#nbc

Zac Brown Band Debuts on NBC’s Sunday Night Baseball Opening The Zac Brown Band has joined the ranks of iconic performers like Carrie Underwood and Lenny Kravitz by becoming a central figure in NBC’s Sunday Night Baseball opening segment. The southern rock band, known for its Grammy-winning hits, will perform a reimagined version of Emerson, Lake & Palmer’s “Karn Evil 9, 1st Impression Part 2” during the debut of the network’s new baseball coverage. The segment will air on Sunday, featuring the Atlanta Braves hosting the Cleveland Guardians in the first “Sunday Night Baseball” game on NBC. Zac Brown, the band’s lead singer, expressed his excitement about the collaboration, calling it a humbling honor to be associated with Underwood and Kravitz in this context. “It’s humbling, honestly, to have our band’s name mentioned in the same breath as theirs in this context means a lot. We’ve spent many years just trying to make music that connects with people, and something like this tells you that it’s reaching further than you ever imagined,” Brown said in an email to The Associated Press. The choice of the song was deliberate, as NBC Sports creative director Tripp Dixon explained. The track’s use of an organ and its opening line, “Welcome back, my friends to the show that never ends,” resonated with the network’s branding of Major League Baseball as “The Show.” Dixon noted that these elements felt like a natural fit for the opening segment. “Those were the two elements we felt like holy cow, that sounds like something to build this idea around,” he said. The collaboration between the band and NBC Sports was described as a seamless process.#nbc #lenny_kravitz #carrie_underwood #zac_brown_band #sunday_night_baseball

Zac Brown Band to Headline NBC's 'Sunday Night Baseball' Opening The Grammy-winning southern rock group Zac Brown Band is set to debut a new opening segment for NBC's Sunday Night Baseball broadcast, marking a significant collaboration between the network and the popular music act. The segment, which will kick off the network's weekly MLB broadcasts, is designed to inject a fresh, energetic vibe into the long-running program. The band's involvement is expected to enhance the viewing experience for fans by blending their signature blend of country, rock, and folk music with the sports programming. The Zac Brown Band's new opening segment will debut during NBC's Sunday Night Baseball coverage on Sunday, April 13, 2026. This date coincides with the start of the MLB season, making the segment a fitting introduction to the network's weekly broadcasts. The band's participation underscores the growing trend of sports networks partnering with high-profile music acts to engage viewers and create a more immersive experience. This collaboration is part of a broader strategy to modernize traditional broadcasts while leveraging the cultural appeal of music. Zac Brown, the lead singer of the Zac Brown Band, expressed enthusiasm about the partnership, stating, “We're excited to be a part of the Sunday Night Baseball tradition and bring our unique sound to the opening of the broadcast.” His comments highlight the band's commitment to contributing to the legacy of the program while adding their distinctive musical flair. The segment is anticipated to feature a mix of original music, performance elements, and thematic content that aligns with the spirit of baseball. The decision to feature the Zac Brown Band reflects NBC's efforts to balance its sports programming with entertainment.#atlanta #nbc #atlanta_braves #zac_brown_band #sunday_night_baseball

Zac Brown Band to Debut 'Sunday Night Baseball' Opening on NBC The Zac Brown Band has joined an elite group of artists who have created iconic opening segments for major sports broadcasts, following in the footsteps of Carrie Underwood and Lenny Kravitz. The three-time Grammy Award-winning Southern rock band will perform a reimagined version of Emerson, Lake & Palmer’s “Karn Evil 9, 1st Impression Part 2” as the opening act for NBC’s Sunday Night Baseball, marking a significant milestone in their career. The segment will debut during the first game of the new Sunday night baseball series, when the Atlanta Braves host the Cleveland Guardians on a date yet to be confirmed. The band’s performance, which blends rock elements with the original song’s dramatic flair, was crafted in collaboration with NBC Sports creative director Tripp Dixon. Dixon highlighted the song’s unique qualities, noting that its use of an organ and the opening line “Welcome back, my friends to the show that never ends” resonated with the concept of baseball as “The Show.” The choice also ties into the shared theme of anticipation for Sunday night, a motif that has been central to previous openings by Underwood for Sunday Night Football and Kravitz for Sunday Night Basketball. The segment was filmed in Milwaukee last month, with a brief clip featuring in NBC’s opening night broadcast between the Arizona Diamondbacks and Los Angeles Dodgers. Brown expressed pride in the final product, describing the collaboration as a “genuine partnership” that brought the band’s energy to life. “We put everything we had into the performance, and then watching it come together with the visuals, the production—it took on a whole new life,” he said in an email to The Associated Press. “The folks at NBC Sports really understood the energy we were going for.#nbc #atlanta_braves #zac_brown_band #sunday_night_baseball #tripp_dixon

New York Knicks vs Atlanta Hawks: Live Stream Details and Game Preview The New York Knicks and Atlanta Hawks are set to face off in their third and final matchup of the 2025-2026 NBA season on Sunday, April 6, at State Farm Arena in Atlanta, Georgia. The game will be broadcast live starting at 6:00 PM ET on NBC and Peacock, with NBA Showtime coverage beginning at the same time. This contest marks a critical moment for both teams as they prepare for the playoffs, with the Knicks aiming to secure their fourth consecutive postseason berth and the Hawks striving to avoid the Play-In Tournament. The Knicks, currently third in the Eastern Conference, have already clinched a playoff spot for the fourth straight season. Entering the game on a two-game winning streak, the team has shown resilience but faces challenges against stronger opponents. Coach Tom Thibodeau’s squad has struggled to defeat teams with .500 or better records, a trend that could be tested against the Hawks. “Obviously, this is a good little stretch to end the season to make sure we’re as sharp as we can be going into the playoffs,” said Josh Hart, a key player on the team, following a recent practice. Hart emphasized the importance of focusing on the present rather than past results, stating, “The past is the past, nothing you can do about it now. Our focus is on tomorrow being 1-0 against playoff teams, and then we move on to the next one.” For the Hawks, the stakes are equally high. Ranked fifth in the East, Atlanta is 1.5 games ahead of Toronto (6th) and 2 games ahead of Philadelphia (7th), positioning them to secure a top-four seed and bypass the Play-In Tournament. However, the team’s recent success has been tempered by a challenging schedule.#nbc #peacock #new_york_knicks #atlanta_hawks #state_farm_arena

Clayton Kershaw joins Dodgers front office as special assistant Clayton Kershaw’s career with the Los Angeles Dodgers will officially last beyond his retirement. The future Hall of Famer is joining the organization as a special assistant, according to MLB.com’s Sonja Chen. The specifics of his role with the team are reportedly unclear, but Kershaw expressed his desire to remain involved with the club. “I think I’ll be involved … I still want to be a part of the Dodgers, so if I can help in some small piece, I will,” Kershaw said. Kershaw played his final MLB game last year, winning a second consecutive World Series championship with the Dodgers. He made a return to competitive baseball this spring by joining Team USA for the World Baseball Classic but did not appear in any games during the tournament. The Dodgers’ president of baseball operations, Andrew Friedman, reportedly approached Kershaw about a role in the team’s baseball operations department shortly after the Dodgers’ seven-game victory over the Toronto Blue Jays. Kershaw, who lives with his family in Dallas, declined the full-time offer, stating he did not see another long-term position in his future. Instead, Kershaw will now take on two part-time roles. In addition to his new position with the Dodgers, he is working as part of NBC’s new MLB broadcast crew this season. He made his television debut with the Dodgers’ Opening Day win over the Arizona Diamondbacks on Thursday. Kershaw has been a member of the Dodgers organization since the team drafted him seventh overall in the first round of the 2006 MLB Draft. He retired as an 11-time All-Star, three-time Cy Young Award winner, and former MVP, appearing on three World Series-winning teams. He is the club’s all-time strikeout leader with 3,052.#nbc #mlb #los_angeles_dodgers #clayton_kershaw #andrew_friedman

Dodgers Hire Clayton Kershaw As Special Assistant Clayton Kershaw has returned to the Los Angeles Dodgers in a non-playing capacity, joining the organization as a special assistant in their front office. The move was reported by Fabian Ardaya of The Athletic, who noted that Kershaw, a future Hall of Famer, will be involved with the team in some capacity. Kershaw, who retired after the 2025 season, was included on the Team USA roster for the World Baseball Classic this spring but did not participate in any games. He was removed from the roster before the semifinals, making his inclusion largely symbolic. Kershaw is currently in Los Angeles for the season-opening series against the Arizona Diamondbacks. He was part of the NBC broadcast team for the opener and will attend the World Series ring ceremony at Dodger Stadium later this week. While the specifics of his role remain unclear, special assistant positions in Major League Baseball vary in scope. Some are ceremonial or public relations-focused, while others involve working with players and prospects during Spring Training and the regular season. Kershaw’s decision to remain with the Dodgers aligns with his long-standing connection to the franchise. He spent his entire 13-season career with the team, posting a 2.53 ERA over nearly 3,000 innings. His tenure included three World Series championships, five ERA titles, three Cy Young Awards, and an NL MVP award in 2014. He remains the most recent pitcher to win the NL MVP honor. Despite his retirement, Kershaw’s influence on the Dodgers continues. His presence at the team’s events underscores his enduring relationship with the organization. While his exact responsibilities as a special assistant are not yet detailed, his involvement is seen as a natural extension of his legacy with the club.#world_baseball_classic #nbc #los_angeles_dodgers #clayton_kershaw #dodger_stadium

Clayton Kershaw Joins Dodgers as Special Assistant The Los Angeles Dodgers have officially announced Clayton Kershaw’s new role as a special assistant, fulfilling the team’s long-standing desire to keep him connected to the organization. Kershaw, 38, described the position as flexible, emphasizing that it will not involve coaching. Speaking ahead of the Dodgers’ ring ceremony, he stated, “I’ll be involved somehow. Probably not physically here in L.A., but definitely I’ll watch games. I still want to be a part of the Dodgers, so if I can help in some small piece, I will.” Kershaw’s broadcasting debut for NBC occurred during Thursday’s Opening Day, where he provided insights from the third-base dugout as the Dodgers defeated the Arizona Diamondbacks 8-2. He remained in Los Angeles overnight to receive his third championship ring the following day, a symbolic end to his 18-year career. Reflecting on the moment, he said, “I know they’ve got to move on to this season, but I don’t have to. I’m just going to keep relishing it.” Kershaw announced his retirement in late 2025, concluding his career with 11 wins and a 3.39 ERA in 22 starts. He transitioned to a low-leverage bullpen role during the playoffs, where he warmed up for potential use in the World Series’ 11th inning. Unaware that Mookie Betts had initiated a double play leading to the Dodgers’ back-to-back championships, Kershaw later joined Team USA as an emergency reliever in the World Baseball Classic, fulfilling a lifelong goal. His broadcasting debut followed shortly after, marking a seamless shift into a new chapter. Despite his retirement, Kershaw expressed that his transition is not yet complete. “I don’t feel like retirement’s really, really started yet,” he said.#nbc #los_angeles_dodgers #clayton_kershaw #dallas #arizona_diamondbacks

Savannah Guthrie Plans Return to NBC as Search for Missing Mother Continues Savannah Guthrie, a co-host of NBC’s Today programme, has visited the network’s New York office as she prepares to return to the airwaves while the search for her missing mother continues. Guthrie’s 84-year-old mother, Nancy, has been missing from her home in Arizona since 1 February, when authorities believe she was abducted. No significant clues have emerged in the nearly five weeks since her disappearance. Guthrie has remained off-air, though she has shared emotional appeals on social media for her mother’s safe return. Her co-host, Jenna Bush Hager, revealed that Guthrie had visited the Today set and expressed her intention to return to the show. However, Hager noted that no specific timeline has been set for her return. “Even though it feels like the hardest thing to do, it’s also her home and where she feels so loved,” Hager said. “And she is beyond loved here.” Guthrie last appeared on the show on 30 January, two days before her mother’s disappearance. She also stepped away from NBC’s coverage of the Winter Olympic Games as the search for Nancy intensified. The family recently offered a $1 million reward for her safe return. Authorities believe Nancy was taken from her home against her will, possibly during the night. Investigators have released images of a suspect captured on her home’s doorbell camera. Cryptocurrency ransom demands totaling around $6 million have been sent to media outlets, including one with a deadline that expired on 9 February. Detectives have received nearly 40,000 tips from the public. DNA evidence recovered from a glove—similar to one worn by the suspect in doorbell footage—found near the home did not match any profiles in the FBI database.#nbc #nancy_guthrie #savannah_guthrie #today_programme #pima_county_sheriff_office

NBC Staffers Reportedly Hoped Savannah Guthrie Wouldn’t Return Amid Tragedy: ‘You Can’t Trust Anyone’ Savannah Guthrie, the co-anchor of NBC’s Today show, plans to return to the network despite the ongoing search for her missing mother, Nancy Guthrie. The 54-year-old anchor revealed her intention to return to work at some point, though her focus remains on locating Nancy, who has been missing since February 1. Earlier this week, Guthrie visited colleagues at NBC’s Today studio, but a new report suggests some staffers were frustrated by the news of her eventual return. According to a March 6 report in the Daily Mail, multiple sources claimed that production staff at Today were relieved when Guthrie’s absence was initially announced. Many had grown accustomed to Hoda Kotb, who has filled in for her since Nancy’s disappearance. Some staffers reportedly felt more comfortable with Kotb’s presence, as they believed the show’s dynamic had shifted in her absence. One insider told the Daily Mail that the environment at Today had become “a viper’s nest,” with tensions running high among the team. The source added that even in difficult circumstances, the staff could not trust one another, with some fearing that colleagues might betray their positions or steal opportunities. “From the hair and makeup people to the producers, you can’t trust anyone, they all talk,” another source claimed. While the majority of staff expressed hope for Nancy’s safe return, a few were more focused on their own futures within the morning program. Some reportedly considered how they could secure more screen time or influence over the show’s direction. However, the report emphasized that the staff’s primary concern remained the search for Nancy.#nbc #nancy_guthrie #today_show #savannah_guthrie #daily_mail

Competition Gets Underway at 2026 Winter Paralympic Games The 2026 Winter Paralympic Games have officially begun, with competition intensifying a day after the opening ceremony marked the 50th anniversary of the event. U.S. para biathlete Oksana Masters claimed gold in the women’s race, securing her place as the most decorated winter Paralympian in American history. Masters finished 20 seconds ahead of the next closest competitor, Kendall Gretsch, in a thrilling display of skill and determination. The victory highlights the growing competitiveness of the event, with athletes from around the world vying for top honors in a variety of disciplines. NBC’s Emilie Ikeda provided live coverage of the opening day, capturing the excitement and anticipation surrounding the Games. The 2026 Paralympics, held in the same host city as the Winter Olympics, continue to showcase the resilience and talent of athletes with disabilities, setting the stage for a historic competition.#oksana_masters #2026_winter_paralympic_games #kendall_gretsch #nbc #emilie_ikeda