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The Best Episodes of Finding Your Roots Season 12

Every episode of Finding Your Roots Season 12 ranked from best to worst. Discover the Best Episodes of Finding Your Roots Season 12!

Binge this in Unknown•Peaking at 6.7/10

Noted Harvard scholar Henry Louis Gates, Jr. has been helping people discover long-lost relatives hidden for generations within the branches of their family trees. Professor Gates utilizes a team of genealogists to reconstruct

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Episode Rankings

  1. #1 Fan Favorite
    Finding Your Roots Season 12 Episode 1 - American Dreams
    6.4/10(34 votes)

    #1 - American Dreams

    S12:E1

    America Ferrera and Darren Criss uncover their immigrant roots.

    Director:Unknown
    Writer:Unknown

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  2. Finding Your Roots Season 12 Episode 2 - Great Migrations
    5.5/10(24 votes)

    #2 - Great Migrations

    S12:E2

    Henry Louis Gates, Jr. introduces rapper Wiz Khalifa and actor Sanaa Lathan to ancestors who left the American South, boldly breaking racial barriers.

    Director:Unknown
    Writer:Unknown

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  3. Finding Your Roots Season 12 Episode 3 - Caribbean Roots
    6.0/10(24 votes)

    #3 - Caribbean Roots

    S12:E3

    Henry Louis Gates, Jr. explores the Caribbean roots of actors Liza Colón-Zayas and Delroy Lindo—meeting ancestors who took enormous risks.

    Director:Unknown
    Writer:Unknown

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  4. Finding Your Roots Season 12 Episode 4 - The Road We Took
    6.7/10(26 votes)

    #4 - The Road We Took

    S12:E4

    Henry Louis Gates, Jr. introduces actor Lizzie Caplan and comedian Hasan Minhaj to ancestors whose brave decisions forever reshaped their families.

    Director:Unknown
    Writer:Unknown

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  5. Finding Your Roots Season 12 Episode 5 - Love & Basketball
    5.7/10(23 votes)

    #5 - Love & Basketball

    S12:E5

    Henry Louis Gates, Jr. maps the family trees of basketball stars Brittney Griner and Chris Paul—uncovering ancestors who had extraordinary talents.

    Director:Unknown
    Writer:Unknown

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  6. Finding Your Roots Season 12 Episode 6 - Westward Bound
    6.4/10(24 votes)

    #6 - Westward Bound

    S12:E6

    Henry Louis Gates, Jr. maps the roots of talk show host Sara Haines and playwright Tracy Letts from the American west to surprising places back east.

    Director:Unknown
    Writer:Unknown

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    The 20 BEST Episodes of Finding Your Roots

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  7. Finding Your Roots Season 12 Episode 7 - Family Harmonies
    6.3/10(21 votes)

    #7 - Family Harmonies

    S12:E7

    Henry Louis Gates, Jr. maps the roots of musicians Lizzo and Flea—traveling across the globe to find stories of the ancestors who inspired their work.

    Director:Unknown
    Writer:Unknown

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  8. Finding Your Roots Season 12 Episode 8 - Artistic Roots
    5.9/10(20 votes)

    #8 - Artistic Roots

    S12:E8

    Henry Louis Gates, Jr. maps the roots of director Spike Lee and actor Kristin Chenoweth, meeting ancestors whose creativity built their families.

    Director:Unknown
    Writer:Unknown

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  9. Finding Your Roots Season 12 Episode 9 - Song of the South
    0.0/10(0 votes)

    #9 - Song of the South

    S12:E9

    Henry Louis Gates, Jr. explores the family secrets of Danielle Deadwyler and Rhiannon Giddens, uncovering stories their ancestors once hid.

    Director:Unknown
    Writer:Unknown

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Season 12 Ratings Summary

"American Dreams" is the best rated episode of "Finding Your Roots" season 12. It scored 6.4/10 based on 34 votes. Directed by Unknown and written by Unknown, it aired on 1/6/2026. This episode is rated 0.9 points higher than the second-best, "Great Migrations".