Craig Melvin ‘Never Thought’ He Would Be the Guy to Sit in Hoda Kotb’s Seat on ‘Today’

Craig Melvin still finds it hard to believe that he now cohosts NBC’s Today, a position he describes as a tremendous honor.

Following Hoda Kotb’s departure, Melvin stepped into the role and has expressed deep gratitude for the opportunity.

In a recent interview, the 45-year-old journalist opened up about the moment he received the call offering him the position.

“There are so few truly venerable institutions left in television, and being part of one isn’t something I take lightly,” Melvin shared.

“It’s the professional honor of a lifetime. Honestly, I never thought I would be the guy to sit in this seat — I was happy in my role.

But then one day, I got the call that Hoda Kotb was leaving, and I just thought, ‘Wow, this might actually be happening.’”

For Melvin, his new position is especially meaningful because Today played a significant role in his childhood. Growing up in South Carolina, he structured his mornings around the show.

“I grew up watching this show! That’s the crazy part,” he revealed. “A couple of months ago, I had lunch with [former Today host] Bryant Gumbel, and I told him, ‘This is surreal for me.’ Back in middle school, as I was getting ready to hop on the bus to St. Andrews, I timed my entire morning routine by Today. I knew that by the 7:55 a.m. break, I had to be out of the house and on my way.”

A Full-Circle Career Moment

Melvin joined Today in 2018 as a news anchor and later took on cohosting duties for the third hour of the show in 2019. Over the years, he has built strong connections with both his colleagues and viewers.

“You don’t fully grasp the magnitude of the show’s reach until you experience it firsthand,” he explained. “It hits you when a random person in Ohio or an airport in Florida stops you and says, ‘I remember your first show. Seeing your mom on was such a beautiful moment.’ And that’s when it really sinks in — Oh my God. People watch. Millions of people are watching and listening every morning.”

On January 13, Melvin officially took over from Kotb, just days after her final Today appearance on January 10. Fans were deeply moved by her decision to step away from the show, but she made it clear that it was a choice she had been considering for some time.

Hoda Kotb’s Surprising Exit

Kotb, 60, first announced her decision to leave in September 2024, sharing that she wanted to spend more time with her daughters, Haley and Hope. When she first informed Melvin of her departure, he was taken aback.

“My dressing room is two over from hers, and she knocks on my door one morning, which was unusual,” he recalled. “And she’s like, ‘You have a moment?’”

At first, Melvin assumed something was wrong.

“She came in, and she said, ‘I just wanted to tell you something. I’m leaving.’ And my initial reaction was, ‘Are you sick? Is everything OK?’ I was like, ‘Well, no one leaves these jobs on their own,’” he continued.

Kotb assured him that she was making the decision on her own terms.

“She said, ‘It’s time. I want to leave on top.’ I was like, ‘Are they forcing you out?’ She’s like, ‘No, Craig, I’m OK. I’m leaving.’ I was legit stunned, so much so that after she left, I went back to her dressing room, and I was like, ‘Are you sure you’re OK?’ It takes a certain kind of courage to leave anything when you’re at the height of your game.”

For Kotb, the choice was about prioritizing her family.

“Obviously, I had my kiddos late in life, and I was thinking that they deserve a bigger piece of my time pie that I have,” she said.

She adopted her first daughter, Haley, in 2017, and expanded her family in 2019 with the adoption of Hope.

A Strong Partnership with Savannah Guthrie

As Melvin adjusts to his expanded role on Today, he is grateful to have Savannah Guthrie by his side. The two share a longstanding friendship, having worked together in Washington, D.C., during the late 2000s.

“We’ve become legit friends. We’ve got kids that have hung out together, and we’ve hung out together, so we don’t have to fake it,” Melvin said.

Their natural chemistry makes their cohosting dynamic seamless.

“The audience can tell when the chemistry is manufactured, and we haven’t had to manufacture anything, which makes it even easier. I’m really excited to be on this adventure with my sister.”

Embracing the Future

While stepping into Kotb’s role has been a significant change, Melvin is embracing the journey with gratitude. His passion for journalism, coupled with his deep appreciation for the history of Today, makes him a natural fit for the role.