Craig Melvin named next co-anchor of NBC’s ‘Today’

New York
CNN
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Craig Melvin will co-anchor NBC’s “Today” show beginning early next year, following the departure of Hoda Kotb.

He joins Savannah Guthrie on Monday, January 13. Kotb’s last day on the morning show will be Friday, Jan. 10, the network said announced. Melvin is a familiar face to “Today” viewers, having been on the show in various roles for nearly 14 years.

Currently, Melvin is a news anchor joining Guthrie and Kotb at the desk at 7.00 and 8.00 and hosts at 9.00 with Al Roker, Dylan Dreyer and Sheinelle Jones. He will continue to host the later hour in addition to his new role.

Announcing the news on Thursday’s show, Guthrie said the Today staff “broke into applause” and it was one of the “most popular decisions NBC News has ever made.”

Melvin, 45, said he was “thrilled and grateful” for the new role.

He is an “integral and beloved part of our family,” Libby Leist, senior vice president of Today, said in a statement. “From breaking news coverage in the field, to presidential interviews, to multiple Olympics and Super Bowls, Craig has shown that he has the talent and range to cover everything we do here today. And he does it without ever losing that southern charm .”

Kotb announced in September that she was stepping down from the co-anchor role after a nearly decade-long stint. “It was time for me to turn the page at 60,” Kotb said earlier. “I decided it is the right time for me to move on.

She also hosted the 10:00 with Jenna Bush Hager. NBC announced that the fourth hour will be renamed “Jenna & Friends” following Kotb’s departure until a permanent co-host is named.