a little lime? >> yoe, oh, yeah, the red and the gree we're ready for christmas. happy christmas. have a wonderful time. >> merry christmas, ina. >> thank you all of you. you make us very happy >> you will be feeling no pain in moments exactly. this is the afternoon drink. >> enjoy it. for ina's recipes you can head to today.com/food.

>> thank you, ina. when we come back, the perfect complement to holiday spirits, a holiday song, a special performance for your christmas

announcer: the citi music series on "today" is proudly presented to you by citi >> and welcome back. we hope your morning is filled with presents to unwrap. right now we have one more for you. >> we sure do. the special performance of the christmas song from his holiday album "glow. here is brett eldredge ♪

♪ ♪ chestnuts roasting on an open fire ♪ ♪ jack frost nipping at your nose ♪ ♪ yuletide carols being sung by a choir and folks dressed up es♪ ♪ like eskimos ♪ ♪ everybody knows a turkey and ♪ help to make some mistletoe ♪ ♪ help to make the season bright ♪ tiny ♪ tiny tots with their eyes all aglow will find it hard to sleep

tonight ♪ ♪ they know that santa's on his way ♪ ♪ he's loaded lots of toys and goodies on his sleigh ♪ ♪ and every mother's child is gonna spy to see if reindeer really know how to fly ♪ ♪ and so i'm offering this simple phrase ♪ although ♪ to kids from 1 to 92 ♪ although it's been said many

times, many ways ♪ ♪ merry christmas ♪ merry christmas ♪ merry christmas ♪ to you ♪ >> we love our brett eldredge that was great a big thanks to him because he's always spreading that christmas cheer. >> what a voice. we are back in a moment on this christmas morning. but first, this is "today" on nbc. ♪ we made usaa insurance

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this is the day it's all about traditions every year we like to wrap things up with a certain toast it's a toast to our family a toast to everybody who works here, everybody watching from home

we love you. >> it's been a difficult year and we have the best staff on earth. none of this is possible without everybody in our studio and every one of you, and especially our team behind the scenes so from all of us to all of you -- >> why is mine empty already [ laughter ] >> because that's the way you roll >> long show >> it's 2020 >> merry christmas, everybody. >> thank you merry christmas. >> merry christmas >> merry christmas, guys ♪ >> this whole time period is really a testament to bonds that are greater than physical closeness. they're real closeness, emotional closeness. and our friendships have carried that and have kind of lifted us up i mean, we're far away i feel as close to you as ever if not more. >> closer. >> especially because these are trying times

♪ ♪ a smile on my face when we al know it's hard ♪ ♪ there's no way to pay you bac bless your heart i love you for that ♪ ♪ honest and selfless ♪ >> folks at home are working really hard at "today" these are the people putting the show together, producers, writers, everybody working from home stepping up, look at every single face. they work each day and we really want to say thank you. ♪ matter matter matter you're doing a good job a good job ♪ ♪ you're doing a good job don't get too down the world needs you now ♪ ♪ know that you matter matter matter yeah ♪ ♪ six in the morning as soon as you walk through that door everyone needs you again ♪

♪ the world's out of water it's not as sound when you're not around ♪ ♪ all day on your feet hard at work keep that energy i know when it feels like the end of the road ♪ ♪ you don't let go you just res forward you're the engine that makes all things go always in disguise ♪ ♪ my hero i see a light in the dark smiles on the face you all know it's hard ♪ ♪ there's no way to ever pay yo back bless your heart know i love you for that ♪ ♪ honest and selfless i don't know ♪ i don't know if this helps ♪ good job, you're doing a good job, good job ♪ ♪ you're doing a good job, don'

get too down ♪ ♪ the world needs you now, know that you matter, matter, matter ♪ ♪ yeah, it's a good job ♪ you're doing a good job, a good job ♪ ♪ good job ♪ you're doing a good job ♪ don't get too down ♪ the world needs you now ♪ know that you matter, matter, matter, yeah ♪ ♪ the mothers, the fathers, the teachers, the preachers, strangers, the friends that show up in the end ♪ ♪ from the bottom to the top, those that hear us ♪ ♪ this is for you, you make me fearless ♪ ♪ doing a good job, good job ♪ doing a good job, good job ♪ don't get too down, world needs you now ♪ ♪ know that you matter, matter,

matter yeah ♪ ♪ good morning. it is 8:56. i'm marcus washington. breaking news from out of nashville this morning. according to police there, there's been an intentional explosion in the downtown area. it happened earlier this morning not far from the city's famed honky-tonk bars. police believe a parked rv exploded causing widespread damage. you can see there. three people were taken to the

hospital. we're checking with bay area agencies to see if they're ramping up security around the city after this explosion. we'll bring you the updates online. happening now, our big story locally, bay area health leaders are preparing for the next surge in covid cases as icu beds are at capacity. they are warning people to wear the mask and social distance during the holiday season. for more tips on how to stay safe, head to nbcbayarea.com. in a land not so far away,

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