Emma Heming Willis Becomes Emotional in Preview for Diane Sawyer Special Airing Tonight

New York, August 26, 2025 - Emma Heming Willis, model, actress, and devoted caregiver to husband Bruce Willis, was seen fighting back tears in the newly released trailer for her in-depth interview with ABC News anchor Diane Sawyer. The special, titled Emma & Bruce Willis: The Unexpected Journey, premieres tonight, August 26, at 8 p.m. ET on ABC and will stream the following day on Disney+ and Hulu.

In the moving preview, Heming Willis describes the moment she learned of Bruce Willis’s diagnosis of frontotemporal dementia. “I was so panicked and I just remember hearing it and not hearing anything else. It was like I was free falling…,” she recalls, her voice choking with emotion. The teaser also features never-before-seen family photographs, including footage from the couple’s 2019 vow renewal, highlighting the depth of their bond.

Since announcing his diagnosis in 2023, Heming Willis has embraced the role of primary caregiver while raising their two daughters, Mabel Ray, 13, and Evelyn Penn, 11. She speaks candidly about the challenges and isolation that accompanied stepping into this new chapter of life. “Those early stages were deeply isolating. I struggled with a sense of powerlessness, feeling as if I had no control over what was happening to my family,” she explains in the trailer.

The forthcoming special not only chronicles the Willis family’s unexpected journey but also sheds light on the broader caregiving community. Emma Heming Willis’s forthcoming book, The Unexpected Journey: Finding Strength, Hope and Yourself on the Caregiving Path, set for release on September 9, promises to extend her message of resilience and hope to other care partners and families navigating similar paths.

Emma & Bruce Willis: The Unexpected Journey airs tonight, Tuesday, August 26, at 8 p.m. ET on ABC, with streaming availability on Disney+ and Hulu beginning Wednesday.