After nearly a decade of early mornings, in-depth conversations, and more than 530 interviews, Sunday Today host Willie Geist has spoken with nearly every major star in entertainment. Yet there remains one name — one cultural force — that he still hopes will eventually sit across from him: Taylor Swift.
In an exclusive conversation with Us Weekly, Geist, 49, admitted that securing a long-form interview with Swift has become something of a personal quest. “Taylor Swift’s always on the list,” he said with a laugh, fully aware of how rare her interviews are. “She has great people around her who are very nice and very polite when they decline, and I appreciate that. But I’ll keep asking.”
Swift, now 35, has appeared on Today several times over the years, from a plaza-packed performance in 2010 to later discussing her role in Cats in 2019. But she has never joined Geist’s signature Sunday Sitdown—the long-form, career-spanning conversation he’s helmed since 2016.
And Swift isn’t the only superstar he’s hoping to lock in. “Jay-Z is another big one for me,” Geist shared. “I would love to sit down with him and just talk about his career, but also the moment where hip-hop was spilling out of New York and starting to shape the whole culture.”
For a host who interviews A-listers weekly, it might seem there’s no one left on his bucket list. Geist says that’s far from true — especially in an industry that constantly regenerates itself. “There are always more people, no matter how long you’ve done it,” he explained. “Timothée Chalamet wasn’t on anyone’s radar when we started nine years ago. Now? He’s a huge star, and I’d love to interview him.”
One dream came true earlier this year when Will Ferrell finally joined the show. “He was made for our show,” Geist said. “He’s got the same great energy, the same warmth. We had so much fun.”
Despite the nonstop pop-culture immersion required for his job, Geist insists he still learns plenty from home — specifically from his 17-year-old daughter, Lucie. Whether it’s catching up on Outer Banks or keeping track of celebrity relationships, she makes sure he stays current. “She’s amused by my ineptitude,” he joked. “She fills me in on everything.”
Fans will soon get to see Geist take his signature format live once again, this time with culinary icon Ina Garten at City Winery in New York City on May 19. It marks his second-ever Sunday Sitdown Live, following a wildly enthusiastic fan response to Garten’s previous events. Geist recalled attending a memoir appearance with her in 2024. “The place erupted as if Taylor Swift had walked on stage,” he said. “It wasn’t polite applause. It was visceral.”
For those unable to attend in person, the conversation will air on Sunday Today and be available as a full-length podcast — extending Geist’s ever-growing catalog of intimate, thoughtful, culturally defining interviews.
And with Swift still on his wishlist, he says he’ll keep the door open — just in case the biggest star in the world is finally ready for Sunday Sitdown.
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