Craig Melvin Named New Today Co-Anchor as Hoda Kotb Steps Down to Focus on Family
Craig Melvin is set to become a permanent co-anchor on the Today show, joining Savannah Guthrie following Hoda Kotb’s recent departure. Kotb, who announced her exit nearly two months ago to spend more time with her children, will step down after 17 years on Today. Melvin, 45, who currently co-hosts the show’s third hour with Al Roker, Sheinelle Jones, and Dylan Dreyer, will now host three consecutive hours each morning beginning January 13, just after Kotb’s last day on January 10.
A South Carolina native and two-time Emmy winner, Melvin joined Today in 2018 as a weekday news anchor after working at MSNBC and NBC News. He and his wife, sports broadcaster Lindsay Czarniak, have two children, Delano and Sybil. A source tells PEOPLE that Melvin is a “sleeper talent” with the qualities needed for this role.
As for the fourth hour of Today, which Kotb co-hosted with Jenna Bush Hager, the network plans a rotating panel of guest co-hosts for Today with Jenna and Friends until a new permanent host is selected. This format promises “fun surprises,” with both familiar faces and unexpected guests.
In a letter to staff, Kotb expressed that her decision was difficult but necessary to focus on her family. She shared her gratitude, saying she plans to remain part of NBC in some capacity. “Family is family,” she wrote, emphasizing her continued connection to the network.
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