NEW YORK (AP) — Brian Williams didn’t have to look hard for a photo of actress Allison Williams as a toddler in a Peter Pan costume. A framed one has been on display in the den of his family’s Connecticut home for years.

The NBC “Nightly News” anchor and proud father said he emailed family members to see if they approved of him reporting on his daughter being cast in the lead role of “Peter Pan.” NBC is airing a new version of the musical live on Dec. 4.

Reporting the news was more than a proud papa’s privilege: “Nightly” announced casting for “The Sound of Music” before NBC aired that musical late last year, he said. His report of Allison’s good news played it straight — at least until the end.

As a picture of the 26-year-old “Girls” actress as a young girl garbed in green appeared on the screen, Williams said, “Family members confirm she’s been rehearsing for this role since the age of 3, and they’re looking forward to seeing her fly.”

“Believe me,” he said later. “I know every word of every song.”

Williams insisted that Allison didn’t give him any grief for showing the photo on the air.

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