Synopsis

The 50th anniversary of Sports Illustrated's swimsuit franchise is celebrated in a special hosted by Heidi Klum. Appearing: Tyra Banks; Christie Brinkley; Kathy Ireland; Marisa Miller; and Kate Upton. Music guests include Enrique Iglesias; the Fray; Lady Antebellum; John Legend; and Tim McGraw. NBC and Time Inc. present "Sports Illustrated Swimsuit: 50 Years of Beautiful," a two-hour TV special celebrating the 50th anniversary of Sports Illustrated's swimsuit franchise - one of the most hotly anticipated annual fixtures in American pop culture. Former swimsuit cover model and "Project Runway" star Heidi Klum will host the special, which features appearances from fellow swimsuit icons Tyra Banks, Christie Brinkley, Kathy Ireland, Marisa Miller, Kate Upton and more of the most celebrated models in the franchise's history. Musical guests performing on the show include Grammy Award-winning, chart-topping artists Enrique Iglesias, Lady Antebellum, the Fray, John Legend and Tim McGraw. The special will treat viewers to the storied history of the franchise, with behind-the-scenes footage and photography from the exotic cover shoots as well as back stories from the most loved and recognizable swimsuit models on the planet. All of this will culminate in a countdown of the top 10 SI swimsuit covers of all time. "Sports Illustrated Swimsuit: 50 Years of Beautiful" is produced by Deaton Flanigen Productions Inc. Robert Deaton, George J. Flanigen IV, and Sports Illustrated are executive producers; Gary Halvorson is director, and Ryan O'Dowd is the writer.