Oprah Winfrey, Bill Hader Join Rob Riggle for 14th 'American Valor' Veterans Day Special

The 14th annual "American Valor: A Salute to Our Heroes" Veterans Day special will air Saturday, Nov. 14, on ABC, CBS, NBC and Fox stations, with Oprah Winfrey, Kristen Bell and Bill Hader among the narrators.

Actor, comedian and U.S. Marine Corps veteran Rob Riggle hosts. The program tapes on Nov. 7 in Washington, D.C. and introduces audiences to a lineup of true stories honoring the courage, sacrifice and legacy of America's service members.

Who appears on the special?

The announced lineup splits into two groups:

• On-stage appearances: Toni Breidinger, Patricia Heaton, Gabriel Luna, Joel McHale and Dean Norris
• Narration: Will Arnett, Kristen Bell, Bill Hader, William H. Macy, Chris Pine and Oprah Winfrey

Tim Holbert, president of the American Veterans Center and executive producer of "American Valor," framed the anniversary math behind this year's edition in a statement: "'American Valor' is about remembering who we are as a nation and who we owe."

"Two hundred fifty years of America. Eighty-five years since Pearl Harbor. Twenty-five years since September 11th," Holbert said. "This year's program brings together generations of Americans at their best, reminding us of who we are and who we want to be."

What tributes are planned?

Two segments anchor the 2025 program. The first marks the 25th anniversary of the "Band of Brothers" series. The second salutes Jimmy Stewart, timed to the Nov. 6 release of the biopic "Jimmy."

Riggle, returning as host, addressed the Stewart tribute directly: "I'm excited to be back for 'American Valor' and to help honor the men and women who have served our country."

"These veterans have incredible stories, and it's important that we continue to share them and recognize what they've given to our country," Riggle said. "I'm also proud to be part of this year's tribute to Jimmy Stewart, who put his career on hold to serve during World War II. His story is another great example of the sacrifices so many Americans have made in service to our country."

What does this change for viewers?

In practical terms, not much shifts in format: a celebrity-hosted tribute special, taped days before air, distributed across four broadcast networks' station groups. The notable variables are the two anniversaries — "Band of Brothers" at 25 and Stewart's biopic arriving Nov. 6 — which give this year's edition a sharper hook than a generic salute.

The announcement names no runtime, no specific venue in Washington and no veteran honorees, so the substance of the "true stories" remains undisclosed until broadcast. What viewers can count on is the roster itself: six narrators, five guests, one Marine Corps veteran host, and a network footprint that keeps the special among the most widely distributed Veterans Day programs on television.