Nearly two months after Hoda Kotb announced her departure from TODAY, viewers can now know that a familiar face will slide into her chair as co-anchor.
Craig Melvin, who has been with NBC News for nearly 14 years, takes the co-anchor seat alongside Savannah Guthrie for the 7 and 8 a.m. times. It will begin on Monday, January 13, after Hoda says goodbye to her morning duties on Friday, January 10.
Craig has held several positions during his years at TODAY, from weekend co-anchor to his current roles as co-anchor of TODAY’s 3rd hour and news anchor during the prime hours. He is also the husband of sportscaster Lindsay Czarniak and the proud father of Delano, 10, and Sybil, 8.
“We are beyond excited to have Craig serve as co-anchor,” Libby Leist, TODAY’s senior vice president, said in a Nov. 14 statement to staff. “He is an integral and beloved part of our family. From covering on-field news to presidential interviews, including multiple Olympics and Super Bowls, Craig has shown he has the talent and diversity to to cover everything we do here, TODAY And it does it without ever losing that Southern charm.
Craig will continue to co-host Hour 3 with Al Roker, Dylan Dreyer and Sheinelle Jones.
TODAY with Hoda & Jenna will also see some changes following Hoda’s departure. The fourth hour of TODAY, co-hosted by Hoda and Jenna Bush Hager since April 2019, will debut under the title TODAY with Jenna & Friends on January 13 until a permanent co-host is named. The show will feature a rotating cast of alternate co-hosts, new games and more.
TODAY will celebrate Hoda throughout her final shows in January.
Hoda emotionally shared on TODAY on September 26 that she felt it was time to leave the show, a decision she felt pushed to make after celebrating her 60th birthday in August.
“I realized it was time for me to move on at 60 and try something new,” she said. “I remember standing outside looking at this beautiful group of people with these beautiful signs, and I was like, ‘This is what the top of the wave looks like to me.’ And I thought it couldn’t get any better, and I decided it was the right time for me to move on.
At the time of Hoda’s announcement, Craig shared his admiration for Hoda’s authenticity on and off camera.
“The people in this area, when that little red light goes off, they’re different people,” Craig said. “We have worked with all these people before. You are the opposite. That little red light goes out, you are exactly how people see you in the morning – just the biggest heart.
“You have been the heart of this show for a long time, and nothing can replace that.”
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