<Tr> <Th> Original network </Th> <Td> CBS </Td> </Tr> <Tr> <Th> Original release </Th> <Td> November 9, 1973 </Td> </Tr> <P> Sunshine is a 1973 made - for - television docudrama, directed by Joseph Sargent and produced by George Eckstein, about a young wife and mother who dies of cancer at age 20 . The film stars Cristina Raines in the lead role of Kate Hayden (Raines' first big movie role), Cliff DeYoung as Kate's husband Sam Hayden, and twins Lindsay and Sidney Greenbush as Jill, Kate and Sam's daughter, as a toddler . It originally aired on CBS as an episode of the CBS Friday Night Movie on November 9, 1973 . When first aired, Sunshine was the most watched made - for - TV film in history . The film uses John Denver's song "Sunshine on My Shoulders" as a theme . </P> <P> Young pregnant divorcee Kate (Cristina Raines) falls in love with struggling musician Sam Hayden (Cliff DeYoung), and they become a couple, eventually getting married . A few months into Kate and Sam's relationship, Kate gives birth to a daughter they name Jill . Although Jill's biological father is Kate's former husband, Sam loves Jill and regards her as his own child . </P>

Movie with the song sunshine on my shoulders