New ABC News Studios special looks at John F. Kennedy Jr. and Carolyn Bessette Kennedy's love story

"John and Carolyn | Love, Beauty and Loss" l shows rare footage, new photos and interviews with the couple's close friends

ByGina Sirico OTRC logo
Thursday, February 12, 2026
JFK Jr., Carolyn Bessette Kennedy subject of new ABC special

It's the story behind the story.

ABC News Studios is going behind the real love story of John F. Kennedy Jr. and Carolyn Bessette Kennedy on "John and Carolyn | Love, Beauty and Loss."

The one-hour special looks at the origin of their love story, their secret wedding and the constant barrage of attention that took a toll on their relationship until their tragic deaths in July, 1999.

ABC News Studios interviewed the couple's close friends, contemporaries and journalists, including fashion designer Gordon Henderson, author Steve Gillon, former Editor-in-Chief of People magazine Larry Hackett, editor-at-large of People magazine Liz McNeil, staff writer at The New Yorker Rachel Syme and more.

It also shows newly unearthed photos of Carolyn Bessette Kennedy, rare wedding footage and ABC News archival footage and interviews.

The trailer, seen in the video player above, states "They had glamour, they had tragedy. They are an unfinished story."

"John and Carolyn | Love, Beauty and Loss" airs Tuesday, February 17 at 10pm EST/ 9pm CST on ABC and streams the next day on Hulu and Hulu on Disney+.

You can also watch "Love Story: John F Kennedy Jr & Carolyn Bessette" from executive producer Ryan Murphy, premiering tonight on FX, Hulu and Hulu on Disney+.

The Walt Disney Company is the parent company of FX, Hulu and this ABC station.

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