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FINDING YOUR ROOTS

Season 12 Premieres Tuesdays, January 6 - April 14, 2026, 8:00 - 9:00 p.m. ET.

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Overview

The acclaimed series returns with Professor Gates exploring the mysteries, surprises and revelations hidden in the family trees of popular figures.

Upcoming Episodes

FINDING YOUR ROOTS

Song of the South Henry Louis Gates, Jr. explores the family secrets of Danielle Deadwyler and Rhiannon Giddens, uncovering stories their ancestors once hid.
  • Airdate Tuesday, April 7, 2026 8:00 pm - 9:00 pm
  • Original4/7/2026
  • FIYO1209

FINDING YOUR ROOTS

Rags to Riches Henry Louis Gates, Jr. maps the roots of actor Kate Burton and media mogul Barry Diller, meeting ancestors who made huge sacrifices to escape poverty.
  • Airdate Tuesday, April 14, 2026 8:00 pm - 9:00 pm
  • Original4/14/2026
  • FIYO1210

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Press Materials

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TWO-TIME EMMY NOMINATED “FINDING YOUR ROOTS WITH HENRY LOUIS GATES, JR.” CELEBRATES UPCOMING SEASON 12 WITH SERIES TRAILER Download

Program Release

Henry Louis Gates, Jr. Bios Download

Bio

All Episodes

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FINDING YOUR ROOTS

Harry Connick Jr. and Branford Marsalis

Trace the turbulent and contradictory history of New Orleans through the family stories of two men.

  • Original3/25/2012
  • FIYO101

FINDING YOUR ROOTS

Cory Booker and John Lewis

Discover the family histories of two African-American politicians from different generations and opposite backgrounds.

  • Original3/25/2012
  • FIYO102

FINDING YOUR ROOTS

Barbara Walters and Geoffrey Canada

Unearth missing links in the family histories of media legend Barbara Walters and educational superstar Geoffrey Canada.

  • Original4/1/2012
  • FIYO103

FINDING YOUR ROOTS

Kevin Bacon and Kyra Sedgwick

Find out what actors Kevin Bacon and Kyra Sedgwick have in common.

  • Original4/8/2012
  • FIYO104

FINDING YOUR ROOTS

Angela Buchdahl, Rick Warren and Yasir Qadhi

Through the histories of clergy of three different faiths, unearth a story about the spiritual foundations of this country.

  • Original4/15/2012
  • FIYO105

FINDING YOUR ROOTS

Robert Downey, Jr. and Maggie Gyllenhaal

Delve into the deep American roots and meet Jewish ancestors of Robert Downey, Jr. and Maggie Gyllenhaal.

  • Original4/22/2012
  • FIYO106

FINDING YOUR ROOTS

Samuel L. Jackson, Condoleezza Rice and Ruth Simmons

Learn from what part of Africa the ancestors of Samuel L. Jackson, Condoleezza Rice and Ruth Simmons come.

  • Original4/29/2012
  • FIYO107

FINDING YOUR ROOTS

Sanjay Gupta, Margaret Cho and Martha Stewart

Catch a glimpse of three distinct yet oddly overlapping experiences of families leaving their homes and becoming American.

  • Original5/6/2012
  • FIYO108

FINDING YOUR ROOTS

John Legend, Wanda Sykes and Margarett Cooper

Hear the stories of free black ancestors of John Legend, Wanda Sykes, Margarett Cooper and Dr. Gates.

  • Original5/13/2012
  • FIYO109

FINDING YOUR ROOTS

Michelle Rodriguez, Adrian Grenier and Linda Chavez

See how the American experience has been shaped by people who were in the New World long before the Mayflower.

  • Original5/20/2012
  • FIYO110

FINDING YOUR ROOTS

In Search of Our Fathers

Join Gates to uncover the paternal ancestry of Stephen King, Gloria Reuben and Courtney B. Vance.

  • Original9/23/2014
  • FIYO201
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Press Contacts

Sara Serlen, ID

Press Inquiries Only:

FindingYourRoots@id-pr.com Copy Email

Stephanie Kennard

PBS

skkennard@pbs.org Copy Email