This week on “Sunday Morning” (Dec. 14)

Emmy Award-winning “CBS News Sunday Morning” airs on CBS on Sundays beginning at 9:00 a.m. ET. “Sunday Morning” also streams on the CBS News app starting at 11 a.m. ET. (Download it here.)

Host: Jane Pauley

COVER STORY: What makes a good Christmas song? | Watch the video
The most popular and enduring Christmas songs, from “Jingle Bells” to “All I Want for Christmas Is You,” share many traits, according to musicologist Joe Bennett. He talks with David Pogue about the most common songwriting elements that make up a great Christmas classic. Next, Pogue tried his hand at composing a Christmas song, “The Sound of Christmas”, which received its world premiere by Broadway star Kerry Butler.

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ALMANAC: December 14 (video)
“Sunday Morning” looks back at the historical events of that date.

‘TIS SEASON: Yule log: a traditional Christmas treat
Created in France in the late 19th century, the Bûche de Noël is a favorite Christmas treat: a rolled chocolate cake that is a small work of art. Alina Cho chats with food historian Loïc Bienassis about the origins of the dessert, while pastry chef Mickaël Marsollier discusses variations of the traditional Bûche.

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BOOKS: Jane Austen at 250: Celebrating a writer who continues to inspire new chapters
Her enduring romances, including “Pride and Prejudice,” “Sense and Sensibility” and “Emma,” made British writer Jane Austen one of the brightest names in literature — and the beloved subject of a yearlong celebration marking the 250th anniversary of her birth. Seth Doane visits Bath, England, the setting of two of the Regency-era author’s six novels, and speaks with Devoney Looser, author of “Wild for Austen.” Doane also visits the set of an upcoming miniseries inspired by Austen’s characters, “The Other Bennet Sister.”

For more information:

• Jane Austen Festival, Bath, United Kingdom
• janeausten.co.uk
• “Wild for Austen: A Rebellious, Subversive, and Untamed Jane” by Devoney Looser (St. Martin’s Press), in hardcover, ebook, and audiobook formats, available through Amazon, Barnes & Noble, and Bookshop.org
• The Global Jane Austen: Celebration and commemoration of 250 years of Jane Austen, at the University of Southampton, England
• ‘The Other Bennet Sister’ will air in 2026 on BBC One and Britbox
• The Jane Austen Society of North America
• janeausten.org

United States: Steps of Faith: How “Ted Lasso” Star Jason Sudeikis and His Friends Gave Hope to Amputees
Twenty years ago, when Kansas City musician Billy Brimblecom Jr. was diagnosed with cancer, he underwent 13 rounds of chemotherapy and ultimately lost a leg. One of her oldest friends, Jason Sudeikis, former star of “SNL” and “Ted Lasso,” rallied to her cause, helping raise money to pay for a prosthetic leg. Since then, Sudeikis, Brimblecom and friends have hosted an annual fundraiser, called Thundergong, which has helped more than 2,000 amputees nationwide pay for prosthetics through the Steps of Faith Foundation. Lee Cowan reports.

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PASSAGE: In memory
“Sunday Morning” remembers some of the notable people who passed away this week.

United States: what are the prospects for laid-off workers?
In 2025, more than 1.1 million Americans were laid off, the highest number since the 2020 COVID-19 pandemic. Layoffs have affected many industries, by businesses of all sizes, even as corporate profits remain high. Elaine Quijano speaks with business experts who explain why companies resort to layoffs and the psychological damage caused by layoffs, and why artificial intelligence isn’t yet filling these jobs.

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COMMENTARY: Fear of Flying: Faith Salie on Secretary Duffy and Resistance to Pajamas
When Transportation Secretary Sean Duffy chastised air travelers for not dressing to fly, travelers responded by wearing pajamas. Faith Salie examines what travelers think about the secretary’s flight.

FILMS: Hugh Jackman and Kate Hudson on the musical chemistry of “Song Sung Blue”
In their new movie “Song Sung Blue,” Hugh Jackman and Kate Hudson play Mike and Claire Sardina, the real-life musical impersonators who sang as Neil Diamond and Patsy Cline. Jackman reveals to Tracy Smith how he “discovered” his co-star (by watching her sing on “CBS Sunday Morning”!) and their shared chemistry, while Hudson talks about taking on a less glamorous role.

To watch a trailer for “Song Sung Blue,” click on the video player below:

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WORLD: Eulogies speak of the heroism of Ukraine’s war dead
In the Ukrainian city of Lviv, time literally stands still as three fallen warriors rest. Holly Williams recounts how the city mourns its heroes – praising the courage of their sons, while channeling their grief into Ukraine’s continued defense against Vladimir Putin’s invaders.

‘IS THE SEASON: A State-by-State Guide to “Made in America” Christmas Gifts
The Made in America Holiday Gift Guide promotes products made in America – from cowboy hat racks produced in Wyoming to giant stuffed animals from South Carolina. The list includes more than 150 companies from all 50 states. Luke Burbank talks to some small business owners for whom being included in this year’s gift guide feels pretty much like a Christmas miracle.

For more information:

NATURE: Snow in South Dakota

WEB EXCLUSIVITIES:

‘TIS THE SEASON: Gift ideas for the 2025 holidays from Techno Claus
Who dresses as St. Nick and speaks a strange brogue? Well, it’s Techno Claus, aka David Pogue! He offers “Sunday Morning” viewers his valuable tips for the gadget lovers on your gift list.

FROM THE ARCHIVES: Dick Van Dyke, Forever Young (Video)
In this 2023 report, Tracy Smith sits down with the ever-young Dick Van Dyke to talk about his career as an illustrator, winning over new generations of fans, and building a body of work that’s not yet complete.

MARATHON: YouTube, ‘The Great Gatsby,’ ‘Jaws’ and More Hit Milestones and Anniversaries (YouTube Video)
“CBS Sunday Morning” looks back at the iconic films, films and institutions that celebrated major anniversaries in 2025:

• “The Rocky Horror Picture Show”
• “Sunset Boulevard”
• “Jaws”
• “The Great Gatsby”
• YouTube
• The New Yorker magazine
• Air Jordan
• Delta Airlines
• The American Revolution

Emmy Award-winning “CBS News Sunday Morning” airs on CBS on Sundays beginning at 9:00 a.m. ET. The executive producer is Rand Morrison.

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