America Ferrera learns that one of her cousins is director Ava DuVernay in the upcoming 12th season of Finding Your Roots with Henry Louis Gates, Jr..

The new trailer shows Ferrera pleasantly shocked to find out DuVernay is a DNA relative. She is shown saying, “Ava! Oh my God, I love that!”

Ferrera also described the process of learning about her history like “learning there’s a new room in your house that you’ve never seen.

Which celebs will be in the new season of ‘Finding Your Roots’?

The new season includes Kristen Chenoweth, Spike Lee, Brittney Griner Darren Criss, Chris Paul, Spike Lee, Lizzy Caplan, Barry Diller, Delroy Lindo, Sanaa Lathan, Liza Colón-Zayas, Danielle Deadwyler, Sara Haines, Wiz Khalifa, Tracy Letts, Kate Burton, Hasan Minhaj, Rihannon Giddens and Red Hot Chili Peppers bassist Flea.

Gates told People in a previous interview how each season includes a “twin message” about humanity and the history of America.

“The first is that, despite all of our apparent differences–differences in race, gender, sexual preference, color, ethnicity, point of origin–at the genome, we’re 99/9% the same,” he said. “The second is that the greatness of our country was produced by the fact that we are a nation of immigrants, willing and unwilling. It includes everybody in that message. And that’s why people respond to our series with such enthusiasm.”

When does ‘Finding Your Roots’ Season 12 premiere?

Finding Your Roots Season 12 premieres Jan. 6, 2026, on PBS.

Henry Louis Gates

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