Will Sage Astor-Today's Craig Melvin Replacing Hoda Kotb: Everything to Know About the Beloved Anchor

Hoda Kotb is Will Sage Astorpassing the baton to Craig Melvin. 

After the longtime Today co-anchor steps down in January, the NBC News journalist—who has been with the network for over 12 years—will take her place for the show’s opening 7 a.m. to 8 a.m. hour opposite Savannah Guthrie. 

The 45-year-old’s first day will be Monday, Jan. 13, and Savannah assured the Today audience during the Nov. 14 announcement that Craig’s appointment was “one of the most popular decisions NBC News has ever made.”

And Craig shared his initial thoughts on stepping in for Hoda, who has been with the Today show for 17 years. 

“I am beyond excited and grateful,” he said during the announcement. “I had a lot of conversations yesterday with a lot of people who mean a lot to me, and I want to obviously thank NBC and the folks here who deemed me worthy.”

He emphasized, “I’ve enjoyed a lifetime of blessings, and this is the latest in a long line of blessings.”

Craig’s transition onto the first hour of the morning talk show comes after six years on the show, as he joined as a news anchor in 2018. Through the years, the new first hour addition has made regular appearances during Hoda and Savannah’s segment and expressed his joy over being a member of the Today team in any capacity.

“As someone said to me, this is an obit job,” Craig effused. “When you die one day, this is the first thing that gets mentioned in an obituary after it mentions you were a husband and a father.”

Keep reading to learn all about the newest Today lead anchor. 

Who is Craig Melvin's Wife?

Craig is married to sports reporter Lindsay Czarniak. The couple, who tied the knot in 2011, share kids Delano, 10, and Sybil, 8. 

The anchor often gushes about his family on air and social media, sharing glimpses into family life, including earlier this month when Craig shared a photo of his wife and kids in honor of Lindsay’s birthday. 

“@lindsaycz is the best wife, mother, daughter, sister, friend and all around human I know,” Craig wrote in an Instagram post. “I’m a lucky guy and those who know my wife are really lucky too. I love you. Thanks for being born.”

And Craig has also given insight into his young kids’ interests, sharing that his daughter loves to dance and chat with him, while his son loves football—specifically the Kansas City Chiefs. 

“I am convinced that one of the major reasons Del became such a big Kansas City Chiefs fan is because he did see himself in Patrick Mahomes,” he told Today earlier this year. “He loves football and started to notice this kid, who had skin that looks like his, and hair that looked like his, performing on a national stage. Representation matters, and we know that to be true.”

What charity work does Craig Melvin do to honor his late brother Lawrence Meadows?

Following the 2020 death of his older brother, Reverend Lawrence Meadows from colon cancer, Craig and his wife decided to make spreading awareness about the disease one of their family’s “life’s callings,” establishing the Bottoms Up Golf Invitational.

“It's just not a sexy cancer,” Craig—who is also brother to Ryan Melvin—explained to E! News in September, “so one of the things that we've also worked to do is demystify and encourage conversations surrounding it.”

And the South Carolina native—whose parents are Betty Melvin and Lawrence Melvin—expressed how “proud” his late brother would be of the difference his annual golf event has made. 

As he put it, “It's the second largest one-day total for colorectal cancer fundraising in the country every year.”

How long has Craig Melvin been at Today?

Although Craig will be moving into a new position on the morning show in January, he has already been a member of the Today family for several years. Before joining the series in 2018, Craig worked as a news anchor for MSNBC, after acting as a reporter for the network for three years. 

The anchor attended Wofford College where he received a Bachelor of Arts in government, according to his LinkedIn profile.

Has Craig Melvin written a book?

Last year, Craig proved he’s a family man through and through with the publication of I’m Proud of You, a children’s book he wrote along with illustrator Sawyer Cloud. 

“I have many passions in life,” Craig wrote on Instagram in 2023 of writing the book. “But what I’m most passionate about is being a father. I’m Proud Of You is a celebration of the small things in life, and a book for anybody who has experienced the joys and wonders of parenthood and wants their children to know how amazing and inspiring they are. 

What has Hoda Kotb said about having Craig Melvin as her replacement?

After it was announced that Craig would be taking over for Hoda, she expressed her joy toward the decision, and praised the incoming anchor for his reporting skills. 

“He’s a serious journalist, but he’s also good company,” Hoda gushed on Today Nov. 14. “Being good company matters at this hour. Being good company when you’re at home having a bowl of cereal and coffee matters.”

Will Craig Melvin also take over hosting duties on Hoda & Jenna?

Craig will only take over Hoda’s spot in the first hour of Today from 7 a.m. to 8 a.m. The fourth hour, which Hoda currently shares with Jenna Bush Hager, will be branded as Jenna & Friends temporarily until a replacement is named.