Craig Melvin is still processing the incredible opportunity he has been given as a cohost of NBC’s Today, following Hoda Kotb’s departure. 

For the veteran journalist, the role is nothing short of a dream come true, and he remains in awe of the journey that brought him here.

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

Craig’s connection to Today dates back to his teenage years in South Carolina when he would set his morning routine around watching the program. 

The opportunity to be part of a show he once admired from home is a full-circle moment.

“I grew up watching this show! That’s the crazy part,” he revealed. “A couple of months ago, I had lunch with 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.”

Craig originally joined Today as the show’s news anchor in 2018 and later expanded his role by cohosting the third hour of the program the following year. Now, stepping into this prominent role is a humbling and exhilarating experience for him.

“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.”

His transition into the cohosting role was solidified on January 13, following Hoda’s final Today telecast on January 10. She had announced her departure in September 2024, citing a desire to spend more time with her young daughters.

Craig admitted that when Hoda first shared the news of her exit, he was taken aback and initially assumed something was wrong.

“My dressing room is two doors down from hers, and she knocks on my door one morning, which was unusual,” Craig recalled. “She came in and 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.’”

Hoda reassured him that the decision was entirely hers. “‘It’s time. I want to leave on top,’” she told him. Craig, still in disbelief, pressed further, asking if she was being pushed out. She simply responded, “‘No, Craig, I’m OK. I’m leaving.’”

After their conversation, Craig returned to her dressing room just to be sure. “Are you sure you’re OK?” he asked again. He admired her courage in walking away from such a prestigious position at the peak of her career.

For Hoda, her decision was deeply personal. She had adopted her first daughter, Haley Joy, in 2017 and later welcomed Hope Catherine in 2019. She felt it was time to give them more of her attention. “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 previously stated.

Despite the change, Craig has found comfort in working alongside longtime Today cohost Savannah Guthrie. The two share a history dating back to their early days working in Washington, D.C., in the late 2000s.

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

Craig Melvin’s rise to cohosting Today has been nothing short of remarkable. From a childhood fan of the program to one of its most prominent faces, his journey is proof that dreams can indeed come true. While stepping into Hoda Kotb’s shoes is no small feat, Craig is embracing the role with gratitude, humility, and excitement for the road ahead.

Follow us to see more useful information, as well as to give us more motivation to update more useful information for you.