Michael Strahan is revisiting a time he considers one of the "scariest" moments of his life.
The Good Morning America anchor, 54, is leading and executive producing a special for ABC News titled "9/11: United We Stand – 25 Years Later," a two-hour special documenting how Americans rediscovered "joy" after the 9/11 tragedy on its 25th anniversary.
Michael Strahan getting emotional about his new special
During an appearance on the Tonight Show Starring Jimmy Fallon on August 18, Michael spoke about the upcoming documentary special, which features a host of guests discussing their experiences with that period of time.
© Getty ImagesAmong others, he shouted out his GMA co-anchors who're also being interviewed, Robin Roberts and George Stephanopoulos, and described how he reacted to watching the special in full for the first time.
"It's a tribute to the victims, it's a tribute to their families, all the first responders, everybody who had to go through that," Michael explained to Jimmy, who was also featured in the special and discussed his time as a cast member on Saturday Night Live when the attack took place.
"I was watching it with Constance, my partner," the former New York Giants player recalled, referring to his business partner Constance Schwartz-Morini, with whom he runs SMAC Productions.
© Getty Images"And I'm trying to be all stoic and cool. And eventually I just grabbed the tissues, I let go," he said, calling the experience not only one that brought back "memories that make you cry," but also the "beauty" of how people cared for one another at the time.
What do we know about Michael's upcoming 9/11 special?
"9/11: United We Stand – 25 Years Later" will air on ABC the night of September 1, from 9 to 11 PM EST, and will arrive on Disney+ and Hulu the following day.
An official logline for the special reads: "The devastating terrorist attacks of 9/11 have been well documented, but the story of what helped people heal in the wake of tragedy remains relatively untold. The new primetime special explores how sports, music, Broadway and comedy helped Americans rediscover joy and begin to heal in the wake of the 9/11 attacks."
© Getty Images"Through powerful archival footage and deeply personal interviews, the two-hour special reveals how sports, music, Broadway and comedy became unexpected sources of comfort, connection and hope after one of the darkest days in American history."
Michael added in a statement of his own: "Sept. 11 was one of the scariest moments of my life. I remember the shock, the heartbreak and the feeling that nothing would ever be the same again. All I could think about was the people who had lost loved ones and the incredible courage of the first responders. Football didn't seem important."
© ABC"But when we returned to the field, I realized it was about more than the game," he continued. "It gave people a chance to come together, support one another, and begin to heal. This story is about honoring the lives we lost, celebrating the heroes who showed extraordinary courage, and reminding us that even in our darkest moments, we're stronger when we stand together."
