It’s been nearly two months since Hoda Kotb announced she was leaving TODAY, and viewers can now find out a familiar face will be sliding into her chair as co-anchor.
Craig Melvin, who has been with NBC News for nearly 14 years, will move into the co-anchor seat alongside Savannah Guthrie during the 7 a.m. and 8 a.m. time slots. After Hoda said goodbye to the morning shift on Friday, January 10th, he will start work on Monday, January 13th.
Craig has held numerous positions, from his longtime weekend co-anchor on TODAY to his current role as TODAY’s third-hour co-host and early-hour news anchor. He is the husband of sports broadcaster Lindsey Czarniak and the proud father of 10-year-old Delano and 8-year-old Sybil.
TODAY senior vice president Libby Leist said in a statement to staff on Nov. 14 that she was “excited to have Craig join us as co-anchor chair.” From local breaking news to presidential interviews to multiple Olympics and the Super Bowl, Craig has shown he has the talent and range to cover everything we do here today. And he does it without ever losing his Southern charm. ”
Craig will continue to co-host the third hour with Al Roker, Dylan Dreyer and Sheinelle Jones.
Hoda and Jenna today also sees some changes with Hoda’s departure. TODAY’s fourth hour has been co-hosted by Hoda and Jenna Bush Hager since April 2019, but will debut as TODAY with Jenna & Friends on January 13th until a permanent co-host is found. do. The show will feature rotating co-hosts, new games, and more.
Today we celebrate Hoda through the last show of January.
Hoda emotionally said on TODAY on Sept. 26 that she felt it was time to move on from the show. After celebrating his 60th birthday in August, he felt he had made the decision.
“When I turned 60, I turned the page and realized it was time to try something new,” she said. “I remember standing outside and looking at a bunch of beautiful people with these gorgeous signs, and I thought, ‘This feels like the crest of a wave for me,’ and this… I didn’t think it could get any better and decided it was the right time to move on.”
During Hoda’s announcement, Craig shared his admiration for Hoda’s authenticity both on and off camera.
“People in this industry, when those little red flags go off, they become different people,” Craig said. “We’ve worked with all of these people before. You’re the opposite. When the little red light goes out, you’re exactly how people look at you in the morning, just the biggest It’s a heart.
“You’ve been the heart of this show for a long time, and there’s no one to replace you.”
This article first appeared on TODAY.com. Today’s continuation:
