>> announcer: from nbc news, "today" with gifford and hoda kotb. live from studio 1a in rockefeller plaza.rybody! it's funday monday, march 21st. like it outside but spring actually arrived yesterday.

when it's spring, warm outo be dressing -- >> hopefully. the sound, 1975. >> yeah. >> okay. we're about -- a whole bunch of fun. fat greek wedding" star nia vardalos is here. >> yeah. e were love nia. >> then, it's holy week for christians we'll show you special moments and fun from my trip to israel. a place i've been visiting for 45 years. >> i can't wait to see kojak! >> omg. >> last season's winner of "the voice" here to entertain us.h a brand new debut album. >> does he not sing like an angel? >> he's going to sing with us. and you are in luck.ard to believe, reese is 40. >> i wore one of her dresses last week. they're adorable. >> the cutest dresses. >> yeah. happy birthday to --boy. >> today's the day. >> blake?

>> we had a little birthday party. >> how old he is? >> 5-8. >> what -- with jenna and mike.y. some of the best birthday cakes are from either giant or pub l publix. >> kind of fun to see adults, and i meandult kid, she a he is a sweet guy. >> went down to florida. >> of course you did. >> tell me about your -- >> sick as a dog for three day, but die. but i did, saturday, so beautiful. out in my backyard and took one picture of something sweet! are those tulips growing -- >> they're daffodils. i just put out a flat of them. >> my favorite sculptors,

jane d. decker. beautiful, beautiful sculptor, it is spring, but snowing this >> oh, yeah. >> overnight. >> it will be gone -- >> look what it looks like. in the morning. >> snow. dreaming of ten weeks from weeks, hod? >> i think it's ten weeks. >> memorial day weekend, ten weeks to get into your thong. if you need >> oh, yeah. >> and we all do. >> britney spears has it for you. >> a picture on instagram of bikini, and my gosh. wow. >> you know what? that's a good angle. >> people always -- >> i'm sorr that any angle. >> i'll try that out on memorial day weekend. even if i can that, we'll see. honestly. i admit she looks great. >> look at klg. you looked great without -- >> but that was 20 years ago, 30ago.

we said anyone looks good at that angle. >> all right. so i was wrong. all right. [ laughter ] >> some are instagram followers thinking the curve in the was photo shopped. just me. she looks great. >> can we give a big, happy, wonderful congratulations to a person who's like a member of our family?gan, her husband -- gave birth -- she gave birth to, she was there, a baby boy named stackhouse! >> perfect. >> arrived saturday morning weighing 5 pounds 12 ounces. she was -- >> she -- i spoke to her on little bit. she says she was exhausted and over the moon. >> and madly, madly in love. that's just the begin, but she of the nicest human beings i've never known in my life. cares about all of us so much.ime too care about her and we love her. >> we love you, megan. >> can't wait until she brings him to the studio.

>> they'll be little best friends. >> last night if you were watching "atlanta something happened captured a lot of people's attention. during the reunion, kenya, known to stir up trouble happened to be -- she got andy cohen. let's let andy figure it out. >> candy, now that you've actually seen what they actually juan jump to conclusions? >> clearly. it was -- shaneah confirmedalso, so -- >> okay. reunion? >> matt is asking about the puppy's food. >> sweetie, matt can figure it out. i mean -- you put the food in the bowl. like, with all -- know where it is. >> it's in the kitchen. [ laughter ] >> you got to be kidding? was?

>> all you're really trying to hide a text, this is what you do. i've done it. you have it down here. this was her trying to make right? or -- >> we have to ask andy cohen next time. does he set stuff up, too? he does not. he does not play like that. i think she wanted more attention and i think it bugged him. he looked really ou ever been with someone and you're trying to have a conversation with them and they're texting. >> it cost me a friendship once. >> really? >> yeah. about the person but i don't get together anymore. you wait and wait for months, finally get the time andthey're on technology. and i said, you know what? life's too short? a relationship bender. it's sad. a new poll in the young people -- this is upsetting -- value a good internet connection over daylight, water, a healthy diet sleep. >> wait.

>> it's just unbelievable. the only thing -- the only thing that rated more, you know, was freedom of speech. unless they're trying to keep you from having freedom of speech. >> but i can't believe that young kids -- first of all, i'msed freedom of speech was there, number one. know you how kids are and what they think. you think they'd think of things that were, i don't know.guess, but water, air? >> kanye's sneakers. important things like that. all right. you know what was important? a new attempt at tellingassion of christ" story. fox did something i thought was pretty brave. hosted by tyler perry, whom we alln epic production set in new orleans and they called it a live event and a lot was live but some was on tape. i thought it was one of thoserdinary things that tyler perry does called "the passion live" and he told it, you know, >> modern day songs. yeah. >> chris daughtry was

>> played judas to jencarlos' jesus, they sang "demons"agine dragons when judas betrayed jesus with a kiss. the solo was trisha yearwood played mary, she was on the show and said she was so nervous. you wouldn't know it listening to her. she sang "you'll never walk e." she has a great voice. you saw gospel singers behind, it was new orleans, made me wantback. listen to this note. you'll never walk >> amazing. >> you forget what a great singer she l played pontius pilate. he sang "mad world" and gave into the crowd's wishes and into jesus crucifixion death. >> a great actor. >> such a believable doesn't he? >> so good for them.

>> and a nice little bit of news over the weekend. >> we did. we got good news. we found out we won an >> actually, we won two. >> we won two awards. >> calmed the gracie awards. >> called gracies. >> what are they for, it's so embarrassing to us. go ahead. >> the gracie awards recognize exemplary programming made by en and about women. >> and the cast won for best tv hosts. >> it must be a mistake. >> hoda for siris xm radio show. >> you won my award last year. you're cleaning up. >> kathie also won on the show. >> nia didn't win anything, but next year, i hear she's up academy award -- >> are you eating radishes? >> yeah. it's good. i didn't bring a toothbrush on this trip, so --s? >> uh-huh.

we also want to see your photos of your most beautiful day next week -- >> an amazing performance. doesn't give anything but an amazing performance, from a tony nominated for my musical "scandalous." we'll show your photos during a be singing. head to facebook page, we've posted photos and would love to share them with so, if you are a bride and want to get ambushed, come thursday. we may find you out in the at will be fun f. you're going to be married. not if you've been one. >> no. right. >> oh, i need to find n't know. >> oh, yeah. >> studio celebrity gossip and "today's buzz" diabetes numbers aren't moving in the right direction, it can be a burden. but what if you could wake up to lower blood sugar? imagine loving your numbers. once-daily invokana . with over 6 million

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>> today's f.m. san diego radio host shelly. >> shelly is here. >> how generous is amy >> amazing. i wish i were her bartender over the weekend. you guys i'm sure love >> haven't seen it. >> you haven't seen it? i was going to ask you to get me tickets because i know you guys have connections. >> y big on broadway. go ahead. >> so amy schumer went to see "hamilton" with family members and frie seen it but went to see it again she loved it so much. at intermission she tipped the bartender for a $1,000. >> cooking it. >> yes. >> by the way, used to be a bartender. probably know what's it feels >> she really understands the struggle and wanted to let them know and give them love. >> now everybody's going to expect that. >> i know.y -- >> she got herself into a dig pit. >> so reese witherspoon

y is actually tomorrow. celebrated in hollywood. >> happy birthday. >> happy early b.-day.listers shows up, nicole kidman, taylor swift performed for a -- how sweet. >> she did? >> yes. taylor sang "sweet home alabama" guess who was hert. >> keith urban! >> i love that song. "sweet home alabama." >> josh lucas. >> by the way, taylor swift wasd in vegas sporting her man at club. >> singing? >> hold on. alabama >> she won an oscar, remember? singing, as june carter cash. >> oh, my god. you're so right. she knows how to sing.. >> and looked fabulous. i love her dress. >> she always says she didn't

because they are stars actually friends with people. they are really actually people who love her. >> remember seeing her on the elevator singing and performing? >> no. we nays and "hamilton," he seems like she knows how to have a good time. >> she was spotted dancing, having like -- she's hilarious. you know, when she finally gets a day off, you can imagine how much -- how good it feels. >> she loves to rock out. she showed up to show for calvin. >> good news about ben affleck's back tattoo. >> i didn't even know about his back uge back tattoo. i was horrified, and i tried -- i try to be in the no judgment that thing was terrible and people reported it was true, i was hoar fire rrify ied horrified."extra" a fake

thank goodness. >> why didn't they put that up ier? >> his exes, jennifer garner and jennifer lopez said it was too much color and went on and said all of his tattoos have too much color! >> she's know every one. >> yes, she jen garner said, oh, bless his heart. i'm so happy that it's fake, though. >> thank you very much. >> it is holy week. taking you on a tour of israel like you've never seen. >> want to see that. family that inspired the you can find a recipe for almost anything... baby cousin's gonna love that isn't she. oh my gosh.ll the right ingredients. we're gonna make the same meal this year. i wish sarah was here. m. but the happiest moments in life don't always come from a cookbook. look who's joining us. happy easter.from the heart. find low prices every day on

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s a story that sounds like a hollywood script. a little girl sufficienters from an incurable illness only to make a mirror rack lis recoveryg a fall and believing she saw jesus. >> the story is true and has been turned into a new movie everybody is everybody leaves it sobbing their eyes out called "miracles from heaven." jennifer garner gives ae as a mom who stops at nothing to fight for her daughter's life. the best acting i've ever seen her do. >> this is not acid she's not acid intolerant. >> you need to calm down. >> you calm down! you find me another doctor,e tests i'm not leaving this hospital until i know

>> the real-life family inspi film, christy and kevin beam and daughters adelynn and about abbie. >> this must make you feel awesome. >> so grateful. >> i watched the movie last night and when finished i was eyes out but when you -- you were so determined to help out your little girl that you actually, you drove to boston when -- when doctors see you because there was such a long waiting list. no other choice for you. was there? >> well, that's a little bit of a dramatic license. we did have to wait six to nine to get in to him, but we had some serious miracle take place to just get in to tic license. still happened, just not that way. >> right. right. yeah, so -- >> for people who don't know thes what your little girl was going through.

something call the motilitynering that her stomach and intestines didn't work, she couldn't process food and things didn't work their way >> agonizing. >> about gonizing. she lived on the sofa in a fetal heating pad on her stomach. that was her life. >> doctors misdiagnose, as oftenyou lived in a smaller town and they didn't have that kind of expertise. what were you going through as a dad? >> so challenging. daughter, you know, hurting and there was many times we actually would literally put her to bed and kind of say, will be a better day. >> yeah. >> and, you know, christy was such an advocate to her to continue to say we've got to find've got to have an option. something. the desperation parents know when their child is chronically ill is >> a point, annabelle, you were in the hospital. a touching scene. you had gone through so much pain you were just saying to

i mean, do you remember that, that time or was it such a painful time for you? >> yes. i do remember that had grown up and i knew about heaven. i knew that in heaven everything is pretty much perfect. so it was like, well, here suffering why don't i just go to heaven with the logical assumption i made. >> in the movie you basically do go to heaven but jesus tellshere's still work for to you do here. tell us a little about that without giving away the movie. the whole henever i went to heaven, i asked jesus if i could stay and he said, no, annabelle, i have plans for you on earth youete in heaven but whenever the firefighters get you out there will be nothing wrong with you and then he sent a guardian angel to light the that time it was dark. >> uh-huh. >> so he left you with an angel. >> wow. >> you guys have to go see the movie to see the end of it.l. >> we don't want to give it away. >> you are spectacular sisters. i have to say.

you want to be a part of your, that's how cool you are. >> god bless you and happy holy week. heavy easter to you. thanks so much. we appreciate it.m heaven" is in theaters now. >> right now. plus, kathie lee's israel

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it is funday, monday and every year more than 3 million people visit many a trip that happens once in a lifetime but not for my kathy pleep going to the holy land since she was 17 y7 years old. >> wow. >> first time i made that trip was 45 years ago in 1971, and i've been going ever since and visited four years ago. so it was only fitting to hold an intimate memorial service forpecial to us. we're going to show you that tomorrow.

in all of my visits all of these years i was a tourist andf israel i had never seen before. my guide was the lovely, talented knowledgeable israeli how gorgeous is she? a model and producer noah tishby. [ singing in foreigning language ] >> oh, hello! >> noah, a very here. >> apparently. >> thank you. >> welcome to israel! >> a pretty good room with a view. isn't it? >> one of the most glorious views in the world. it is so special to the jewish >> it really is. this is the holiest place to the jews. the actual walls that surrounded the temple. >> things to do when in israel.estern wall. >> western wall. we're right here. >> start with a note. do you have a wish you want to wish for?

it's a prayer. yes. >> and i happen to have a note for you. >> a small prayer. >> hoda wanted me to bring a prayer for her to put in thell. so i have it right here, which i will very graciously in her honor do. >> that's beautiful. >> and then the sun comes out. of course it does. >> this is always one of my favorite places in all of jerusalem, right here on mount of ole ives, which has themost speck tacular jew and the garden of gethsemane where jesus

and of course, oh, my lord. oh, oh, yeah. hello, kojak. kojak -- nobody said anything about ride. it's friday afternoon. >> yes. >> we're in the market. >> the market. which is called the shuk. i'm all shook up, ah-ha, ha >> look at that ruthy russo? >> hello. >> you would be considered to what is equivalent to the top chef in re legendary here. >> oh, the smell. i wish everybody could smell this. >> fresh from thene tahimi. >> hmm. delicious. >> i think it has your name on it. >> oh. it's wine. i should get some of that for hoda. i love that.d now i've eaten my way

[ speaking in foreign language ] friday afternoon. everybody's out and about having drinks, drinking coffee. chatting. >> so different from jerusalem where they pray. >> this is where they play. c'est la vie! >> israel is thetal of the world. it's got more start-ups in venture capital companies than any other company in the world. >> and become the the middle east. >> as well. friday night. everybody started to calm down. >> go and light a candle on the >> let's go and light a candle. >> this doesn't happen all the tile. this is just for us. >> oh, i've never had it this fresh. this is fantastic.

so sababa. our common game in israel. it's called [ speaking in >> ah! that was -- >> score for gifford. >> i get a great mud pack in the dead sea tomorrow but i have to say good-bye to god bless you. >> this is the lowest point in the world, and it's everybody has come here from all around the world in search of -- the fountain of youth. oh, yes.ady feeling younger. >> ah. . >> hello. why they call it the promised land? >> and that is a -- i love it.

>> so over you nap guy is named michael lewis, and you, only you. [ laughter ] >> and you know i can go from, from the secular to theretty quickly. yes. just, boom, like that. anyway, we have more for you tomorrow and wednesday. >> looking forward to it. spot. >> and awesome. the voice of jordan smith takes us "over the rainbow" with a beautiful performance coming up

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isn't she. oh my gosh. right ingredients. we're gonna make the same meal this year. i wish sarah was here. m. but the happiest moments in life don't always come from a cookbook. look who's joining us. happy easter.om the heart. find low prices every day on fresh food for your easter meal. walmart. okay. it must feel pretty good to have written and starred in the highest grossing romantic comedy of all-time. nia vardalos. >> hi! >> after 14 long, long years back with a highlyated

>>t rekhomeini gets together all the family. >> if she goes to northwestern she'll stay in chicago. >> please, oh, over there. >> no. >> right. >> there she is. >> did you invite the family? >> i told my mom. i -- hi, you guys. >> so glad to see you and so glad to see the family back 14 long years. >> yes. it's a real family movie. about your family, comehe moech movies and have a good time. >> i love how you made sure all the together. you didn't cherry pick. and a little concerned a couple were getting a little on in years. >> i washn corbett said to me, how about the older cast members? >> we got to the set, they were all drinking and hey're fine.

together? >> yes. >> can we discuss that a second? >> no way to talk about thisut being with both of you. >> thank you. >> we wanted to do -- remember that one ad, in dough the hold my yes. >> pull each other's neck. >> a hollywood face-lift you don't need it. pull your neck -- >> right back there, yep, yep. so how was it? just emotionally for you getting back together and doing it? you're the writer, produche star, but you're the heart of this whole thing. >> that's very sweet. it's the same producers. same cast. we have a very, very good timeer, and -- it was very emotional, to be honest and very loud. oh, my god loud! oh, yes. our director was ow how reserved they are, and we were just like, shh, be quiet. and then i ate and then -- >> the old chemistry did it right back in after all those years? >> yes, it did and i remember being a little shy with john the first time we met.

ian miller, and ier actually told this story. when i was about to do my first kissing scene i waited for him outside the makeup trail perp sunshine, i'm like, ha, it's john corbett. you know that scene we're going to do now? yeah. i've never kissed anybody in a when i wrote this movie i never thought it would be made and then i'm going to kiss you and i'm can you just kiss me now and we'll get it over with by ourselves? he said, sure. kisses me right there. i got over it. i was kbarts embarrassed. the man who does our hair opened the door of the hair and makeupr told us and said, hmm! they're having an affair. >> i bet you've wanted to confess that for 14 years. >> still kissing all these years later? >> he's still, there's a lot of romance and so joyous to do and the cast is soandrea martin plays -- >> love her. >> genius.

my personal goal to write trong roles for the women, because we are an underserved gender in hollywood. the men are taken care of. of funny men in the story. >> got a little woman of your own. >> yes, you do. a little girl. >> do we have time for a quick we have catch phrases. say them in greek and you're going to get them. >> are we ready? aking in foreign language ]. >> ah -- >> how do we do it day after >> yes. >> she did it the way we do t. okay. >> [ language ]. >> ah -- something about, who cares? >> it's have a great show. >> oh. >> oh! >> again, have a great like this -- [ speaking in foreign language ] >> more wine. >> okay. this one is -- [ speaking in >> do it like -- i need a dentist.

>> hey -- foreign language ] >> oh. it's -- >> nice talkin' to you. >> a hint. week. >> funday monday. >> yes. [ speaking in foreign language ] now you go, [ speaking in >> hoda your necka -- >> don't say it. >> your necka. >> you need to hold your neck >> it was hoda woman. we're going to be lucky. >> we love you, darling. >> this movie -- opens this to -- don't forget, the "today" wedding takes placeriday including surprises you don't want to miss. get ready for something beautiful from last year'sway. carry the centimeter, divide by 3.14 something something something... [ beeping, whirring ] and now the name your price tool shows people policy options to help fit their budget.tory?

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he's 22-year-old kentucky native became champion of >> jordan smith and the first artist of the season to hit number one on the pop charts with his rendition of thy faithfulness." blowing adele's you're living the dream, baby. >> absolutely. >> so happy for you. what are you sithing for ing singing for us >> i'm grog to sing "over the rainbow" one of my all-time favorites. >> here you are. somewhererainbow

there's a land that i've heard of once in a lullaby somewhere over the rainbow ands that you dare to dream really do come true some day i'll wish upon a star

oh, oh, where troubles melt like lemon drops way above the chimneythat's where you'll find me e over the rainbow uebirds fly rds fly over the rainbow

if happy little bluebirds fly beyond the rainbow why, oh, why can't whew! [ applause ] >> wow! >> that was perfect! >> wow! >> thank thank you. >> all the best to you. >> we'll be back in a moment. >> first, this is "today" on nbc.

we dragged them in here.

> announcer: today on rachael ray... >> rachael! >> announcer: we're sending one of these two fantastic fans to the ncaa final four as they battle out inch and dinner cookoff." >> i'm going to win; competition and the tournament. >> announcer: then super way to shed pounds in a ael: gorgeous; right. >> announcer: and meet the kids reading and everything is all right when it is taco night. now, are you ready for rachael! and applause]