Meet Craig Melvin’s parents, Lawrence and Betty Jo

TODAY co-anchor Craig Melvin is the man of the hour. Actually… hours.

Savannah Guthrie announced on November 14 that Craig will take over Hoda Kotb’s duties as co-anchor of TODAY in the 7 p.m. hours. 7 and at 8, from Monday 13 January 2025.

“The larger staff found out this morning and people erupted in applause,” Savannah said. “This is one of the most popular decisions NBC News has ever made!”

Humbly accepting the accolades, Craig said: “I spoke to mum and dad yesterday and I’m grateful they’re still young enough and healthy enough to see this, to enjoy the fruits of their labour.”

Craig continued to his co-hosts: “You all know my backstory.”

If you’ve never heard how Craig grew up, here’s more about Craig’s mom and dad.

Craig Melvin’s father, Lawrence Melvin

The fact that his father, Lawrence Melvin, is now a picture-perfect “PopPop” to Craig’s kids — 10-year-old Delano and 8-year-old Sybil — is something Craig didn’t think he’d ever see. Because those weren’t the Pops that 45-year-old Craig grew up with.

Craig wrote about his poor relationship with his alcoholic, absentee father and their journey to reconciliation in his book, “POPS: Learning to be a Son and a Father.”

Suffering from a host of addictions, Lawrence gained control of what Craig calls “the monkey on his back” by getting sober and making amends with family members in the late 60s.

The book recounts the times – over and over – when Father Lawrence didn’t show up for Craig and his brother, Ryan.

He tells the story of how his friends created the nickname “Ghost” for his father because he was never around. Craig writes in his book:

“The nickname really bothered me. Most of my other friends, their dads were around. I had written mine off. It got to the point where I was like, ‘Oh hell. I’ve got a dad, but I don’t really have a father’ was like a ghost: there, but not there.”

Lawrence didn’t have it easy growing up himself.

“My dad’s mom had to take care of five kids,” Craig shared Thursday morning. “She ran shows and ran liquor for a long time – ended up in jail. My dad was born in jail. That didn’t define him.

“He overcame addiction in his life,” Craig added in a shaky voice. “He’s become one of my favorite people.”

Craig Melvin’s mother, Betty Jo Melvin

Although Craig’s book lists his father in the title, the person who stands out as the true hero of “POPS” is Craig’s mother.

In a 2021 interview with TODAY.com, Craig said he feels guilty that his first book is about his father, since his mother, Betty Jo Melvin, has been his rock his whole life.

“The reality is that for most of my life she played the role of Mom AND Pops,” he said. “And here I was writing more than 200 pages celebrating fatherhood and celebrating my dad climbing this mountain. And the reality is, I wouldn’t be where I am professionally and personally if it hadn’t been for my mom.

“It was kind of hard because I know how much she sacrificed for us, for our family,” Melvin said, choking up during a phone call. “And here I go and write a tribute book to my father, who celebrates his three or four good years. And the reality is that she has given me 40 plus good years. And I struggle with that.”

While his alcoholic father worked in the cemetery at a post office, Craig’s mother, who was the first in her family to go to university, worked first as a teacher and later as a bank teller.

In his book, Craig wrote that Betty Jo would have to take over because Lawrence was either drunk or gambling or just absent. When Lawrence squandered tens of thousands of dollars on video poker and the bills went unpaid, Betty Jo got a second job to make ends meet.

Lawrence’s behavior took a toll on his marriage to Betty Jo, and at times Craig even tried to convince his mother to leave him.

“My mom has a saying,” Craig said. “It’s ‘We don’t sign.'”

She eventually got a master’s degree to make more money at her job. Betty Jo was also the reason the Melvins moved to a diverse neighborhood in a solid school district.

She was also the person who took care of the extended family, taking Craig and his little brother to church every Sunday, keeping them engaged in school and demanding that they be involved in other activities.

Lawrence’s behavior took a toll on his marriage to Betty Jo, and at times Craig even tried to convince his mother to leave him.

“My mom has a saying,” Craig said. “It’s ‘We don’t sign.'”