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CNN Live Event/Special

Thanksgiving in America; . Aired 10-10:30a ET

Aired November 27, 2025 - 10:00   ET

THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.

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[10:00:00]

(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)

JOHN BERMAN, CNN ANCHOR (voice over): all across the country, families getting ready for full houses, full plates, and a full day of football.

ERICA HILL, CNN ANCHOR (voice over) : It's Thanksgiving morning. So, once you've got the turkey and pies in the oven, come start your celebration with us.

SARA SIDNER, CNN ANCHOR (voice over): You'll have a front row seat to the biggest parades across America.

BERMAN: New York, Philadelphia, Detroit, Chicago, Houston, we're live watching fabulous floats and big time balloons.

The Snoopy is going right by us.

HILL: It looks bigger in person.

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: I'm going to flap these wings.

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: We come every year to watch it. It's a family tradition.

HILL: Plus special performances from Country Superstar Brad Paisley.

SIDNER: The Harlem Gospel Choir is going to be here.

UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: Happy Thanksgiving.

BERMAN: As well as the Temptations, the Four Tops.

HILL: So, let's kick off the holiday season with parades, performances, and a whole lot of pie.

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: It's the people. At the end of the day, what makes a place special are the people.

BERMAN: This is a CNN special event, Thanksgiving in America.

(END VIDEOTAPE) SIDNER: Welcome back to Thanksgiving in America. Sara Sidner here with John Berman. And look at those pictures. That is Nantucket, Massachusetts, and what are they doing, John?

BERMAN: That is the polar plunge in Thanksgiving, Massachusetts, off the coast there of the cape. People going in there, I can't imagine how cold the water is. All I know is that people in Massachusetts would call it wicked cold, 45 degrees, wicked cold there.

SIDNER: You know what, it always kills me to see how many people are willing to do this. Would you do it? I think you'd do it.

BERMAN: I would do it. These are my people are people.

I will say though, there's a lot of flesh. I feel like it's a lot of popping bright white colors there.

SIDNER: There's shirts and skins.

BERMAN: It's just skins there.

SIDNER: They do not have a care in the world. They are jumping into those frigid temperatures. But, you know, there's a lot of people talking about using a cold plunge and it's supposed to be pretty healthy for you, as long as, you know, you don't have any other health issues, why not?

BERMAN: They will be invigorated as they approach this Thanksgiving meal, as we are invigorated watching the Macy's Thanksgiving Day Parade, just one of the parades around the country we have our eye on this morning in celebration.

Let's go a little bit further down on the parade room for where we are. Our friend, Erica Hill, is watching down there. And good morning to you, Erica.

HILL: Good morning, my friends. I feel so warm looking at all those people in Nantucket doing their freezing for a reason. It is much better and much warmer here on the premier. I have to tell you, just before you came to us, Buzz Lightyear went by. I was fangirling, hardcore fangirling. It's the 30-year anniversary of Toy Story, Buzz in the parade and everyone around us started chanting, Buzz Lightyear, Buzz Lightyear. There is so much love for these characters.

And I know a short time ago, a couple of big moments. We saw Pikachu, I think we can show that, and also Minnie Mouse, two just beloved balloons that we see here, and this is what so many people come out for. There was a little concern about the winds in New York City today.

[10:05:02]

Would it be a little too much for the balloons? Would they have to be lowered? We are doing great here today. The balloons look beautiful, really a perfect day here in New York City. There's Minnie with her beautiful bow ready to go for Thanksgiving. As we say, this is Thanksgiving, not just in New York City, of course, this is Thanksgiving in America this morning here on CNN, and we have our correspondents across the country, including our own Andy Scholes, Houston native. They're in Houston for the big day.

All right, set the scene for us, my friend.

ANDY SCHOLES, CNN SPORTS ANCHOR: Well, howdy, Erica. Welcome to the City of Houston, where the parade just started here moments ago. You can see there's -- they expect a hundred thousand people lining the streets here in downtown Houston to see the 76th annual parade.

They've got so many cool things coming here. They got a new 40-foot HEB balloon, a big 50-foot golden dragon balloon. You know, this is always one of the biggest events in the city of Houston every single year. The biggest, though, always, is the Houston Livestock Show and Rodeo. You know, the performers like Taylor Swift, Usher, the best of the best have performed there.

And joining me now from the Houston Rodeo is Marisa Saenz. Marisa, how special is it just to be a part of this event every single year and just the community here in Houston?

MARISA SAENZ, DIRECTOR, HOUSTON LIVESTOCK AND RODEO: Well, first off, Happy Thanksgiving. We're excited to be here. This is just one part of what we do when it comes to community. Everybody knows every march in Houston, you come out, you put your hat on, you put your boots on, and you come out to the rodeo.

Last year, we had 2.7 million people to come out, and that was so exciting. But, you know, in the spirit of giving for Thanksgiving, it really extends beyond this season. We give back to the community year round. We gave $28 million to Texas Youth in Education this year and 630 across 94 years. It's truly amazing and it's the mission and why we do what we do across all of, really, our big event every single march.

But also, I want to tell you, we've got 36,000 volunteers who help our event run across 109 committees and they really know how to rodeo. But I know you know a little bit about how to rodeo.

SCHOLES: Oh, yes. I've been going to the rodeo since I was six years old. I mean, if you haven't been to the Houston Rodeo, you need to come because it's the biggest livestock show and rodeo in the entire world. And you brought some friends with it, right?

SAENZ: I think you got to see them. They're really going to tell you how to rodeo.

SCHOLES: All right. We got Lucky the Clown here. How does one become a rodeo clown?

KENNA STEPHENSON, RODEO CLOWN AND VOLUNTEER: Well, you have to become one of the 36,000 volunteers for Rodeo Houston, and then get on the best committee, the speakers committee.

SCHOLES: Yes. And I guess you have to have a little bit of personality to go with it?

STEPHENSON: Yes, a little bit. Just a little bit, yes. But you don't have to be able to rope-a-dope because I can't, but you're about to see who can.

SCHOLES: Oh, yes. All right, let's come over here real quick. Let's meet Dick Hudgins (ph). He's going to show us how to lasso. Dick can do anything with this rope that he wants. Give us a whirl, Dick.

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: All right, we'll see you how it goes.

SCHOLES: All right.

All right, there we go, one for one. Back to you guys.

BERMAN: Andy Sholes, I got to say, you are my favorite cowboy, absolutely.

SIDNER: Giddy up.

BERMAN: Giddy up buckaroo. We are here at the Macy's Thanksgiving Day Parade. Just behind us now is Minnie Mouse. Look at Minnie Mouse there.

SIDNER: Do you know how old mini mouse is now?

BERMAN: Tell me.

SIDNER: 97. And she looks good. You look good, girl.

BERMAN: She's got good genes, good helium inside there.

Minnie is 60 feet tall, 60 feet long, 34 feet wide.

SIDNER: At 97, this is her parade debut. What took us so long?

BERMAN: I don't know. Minnie should have been here all along.

SIDNER: It's crazy. These are some of the giant balloons that they spend months and months making by hand, everything hand painted.

It is fascinating to see just how huge they are in person. I know they look great on T.V., but look at just how small the people are compared to the balloon, which is storeys-high. And you're seeing the marching bands, which is one of my favorites. I love a marching band.

BERMAN: Did you see these, that you saw some of the balloons being blown up?

SIDNER: I did.

BERMAN: And what was it like?

SIDNER: So you have a whole bunch of people, about a dozen people that are under the balloon. They've got all these sandbags holding it down as they're pumping each section with a bunch of helium. And so they do it section by section. And it is so much fun just standing next to them as they're being blown up and they're just blowing them up in the side streets. And so people that live in the neighborhood are literally going out their windows, looking out the window watching them being blown up.

But the other thing is they hate it when you say they're being blown up. They're like, no, no, no, no. We're not blowing anything up. We're inflating these balloons. I'm like, okay, I'll try not to make the mistake, which I have made literally 16,000 times since then.

BERMAN: All right. I understand that we've got to be careful of our verbiage, inflated balloons.

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There's a Minnie Mouse going by.

Let's go to Chicago now. As we said, this is Thanksgiving in America. Whitney Wild is there. This is the 91st year for the traditional parade there. Who do you got there with you, Whitney?

WHITNEY WILD, CNN LAW ENFORCEMENT CORRESPONDENT: I have the pleasure of having John Vincent. He is really the voice of Chicago. He sings at the Bears, the Cubs. Yes, I mean, he is the most beautiful voice in Chicago. But you have kind -- you have a beautiful voice, but a beautiful message too. He's an anti-bullying advocate. So, tell us, what is your message for people who are struggling this Thanksgiving?

JOHN VINCENT: Believe in yourself and be kind. Everybody says believe in yourself, right? You have to have the attitude just to understand that that it'll pass, right? That's the only thing. And the most -- the five most powerful words I think out there are, it is what it is. Sometimes we have to accept and try our best and always think positive. And I know that's hard, but that's what today is, right, to be thankful.

And I'm thankful to still have my dad on this planet and I'm thankful to be here. And I can't believe it's been a year already since the last time like me and you were doing this.

WILD: I know it. It goes so fast. It feels like it was just yesterday. And I know you're spending Thanksgiving with your parents.

VINCENT: Yes.

WILD: And you're so grateful to have them.

VINCENT: Yes.

WILD: And I know you've had some challenges. How have you been able to move past tough times in your own life?

VINCENT: I think you just have to accept them when you accept it first. And then I'm not saying give up with it, I'm saying accept with like a desire to get better. And it sounds corny, but it's hard. But that's the only way to do it. If you just accept and keep going and say, okay, I got this, whatever's coming at me, I'm going to try my best, you're going to get a chance at that.

WILD: You can do it.

Okay, real quick, before we send it back. I want it -- oh, I can't come close.

There you go, the voice of Chicago, everybody. Back to you.

VINCENT: Oh, you're the best. Thank you.

BERMAN: Fantastic live singing here on Thanksgiving in America. What a sight to behold there in Chicago.

SIDNER: Totally. Listen, we've got -- that's the New York City Police Department van. They're pretty darn good. And we're waiting for the next big giant floats to come. But you know what, they really want y'all to believe, because coming up is going to be a Santa Clause.

But, first, let's go out to Erica Hill because she's getting some of the floats that have passed us by that you didn't get able to -- weren't able to see. What are you seeing, Erica?

HILL: I am. Wait, actually, you said you love a marching band. I believe it is University of North Alabama is right next to me right now. So much fun when the marching bands come by. We have some friends next to us here who are waiting on the band from Temple, and there was a lot of excitement as they came by and a lot of cheers, everybody waving. We're waiting for them to start up as we see this marching band.

There are 11 marching bands in total in the parade this year, and they really do get the crowd going. I'll tell you what else got the crowd going on, The Teenage Mutton Ninja Turtle float, Busta Rhymes. We had everybody busting out a move in the crowd here. So, that was definitely a moment that we were all enjoying here along the parade route.

It is so fun to watch the floats and the balloons come by and to see everybody's reaction. You see, especially too how certain floats in certain balloons really do appeal to kids of all ages as they come by.

So, much more ahead here as we continue our coverage from New York City and, of course, all around the globe.

John and Sarah, we're waiting for the action to start up again next to us. So, I think you might have a little bit more up on your end on the Upper West Side. I'm going to send it back to you.

SIDNER: Thank you so much, Erica. We do appreciate you.

And we are just here on the Upper West Side watching just absolutely gorgeous amounts of human beings, 3.5 million-plus here. We walked all through them just to get up here on this podium. But you are seeing the celebrations in the streets here.

But we're also -- John, we're keeping our military service members in mind this Thanksgiving as they celebrate the holiday from all over the world.

We'll check in with CNN's Fred Pleitgen game here with some of them right now. He's in Landstuhl, Germany.

But, first, a message from the all time favorite Harlem Globetrotters.

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EVERYBODY: Hello, CNN. We're the Harlem Globetrotters.

UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: We want to wish everybody out there watching a Happy Thanksgiving. Make sure you appreciate all the times you have with your family and friends, and bring some extra turkeys.

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: We love you.

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BERMAN: All right. Welcome back to CNN's special coverage of Thanksgiving in America. We have seen some truly amazing things here in New York at the Macy's Thanksgiving Day Parade. We've been in Chicago, we've been in Houston, where Andy Scholes was dressed like a cowboy.

SIDNER: There was a lasso situation. It was all good.

BERMAN: It was cosplaying. I mean, I didn't know. I didn't know we were full-on dressing up for this. That was fantastic. Detroit, we've been everywhere.

But one of the most fun things we've seen all morning long is our very own CNA Meteorologist Derek Van Dam who ran a Thanksgiving half marathon.

SIDNER: How you feeling, Derek?

BERMAN: What's going on?

SIDNER: You're looking like the struggle is real this morning.

DEREK VAN DAM, CNN METEOROLOGIST: I'm feeling good. Look at what I'm about to do.

[10:20:00]

Let's go people.

SIDNER: There's the finish line. VAN DAM: (INAUDIBLE) for my turkey gravy and my mashed potatoes, I'm about to finish. Yes, that's what I'm talking about. Look at this support around here, everybody feeling good. I don't know if it's the endorphins after the race or if it's that me just craving my Thanksgiving meal and my Thanksgiving nap that's coming up.

But, John and Sara, I just completed a half marathon live on T.V. That was a technological feat and I'm feeling good. I hope everybody's having a great Thanksgiving and a loving life because today is about encouragement and running past all these historical cultural landmarks in Atlanta, everybody coming together, getting healthy, being outdoors, and just loving life in America and just enjoying Thanksgiving in this wonderful holiday that we have.

You know, I was thinking about this all day long. What does one turkey say to the other turkey outside of a bar? Let's get based in.

SIDNER: What, Derek?

VAN DAM: All right.

SIDNER: Okay. (INAUDIBLE) back what you have --

VAN DAM: That's how I'm feeling.

SIDNER: -- this much energy. And you're not out of breath. I mean, a marathon must mean nothing to you because that was a half and you did that like it was nothing. Here are the things that are awaiting you when you come back. You're going to have a little turkey, little turkey breast, some sides. You've worked really hard for your Thanksgiving meal.

VAN DAM: There's nothing burning more than my thighs today on Thanksgiving.

BERMAN: Derek, you look great. You just hit 13.1 miles. What was the hardest part? What was the hardest part?

VAN DAM: And really feeling strong. I would say talking live on television. That was my biggest problem. But I kept it going as best as I could. And, you know, there was so much encouragement. I mean, look at the people that are running. This -- I mean, everyone has got this opportunity to run this race. It's just so -- it's so phenomenal to witness it. And everybody is just giving this their all, so a really cool race to be a part of.

And I think the excitement around this place is just kind of palpable. Everybody's like, hey, we did our job here. How are you feeling?

UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: Good, great.

VAN DAM: Yes, all right. Nice medal. Wait, I didn't get a medal yet. Oh, hold on. John, Sara, this is the moment where every runner --

SIDNER: You got to get your medal. You got to get it, Derek.

DAN VAM: All right, let's get it. Let's get that medal go.

SIDNER: We want to see what that medal looks like. Also, what's incredible is that he did this while he's holding the selfie stick or whatever.

BERMAN: All right, Derek Van Dam, congratulations to you.

VAN DAM: The problem, I was talking to you guys.

Hold on. This is the best part. This is what I'm waiting for. Can I have my medal please? Keep going straight across.

UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: Oh, you're the CNN guy?

VAN DAM: That's what it's all about.

BERMAN: Happy Thanksgiving, Derek Van Dam. Congratulations to you.

VAN DAM: Happy Thanksgiving.

SIDNER: That's awesome.

BERMAN: I got to say learn from experience. Every race you finish on your feet is a good one.

All right, you know what we just saw here by us just a few minutes ago?

SIDNER: Santa, the man, the myth, the legend, Santa finally made, it always ends the parade, or almost always. There was one time when he began the parade in the history of this 99 years of the Macy's Thanksgiving Day Parade. But you're seeing the huge believe balloon in front of Santa. And then you'll see those reindeer, they're making their way slowly, slowly clip-clopping towards Erica Hill.

BERMAN: Just listen. Just listen to the excitement.

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Santa's coming.

BERMAN: That's like rock star Santa right there.

SIDNER: Really.

BERMAN: Santa is feeling it, for sure. He could absolutely sense the energy there. And I have to say, if I had to rank the cheers. I would say, by far, Santa was the most popular, most cheers for Santa.

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SIDNER: Yes.

BERMAN: Maybe Mario number two?

SIDNER: Mario was big. People really liked Mario. They were chanting, Mario, Mario. So, that was a big one. But Santa did definitely get the most excitement and most cheers, especially from the kids, you know, because they're ready for the presents.

BERMAN: I was cheering. I was cheering.

SIDNER: We were all cheering.

BERMAN: I need to get back on that good list.

All right, every year, the USO provides Thanksgiving meals to service members and their families all around the world, and this year is really no different.

SIDNER: CNN's Fred Pleitgen is at the USO Warrior Center in Lundstuhl, Germany, where about 200 service members are expected to get that delicious Thanksgiving Day meal.

Fred, what are you seeing? What are they cooking? What's going on? Are you getting a little sum of it?

FREDERIK PLEITGEN, CNN SENIOR INTERNATIONAL CORRESPONDENT: I am getting a little sum of it. You're absolutely right, Sara. First of all, it's good to see you guys, Happy Thanksgiving.

We are here indeed at the USO Warriors Center in Lundstuhl, Germany. We panned around a little bit. You, first of all, you're absolutely right. They're putting on an amazing meal here for the troops. The people in the kitchen there have been working, those are all volunteers, since 6:00 A.M. this morning to make this a special day for the service members who are of course serving abroad. And, of course, for so many of them, it is so difficult to be away from the families during this very special day.

I have two of them with me right now. First of all, sir, tell me your name and rank please.

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: My name is Christopher Pontu (ph). I'm a sergeant in the U.S. Army.

PLEITGEN: And what's so special for you serving on a day like this, serving abroad?

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Well, I mean, it's special just because, you know, there's some people who can't serve, some people who would like to, and whereas as I get the chance to be able to serve my country and be able to make a difference.

PLEITGEN: What do you miss most?

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: My mom's cooking. My mom's cooking.

PLEITGEN: It's not bad here though, is it?

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: No, it's not bad. It's not bad. But I like to annoy her in the kitchen. Maybe help, but, you know --

PLEITGEN: It is those family moments, isn't it?

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Yes.

PLEITGEN: Say hi to your folks now.

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Hi, mom, hi, dad.

PLEITGEN: That was good. Thank you. All right, sir, please tell me your name and rank as well.

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: I'm John Campbell. I'm staff surgeon Army. Yes, I'm just thankful to be able to be here. I'm with a great unit out of Mesa, Arizona. And the USO here, it's a great place to have camaraderie and get together with our -- when we're absent from our families back home.

PLEITGEN: Say hi to your folks as well?

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Yes. Hey, mom. Hey, dad. Hey, my beautiful wife, Megan (ph). I miss you guys. I'll see you sometime next summer.

PLEITGEN: Thank you very much and thank you for your service, obviously, and I hope you have a great time here at the event.

And then we can show you guys around a little bit because there are indeed, you guys were mentioning, about 200 people here. As you can see, the turkey dinner has just started, folks enjoying their meals here for Thanksgiving.

There's one more person I need to introduce you guys to though. It's Anka (ph). Hello. You're live on CNN right now. She's the head of the USO center here. And as I said, guys, since 6:00 A.M. they've all been in the kitchen working for this and she gave us a tour of the place and it is amazing.

Tell us what you're doing for the troops today.

UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: Oh my goodness. We just want to bring the feeling of home away from home. We are literally -- a lot of Americans are sitting around the table right now with their families and friends, but our service members, they are here alone. But we -- wherever they go, whatever they serve, we want to let them know that we are here to support them and to give them that feeling of home no matter what. Yes.

PLEITGEN: Thank you very much. Thank you for what you're doing. And if you guys are nice to me, I'll also wear one of those hats in our next live shop, by the way.

One of the great ideas that Anka had is these little leaves here. For what you're thankful for this year, and what I'm thankful for is, Sara, Erica and John Berman. I love you guys. Thank you so much for what you're doing. And, of course, we're going to watch your show as well.

SIDNER: We love you too, Fred Pleitgen.

BERMAN: I got to say thank you so much, Fred, and thank you to everyone there for their service to our country and for everything they do. It's not easy being away from home for the holidays and they're gone for a long, long time and they're sending so much love back home.

I just want to say one more thing about Fred, you may not know this, one of the biggest football fans on Planet Earth, want to big. Fred's like seven feet.

SIDNER: Literally, six, seven.

BERMAN: Yes. He's like a very tall man. So, he's big.

SIDNER: Oh no. I did the six seven thing.

BERMAN: Six, seven, there it is.

SIDNER: You're welcome kids.

BERMAN: You're welcome. Fred Pleitgen, large man, huge football fan, a big Washington fan, hasn't been the best year, but I'm sure that Fred has got some games he wants to watch at some point today.

SIDNER: We know that you do, Mr. John Berman.

BERMAN: I absolutely do.

SIDNER: You're all over it.

BERMAN: I was sort of projecting there. Don't go anywhere because the entertainment is just getting started.

SIDNER: Country Superstar Brad Paisley from the Grand Ole Opry just ahead. Yeehaw.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

TY CHEHOCK, SENIOR AIRMAN: Hello, this is Senior Airman Ty Chehock deployed in the Middle East. I'd like to say hi to my girlfriend, mom, dad, sister, rest of family and friends back home in Duluth, Minnesota. Happy Thanksgiving, love you all.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

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