TAMPA, Fla. (WFLA) – Craig Melvin will take over for Hoda Kotb as co-anchor of “Today” after Kotb announced in September she was leaving the show after nearly two decades.
Melvin, who currently co-hosts the third hour of “Today,” on Thursday announced his new role co-hosting the 7 a.m. to 9 a.m. hours on the show.
Kotb said Melvin was “literally made for this job.”
“You have all the things this job needs,” Kotb said. “You are the right person for it.”
Melvin is a familiar face to “Today” show viewers. In addition to hosting the show’s third hour, he is the news anchor during the first two hours. He will continue hosting the third hour with Al Roker, Dylan Dreyer and Sheinelle Jones.
“He’s been 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’s shown he has the talent and the range to cover all that we do here at ‘Today.’ And he does it without ever losing that Southern charm.”
Melvin said he was “beyond excited and grateful” to be selected as co-anchor.
Kotb will step down as co-anchor on Jan. 10. She has co-anchored “Today” since 2018 when she joined Savannah Guthrie to become the first all-woman anchor team. NBC News hasn’t revealed the pick for Kotb’s other role, co-anchoring the 10 a.m. hour, which she does with Jenna Bush Hager.
Guthrie described Melvin as “talented, wonderful, hard-working” and “most worthy” of taking over for the departing co-anchor.
On air Thursday, Melvin said, “I’ve enjoyed just a lifetime of blessings and this is the latest in a long line of blessings.”
Of Kotb and Guthrie, he said: “You guys are the sisters I never thought I needed.”
The Associated Press contributed to this report.
