EXCLUSIVE: Gabrielle Giffords' Husband, Capt. Mark Kelly, Opens Up to Diane Sawyer in First Television Interview

Capt. Mark Kelly opens up to Diane Sawyer one week after the tragic shooting.

ByABC News
January 16, 2011, 12:14 PM

Jan. 16, 2011 — -- In his first interview since the tragic shootings at the Safeway in Tucson, Ariz., Mark Kelly, the husband of Rep. Gabrielle Giffords, sits down one-on-one with ABC's Diane Sawyer.

Sawyer brings an intimate portrait of a modern American love story, a great national tragedy and the strength to heal. Their emotional conversation took place one week after the tragic shooting.

Giffords is the political centrist who likes to ride motorcycles. He is the NASA astronaut set to command the space shuttle Endeavour's final mission to space this April. The two met in China and their first date was not a typical one – a trip to an Arizona State Prison; she was working on legislation about capital punishment. Now, their relationship has captured the hearts of America.

For the first time, Capt. Kelly opens up to Diane Sawyer about the moment he heard the tragic news, the emotional bed-side vigil he has kept since, and how the nation's outpouring of support has impacted them. In addition, Sawyer gets insight into the dynamics of the couple from friends and loved ones who know them best.

The exclusive interview will air during a special edition of "20/20" with Diane Sawyer reporting. "The Congresswoman and the Astronaut: An American Story of Love and Strength" on Tuesday, Jan. 18 at 10 p.m. EST on the ABC Television Network.

Portions of the interview will first air Tuesday on "Good Morning America," "World News with Diane Sawyer," and will continue later that evening on "Nightline" with additional coverage from ABCNews.com, ABC News Radio, ABC News NOW, and ABC NewsOne, the network's affiliate news service.