‘Today’ Set ‘Cheered’ As Craig Melvin Named Co-Anchor After Hoda Kotb Exit

Craig Melvin is welcomed to his new Today show concert with open arms.

On November 14, it was announced that Melvin would take over for Hoda Kotb as co-anchor on Today. A source tells PEOPLE that this decision was well received and provided insight into how staff reacted to the news.

“Everyone on set cheered when the announcement was made,” says the source. “The whole staff loves him.”

Savannah Guthrie, who Melvin will co-host with, shared a similar sentiment while announcing the news on air, noting that the staff “burst into applause” when they found out.

Kotb leaving Today after 17 years, praised Melvin as her replacement.

“You were made for this job,” she told him live on air. “You are literally made for this job. You are such a good one. You have all the things that this job needs. You are the right person for it.”

Melvin, who will start in his new position in January, returned the praise to Kotb, saying, “It means a lot to inherit this from you. You helped save the show and to be able to sit next to someone who I knew was smart for years and suddenly you start working with her and you’re like, ‘Wait a minute, she’s funny too!'”

He also called Kotb and Guthrie “sisters I never knew I needed.”

“I knew this day would come,” Al Roker added. “I am so proud and so happy for you right now. You are so worthy of this. I am at a loss for words. I love you.”

This is not Melvin’s first role on the NBC talk show — he is currently hosting the third hour of Today along with Al Roker, Sheinelle Jones and Dylan Dreyer. With this new role, he will host three hours in a row.

During the Nov. 14 announcement, Melvin looked back on his journey as host and thanked all of his co-anchors.

“I am beyond excited and grateful,” he began. “I want to thank NBC and the people here who deemed me worthy. And I have to start by thanking the man above, thank my Lord above and his son Jesus. I just enjoyed a lifetime of blessings and this is the latest in a long line of blessings I spoke with Mom and Dad yesterday and I am thankful that they are still young enough to see this and enjoy the fruits of their labor.”

He then reflected on his family, praising his father for being born in prison and overcoming addiction, calling him one of his “favorite people”. He also acknowledged his mother for everything she “sacrificed” to provide for her children.

Melvin went on to thank his children, son Delano and daughter Sybil, and his wife Lindsay Czarniak, a sports broadcaster, for being there for him during the “long days and short nights” he worked.

“(Lindsay) has been there for me from the beginning,” he said. “People watch us on TV every morning, what they don’t see are the people behind those cameras and underneath. We have the best team in TV news and it’s an honor to be a part of it.”

Before going into a commercial break, he added, “I’ll try not to screw it up!”

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Today airs weekday mornings on NBC (check local listings).