here's abc's chris connelly. >> i would have to say,chrystie would be the fist to know. >> reporter: hugged the champion of the decathlon, the woman known as christy scott had known for four years of her husband's struggle with gender identity. >> i can't remember the exact words because it was a shock to me. he told me he always wanted to be a woman. and understandably i was speechless. >> reporter: the incongruity of the revelation couldn't help but confound her then. >> it is so hard to wrap your head around it. particularly because he was such a manly man. it didn't threaten me. it didn't threaten our marriage. >> reporter: jenner sharing with abc's diane sawyer memories of a disclosure to her that jenner acknowledges was far from a complete one. >> i never really hard-core said look, i don't know if i'm going to make it in this male gender here my entire life. >> it comes nice and dressed up for the beach. >> reporter: the struggle would take its toll on others too. viewers of this keeping up with the kardashian episode saw brody front fronting his dad on camera. >> now is not t

chris connelly, abc news, new york. >> people are still buzzing about it, the impact it had. was at a party friday night and everybody wanted to rush home to come and see this interview. they didn't want to wait for it to be dvr. the impact afterward incredible. >> for years to come most likely. when we come back, why amy winehouse's family is furious over a new documentary about the singer. >> and the push to keep mcdreamy on "grey's anatomy." the people's petition. that's up next on the skinny". 's petition. that's up next on the skinny". >> "world news now" continues wó ♪ skinny, so skinny ♪ >> we'll kick things off with last night's big award show, the daytime emmys. >> they were handed out in los angeles and hosted by the lovely tyra banks who managed to rock four different outfits along with the premiere of her new short hairdo. look at that the. >> good. >> let's get right to the top award of the evening. outstanding drama series, a shocking tie between "days of our lives" and "the young and the restless." the two u.s. opens sharing the coveted statue. >> also a big co

first, chris connelly joins us. >> reporter: thoughts and feelings not only revealing the reality of jenner's own gender identity but making a major contribution to a national conversation about transgender issue. through the personal story of someone we thought we knew but have now learned so much more about. >> it's going to be an emotional roller coaster. somehow i'm going to get through it. >> reporter: after the months of speculation. >> it's been really tough. here i am. i'm still here. that's the good news. >> reporter: after all the whispers and suspicions. it was bruce jenner speaking only to diane sawyer. >> i would say i have always been very confused with my gender identity since i was this big. so -- here i am stuck. i hate the word you know -- girl stuck in a guy's body. i hate that terminology. >> why? >> why? >> i'm me. i'm a person. this is who i am. i'm not stuck in anybody's body. it's just who i am as a human being. my brain is much more female than it is male. it's hard for people to understand that. but that's what my soul is. >> are you a woman? >> um yes. for

chris connelly joining us again with more. hi, chris. >> reporter: that's right.e seen and heard so much about. children who clearly mean the world to jenner. telling them this secret clearly one of the most challenging moments in jenner's journey. their support deeply meaningful. virtually from the beginning, bruce jenner grappled with the challenge of telling loved ones about the gender identity struggle raging within. like the former kris kardashian. as the two fell in love. >> i had been on hormones for five years. i was a good, solid 36-b something. you can't hide those things. she goes, well you know okay, you know you like to wear women's clothes and this and that. in the next house, i am building a glam room. very chic. classy. black little outfit. i'm going, well -- i kind of downplayed it. >> reporter: some of their now world famous children. they saw a thing or two. >> the first one of the girls i ever told was kimberly. kim caught me one time. walked in. >> and said what? >> i tried to call her and say, hey, you okay? it was like this big secret in the

here now chris connelly. >> we have a very complex relationship. he's disappeared out of our lives.specially out of my life. so i'm looking forward to this next chapter. >> in these previously unseen remarks, some of bruce jenner's older children recalling a time in the '80s when their father seemed to vanish. >> us missing a time of our lives is still probably the hardest thing for us to deal with. we're trying to not to look back. just looking forward. >> jenner admitting that the depression and isolation of that gender identity crisis led to the former olympian being absent too often. >> you weren't there a lot. >> yes. the big formative years for them, i was really struggling with these issues. i talked to all the boys about this after the fact that you know, yeah, i didn't do a good job and i apologized to my kids for that. >> those children now with a message for jenner, all is forgiven as their father embarks on transitioning to life as a transgender woman. >> in seeing him come out to me and explain his true self i was more proud right then to carry the last name jenner and

new never before seen footage where they open up about their father's transition and chris connelly haselationship. he's disappeared out of our lives. especially out of my life. so i'm looking forward to this next chapter. >> reporter: in these previously unseen remarks, some of bruce jenner's older children recalling a time in the '80s when their father seemed to vanish. >> us missing, you know a time of our lives is still probably the hardest thing for us to deal with and we're trying to not to look back but look forward. >> reporter: jenner admitting the depression and isolation of that gender identity crisis led to the former olympian being absent too often. >> you weren't there a lot. >> yes. the big formative years for them i was really struggling with these issues. i talked to all the boys about this after the fact that you know yeah i didn't do a good job and i apologized to my kids for that. >> reporter: those children now with a message for jenner all is forgiven as their father embarks on transitioning to life as a transgender woman. >> in seeing him come out to me and explai

chris connelly has that. >> yes, for all intents and purposes i am a woman. >> reporter: the former olympictain on life as a transgender person. now transitioning to a woman. jenner also eager to spark a new national conversation. >> i'm me. i'm me. i'm a person and this is who i am. i'm not stuck in anybody's body. it's just who i am as a human being. >> reporter: this morning, jenner recalling the early stages of transition, not ready then to share this secret with the world. yet besieged by paparazzi. >> everybody thinks they've seen changes, changes in your face, changes -- >> yes, i give them ammunition, okay. >> reporter: but why? why -- >> because i'm trying to live with myself. >> this was you venturing out for yourself. >> absolutely. for nobody else -- >> into the rotor blade. >> trying to be myself. >> it looked a little light cat and mouse. it looked a little as if you were daring them to -- >> no, i wasn't daring them. i'll give you that it may look that way. i wasn't daring them at all. >> reporter: it would take daring and then some to win that decathlon gold medal in 1976. j

. >> and that was chris connelly reporting. that candid and stunning interview going viral. bruce jenner trending in the u.s. and worldwide during last night's show and now sparking a national conversation about what it means to be transgender. here's abc's linzie janis. >> the one thing that can really make a difference in people's lives was right here in my soul, and i could not tell that story. >> reporter: tonight, bruce jenner's revelation igniting conversations around the world. before diane sawyer's interview, just 8% of americans saying they know someone who is transgender. >> that female side is part of me. that's who i am. >> reporter: jimmy fallon channeling neil armstrong, calling it one step for man, one giant leap for mankind. and transend percent "orange in the new black" actress laverne cox saying it is brave to stand in one's truth. like cox, others before jenner, renee richards fought to play professional tennis as a woman and won. the still active 81-year-old giving us her reaction from the golf course today. >> he's very courageous, i think he will certai

chris connelly on that. >> for all intents and purposes i am a woman. >> reporter: bruce jenner goingc with feelings harbored since childhood hoping this revelation makes a difference. >> what i'm doing is going to do some good, and we're going to change the world. i really firmly believe that. >> reporter: jenner's announcement comes at a time that's been called a tipping point for the transgender community. two critically acclaimed television shows feature transgender characters. and in january, the word "transgender" made into it the state of the union. a presidential first. >> that's why we defend free speech and condemn the persecution of women or religious minorities or people who are lesbian, gay, bisexual or transgender. >> reporter: an estimated 700,000 americans identify as transgender. and while awareness of gender identity issues is growing, advocates say there are still big hurdles to clear. 32 states have no laws protecting transgender people from job discrimination. the military bans them from serving openly. and as jenner told diane sawyer, transgender men and women of

chris connelly has the story. >> we're going to make a difference in the world with what we're doing. inspire. and sparking conversation. and since friday night, thousands of men, women, and children across the globe are showing support. posting pictures with the hash tag paint your nails for bruce. >> having someone like bruce jenner tell his story really puts a face and makes a lot of people want to talk about it. >> reporter: the website for the trevor project, offering a host of resources for lgbtq teens saying their viewer ship is seeing a 40% boost in the wake of gender's transitioning. >> it opened up an amazing dialogue. >> i just want to enjoy life. as who i am. it's that simple. >> reporter: jenner's journey carrying special resonance for the transcenter community. this transgender model tell us our aditi roy that jenner's declaration will cheikh the world. >> it's huge. it will change people's minds. the fans' minds. >> reporter: erin andrews and katie reign hill, both transjerpd authors. saying jenner's interview bolstering awareness. and reshaping lives. >> this is going

chris connelly has the latest. ♪ >> reporter: since season five he's been a buttery smooth staple one now finding himself outside the ballroom. looking in. this five-time mirrorball trophy winner who knows the thrill of victory is now learning thing a any of the feet. posting on instagram this photo of his bandaged wheels and angle. ed up in rehearsals for the show's tenth anniversary on some stairs. can't believe it. wish i had a cooler story to tell. his sister and "dancing with the stars" judge julianne giving testimony. >> it is serious. i don't know if i have the correct details on it. but i know that he broke his toe on his right foot and sprained his ankle in two places on his left foot trying to get ice for the toe. >> reporter: he's out of the anniversary gig. whether he'll be able to partner monday with golden gymnast nastia liukin hangs on the balance beam. >> he's bummed out. he's superpassionate about what he does. he wants to be there for his partner. >> reporter: the twosome have been near the top of the leaderboard. pro dancer sasha farber stepped in. >> derek will co

chris connelly covering the competition. >> reporter: urging readers to fight flab and be lean and tough. the magazine launching an ultimate guy search. each eager to get their buff body on the men's cover. >> we're looking for a guy who is physically fit, leading by example, has overcome challenges in his life. and somebody who our reads can learn something from. >> reporter: and one person who has been taking the competition by storm. 27-year-old aden dowelling. >> i think this is a great opportunity to shine light on some other kinds of ultimate men. >> reporter: an activist from oregon who is married to wife jenna lee, he's in the lead. >> if i won this contest, it would mean the world to the transgender community. it would mean that we're finally getting recognized. we can set out to be the person you want to be no matter how you were born. >> reporter: fans have been flocking to his facebook page. one person writing, congratulations. it's great to have a role model like yourself. another saying i think you are extremely driven. and admire your success and positivity. last year iraq

abc's chris connelly has been following this story and joins us in studio with more. , chris. >> good morning. every transgender person's story is a unique one but there is nonetheless the sense that jenner's words mark a tremendous time by the community as acknowledged by activists and jenner who considers in this exclusive clip along with abc's diane sawyer how the first line of an eventually obituary might read. ♪ bruce jenner, the one time olympic champion with a legacy to ponder. >> bruce jenner won the decathlon. >> yes. >> who won the decathlon and then -- >> and then was true to himself, and that's the rest of the story. >> reporter: jenner recognizing the significance of sharing a truth that was hidden for so long speaking with abc's diane sawyer. >> for all intents and purposes i am a woman. i just can't pull the curtain any longer, okay. i've built a nice little life. i just can't again bruce lives a lie. she is not a lie. i can't do it anymore. >> reporter: in the aftermath of that revelation and after a lifetime of struggle, jenner is a transgender person

chris connelly here with all that. good morning, chris. >> good morning, george. it's a true story.'s not bruce jenner's story. nearly 39 years ago, he won his way into american hearts with a spectacular performance in the summer olympics' most grueling event. those used to bruce jenner on "keeping up with the kardashians" may think of him as an overmatched patriarch of reality show superstarlets. >> i'm bruce jenner. and i am a pushover for my family. >> reporter: yet on july 30, 1976, a 26-year-old jenner waved a u.s. flag after winning the olympic decathlon. a gold medal performance. earning him the title of world's greatest athlete. >> there was probably 500 people out there wanting an autograph. wow, things have changed here. >> reporter: things would keep changing. in the mid '70s athletic era big on rebels, the clean-cut, congenial jenner was a main stream marketer's dream. >> the guy goes, congratulations. you're a millionaire. i was living on $10,000 a year. okay? >> reporter: he endorsed cereal. cameras. an additional deal with abc sports would make jenner an on-air fixtur

abc's chris connelly has the story. ♪ >> reporter: from t.ke shake shake shake ♪ >> reporter: to rihanna. ♪ now i'm four five seconds ♪ >> reporter: and madonna. ♪ maybe it was all too much too much for a man to take ♪ >> reporter: top stars taking sides in the online battle over which streaming service will attract most music lovers. >> streaming services is where all the kids are. >> reporter: apple's newly acquired beatz music. jay z's tidal. and the industry leader spotify. ♪ and i have the red-lipped classic thing that you like ♪ >> reporter: apple courting taylor swift. she pulled her music off spotify. and a dozen more acts. reports "rolling stone." they'll take on can ya. serial stage kisser madonna. and rihanna and beyonce, who signed up for a piece of the action at tidal. >> artists what to know how much money they're getting per stream. >> reporter: with megamillions at stake, it's just the kind of showdown cookie from "empire" would love. >> the streets airport made for everybody. that's why they make side walks. >> that's right,

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