NBC To Air 'Sports Illustrated Swimsuit: 50 Years of Beautiful'

NBC and Time Inc. are teaming up, though not to discuss history's greatest figures, or to profile the Person of the Year. Nope. It's all about beautiful women in swimsuits.

Credit: Sports Illustrated

NBC will partner with Time Inc. to present a two-hour TV special celebrating the 50th anniversary of the Sports Illustrated’s swimsuit franchise, one of the most successful annual mainstays in American pop culture. The special, titled “Sports Illustrated Swimsuit: 50 Years of Beautiful,” will air on NBC on Monday, Feb. 3 at 9:00 PM ET/PT.

Former swimsuit cover model and Project Runway and America's Got Talent star Heidi Klum will serve as host for the special. In addition, the special will feature appearances from fellow swimsuit icons including Tyra Banks, Christie Brinkley, Kathy Ireland, Marisa Miller, Kate Upton and more. The show will also feature musical performances from Enrique Iglesias, Lady Antebellum, the Fray, John Legend and Tim McGraw.

Here are some further details behind the show, via the official NBC Press Release:

"Sports Illustrated Swimsuit: 50 Years of Beautiful" is Produced by Deaton Flanigen Productions Inc. Robert Deaton, George J. Flanigen IV, and Sports Illustrated are executive producers, Gary Halvorson is director, and Ryan O'Dowd is the writer. It will indulge viewers in the storied history of the franchise, with behind-the-scenes footage and photography from the exotic cover shoots and back stories from the most loved and recognizable swimsuit models on the planet. All of this will culminate in a countdown of the top 10 SI swimsuit covers of all time.

This announcement comes on the heels of the recent news that NBC, Time Inc. and Dick Clark Productions have partnered to produce the “People Magazine Awards,” which is scheduled to air in 2014. It also represents the latest initiative in Time Inc.’s company-wide commitment to expanding its video offerings across its portfolio.

“Sports Illustrated Swimsuit: 50 Years of Beautiful” premieres Monday, Feb. 3 at 9:00 PM ET/PT on NBC.