Hoda Kotb's Replacement Unveiled Almost 2 Months After Exit Announcement
The "TODAY" show's producers unveiled its new host to co-anchor alongside Savannah Guthrie after Hoda Kotb's exit.
The "TODAY" show welcomes a new host more than a month after Hoda Kotb dropped the baton.
The TV show's producers unveiled its new host to co-anchor alongside Savannah Guthrie and it is no other person than Craig Melvin.
Hoda Kotb announced that she was leaving the show to focus on her children and family life nearly two months ago after gracing the screen on the show for almost three decades.
Hoda Kotb Congratulates Her 'Today' Show Replacement Craig Melvin
The NBC network named Melvin the permanent replacement for the show. He will reportedly host three hours in a row starting Monday, Jan. 13, following Kotb's last day on the show, Friday, Jan. 10.
He is not a newcomer in the TV business, as he currently hosts the third hour of TODAY alongside Al Roker, Sheinelle Jones, and Dylan Dreyer.
Melvin, who is from South Carolina, joined "TODAY" in 2018 when he was promoted to a weekday news anchor after working on MSNBC and NBC News. A source described the new co-anchor to PEOPLE as "a super talented anchor" who is very well-rounded in his expertise. The source added:
"He has all the things you want to fill this role. Hoda has two really big jobs and they're taking it one step at a time, figuring it all out."
He tied the knot with sports broadcaster Lindsay Czarniak in 2011 and are proud parents to two children — a son Delano and a daughter, Sybil.
Kotb quickly congratulated her replacement as soon as the news hit the air in an Instagram post. She shared four photos showing Melvin having an emotional moment with his co-hosts and the entire staff. The post's caption shows Kotb's confidence in Melvin filling her shoes; it reads:
"Proud of you @craigmelvinnbc !!! You are made for this! GO GET ‘EM!!!"
The NBC Legend Bade An Emotional Farewell In September
Kotb ended her watch on the "TODAY" show with a tearful announcement of her exit and an equally tear-jerking letter to staff. The Blast gathered from the star that her 60th birthday influenced her decision as she had spent 26 years with the network and just turned 60.
"I realized that it was time for me to turn the page at 60 and to try something new. I remembered standing outside looking at this beautiful bunch of people with these gorgeous signs, and I thought, 'This is what the top of the wave feels like for me,'" Kotb explained.
The legend added that no other feeling can top what she has felt for over two decades on the show, and her exit felt very fitting. Kotb ended her farewell by expressing her desire to spend more time as a mother to her young children instead of focusing on her career.
Kotb Is Excited To Create New Memories With Her Girls Following Her Retirement
Kotb, the proud mother of two girls, Haley, 7, and Hope, 5, happily declared that she was looking forward to spending quality time with her little ones. She explained further:
"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. I feel like we only have a finite amount of time."
Despite her announcement, the talk show queen clarified that her decision to depart from hosting the show was not the end of her journey with NBC. She revealed that she would remain in the NBC family in an unspecified role.
Kotb added that she promised not to get emotional about her exit announcement, but it was too profound for her not to break down into happy, fulfilled tears.
The Host Thanked The 'TODAY' Staff For Their Unwavering Support In Her Exit Letter
Kotb made everyone feel special even as she left the show. In her letter to staff, the 60-year-old thanked her team, who supported her tirelessly behind the scenes through the years.
She confessed to feeling a heaviness in her chest borne out of her necessary yet painful decision. "My time at NBC has been the longest professional love affair of my life. But only because you've been beside me on this twenty-six-year adventure," Kotb stated in the letter.
She assured the staff of her plan to remain a part of the NBC family, describing it as "the longest work relationship I've been lucky enough to hold close to my heart. I'll be around. How could I not? Family is family, and you all will always be a part of mine."
Al Roker's Feelings About Hoda Kotb's Exit
The Blast reported that her 70-year-old co-anchor shared his thoughts about departure and defended her reason.
"Will I miss her day to day? Sure. But I'm just so thrilled for her that I can't possibly feel any sadness," he said. "Here's the thing. I would feel much worse if she was leaving, but she's just doing something else within our NBC News family."
Roker stated that he understands Kotb's wish to dedicate more time to her family and watch her daughters grow up. In his words:
"Look, I'm very fortunate in that I've watched my kids grow up, especially when [my daughter] Courtney was younger. I was in local news, so I was home in the morning with my kids, but [Kotb's] got two young daughters."
The TV legend added that kids tend to grow up really fast, and the hustle and bustle of life can deny a parent the thrill of watching their little ones turn into full-blown adults.
Craig Melvin will no doubt perform wonderfully at his new job as Hoda Kotb's replacement!
