ABC News Studios and Rock’n Robin Productions Announce “Hurricane Katrina: 20 Years After the Storm with Robin Roberts”

Today on “Good Morning America,” co-anchor Robin Roberts announced “Hurricane Katrina: 20 Years After the Storm with Robin Roberts.” The special from ABC News Studios and Rock’n Robin Productions airs Friday, August 29 (8:00-9:00PM EDT), on ABC and streams next day on Disney+ and Hulu. Roberts returns home to the Gulf Coast for a deeply personal look at the region 20 years after Hurricane Katrina. Drawing on two decades of her own reporting, Roberts revisits the storm’s enduring impact, sharing hard truths, inspiring stories of resilience, and powerful updates on a community still rebuilding after one of the most catastrophic natural disasters in American history.

Roberts visits New Orleans, where the city’s recovery has been shaped not just by rebuilding efforts, but also by a revival of its vibrant music scene and traditions. She speaks with GRAMMY® Award-winner Harry Connick Jr. at the New Orleans Jazz Museum, discussing the origins of jazz music and the return of Jazz Fest following Hurricane Katrina. She then travels to her hometown of Pass Christian, Mississippi, where she visits her former high school and beloved local spots and speaks with Chipper McDermott, the town’s former mayor, about their rebuilding efforts. Additional interviews featured in the special include artists Trombone Shorty, Tank from Tank & The Bangas, and Branford Marsalis.

“It’s hard to believe it’s been 20 years. I went to my hometown of Pass Christian, reporting on all that damage and heartache throughout the Gulf Coast region,” said Roberts. “What we also touch upon [in the special] is that we can be a road map for those who are going through the flooding, the fires, everybody’s got something … and to try and pass that along.”

“Hurricane Katrina: 20 Years After the Storm with Robin Roberts” is produced by ABC News Studios and Rock’n Robin Productions. Rudy Valdez is director. David Sloan is senior executive producer, and Katie Conway and Claire Weinraub are executive producers for ABC News Studios. Reni Calister is executive producer, Beth A. Mullen is co-executive producer, and Gabriel A. Kerr is senior producer for Rock’n Robin Productions.