And when is Kotb’s last day on the show?
Fans of the TODAY show got two huge pieces of news on Thursday about the future of the iconic NBC morning show.
The first is that Hoda Kotb, who recently announced she’ll be leaving the show, officially shared when her run as co-anchor will come to an end. She’ll say goodbye on Friday, Jan. 10 — but the sadness of losing her will be blunted (a little, at least) by the celebratory energy: “That’ll be our party day,” Kotb said. “We’re going to throw a party together.”
“We have a lot to celebrate,” said Savannah Guthrie, Kotb’s current deskmate. Then she teed up the next big announcement: “Though [Kotb] is irreplaceable in our hearts, we are so excited about the news in our TODAY family.”
So what is that big news? Craig Melvin, TODAY‘s news anchor and a co-host of the show’s third hour, will take Kotb’s chair next to Guthrie and become the new co-anchor for the 7 a.m. and 8 a.m. hours of the show. His first day will be Monday, Jan. 13.
“I am beyond excited and grateful,” Melvin said, hugging Guthrie. “I want to obviously thank NBC and the folks here who deemed me worthy, but I have to start with thanking the man upstairs, thanking my lord above and his son, Jesus. I’ve enjoyed a lifetime of blessings, and this is the latest in a long line of blessings.”
He also mentioned his parents, as well as his own personal backstory. His maternal grandmother was an elementary school custodian, while his paternal grandmother gave birth to Melvin’s father in prison. Melvin added that his father has overcome addiction, while his mother sometimes worked two jobs to make ends meet for the family.
“I talked to Mom and Dad yesterday, and I’m thankful they’re still young enough and healthy enough to be able to see this and enjoy the fruits of their labor,” Melvin said.
He also mentioned his wife, Lindsay Czarniak, whom he said “has endured 13 years of me — and God bless her.” Together, the couple shares two children: son Delano, born in 2014, and daughter Sybil, born in 2016.
We’ll have to wait until January to see how Melvin fares in this coveted new role, but he’s definitely got the support of the person who’s passing the torch.
“Craig, you are literally made for this job,” Kotb said. “You are that kind of good. You have all the things that this job needs. You’re the right person for it.”
