HOT AIR BALLOON FLIGHT

Stars of contemporary Christian music

Christian rock is as old as rock 'n' roll itself. It's revered by some and rejected by others. "Sunday Morning" contributor Kelefa Sanneh talks with some of the biggest stars in the world of contemporary Christian music: Amy Grant, and the duo from For King and Country, Joel and Luke Smallbone.

NIH director Dr. Francis Collins on a life in science

After more than 12 years, the retiring leader of the National Institutes of Health talks with Rita Braver about resisting political pressures during the COVID pandemic; vaccine hesitancy; and how he will continue with two passions: research and rock 'n' roll.

Dr. Jon LaPook on COVID and safer holiday gatherings

With the increase in coronavirus caseloads due to the spreading Delta and Omicron variants, CBS News' chief medical correspondent discusses the precautions to be taken at end-of-year get-togethers, to better ensure a safe holiday season.

What goes into a box of See's Candies?

At the See's Candies factory, in Culver City, Calif., candymakers are busy cranking out holiday cheer, which is sold online and in more than 200 stores across the U.S. Correspondent Luke Burbank tests his candy-making skills, and also finds out how a Christmas tradition, stalled during last year's pandemic, is now back.

Holiday music: John Lennon's "Happy Xmas (War Is Over)"

This year we continue a "Sunday Morning" tradition: The Young People's Chorus of New York City – joined by Josh Groban – performs a song for the holidays: John Lennon's 1971 classic, "Happy Xmas (War Is Over)."

Holiday music: Josh Groban sings "Believe," from "The Polar Express"

Josh Groban, joined by the Young People's Chorus of New York City, performs a song for the holidays: the Grammy-winning "Believe," from the movie "The Polar Express."

The return of Secret Santa

Far from the North Pole, at the edge of the Sonoran Desert, Secret Santa is about to do some of his best work ever, on the San Carlos Apache Tribal Lands. Correspondent Steve Hartman reports on the anonymous wealthy businessman who is making his annual holiday season trek, giving away $30,000 in hundred-dollar bills to random strangers.

Jim Gaffigan on celebrating Jesus' birthday

The comedian ponders the evolution of the holiday season, which started with one man's birth, and now involves indoor trees and door-to-door singers.

Passage: In memoriam

"Sunday Morning" remembers some of the notable figures who left us this week, including Anne Rice, author of such bestsellers as "Interview with the Vampire."

From 2006: Author Anne Rice will make you believe

Anne Rice, who gained fame as a writer of the supernatural with her bestselling novels "Interview with the Vampire" and "The Queen of the Damned," died Saturday, December 11 at the age of 80. In this "Sunday Morning" profile that was originally broadcast on March 19, 2006, correspondent John Blackstone talked with Rice about her conversion from longtime atheist back to Catholicism, and why she started writing about the life of Jesus, beginning with her 2005 novel, "Christ the Lord: Out of Egypt."

Nature: Snowfall in South Dakota

"Sunday Morning" takes us to Newton Hills State Park in eastern South Dakota, where they are getting a head start on a white Christmas. Videographer: Kevin Kjergaard.

Watch the full December 19 episode!

Hosted by Jane Pauley.

Web extra: "Return of the Jedi," "The Fellowship of the Ring," "WALL-E" added to the National Film Registry

"A Nightmare on Elm Street," Hitchcock's "Strangers on a Train," "Stop Making Sense" and "Richard Pryor: Live in Concert" also among films to be preserved by Library of Congress for future generations. David Morgan reports.