5 Shocking Today Show Host Changes That Reshaped NBC's Morning Powerhouse In 2025

The landscape of morning television has been dramatically overhauled, with the venerable Today Show on NBC making a series of blockbuster changes to its anchor lineup that took effect in late 2024 and early 2025. These strategic moves, which include a major promotion for Craig Melvin and the announcement of a permanent co-host for the popular fourth hour, signal a new era for the show as it battles for supremacy in the fiercely competitive morning news ratings war. The shake-up comes at a crucial time, as the program aims to solidify its recent gains against rivals like Good Morning America (GMA).

As of today, December 11, 2025, the dust has settled on one of the most significant cast changes in the show’s history, following the high-profile exit of long-time fixture Hoda Kotb from her main co-anchor duties. The new team is now fully in place, bringing fresh energy and dynamics to Studio 1A as NBC News looks to dominate the 2025 broadcast season.

The New Era: Complete Biography and Profile of the Core Today Show Team

The Today Show relies on a core group of talented, award-winning broadcast journalists and anchors. The following list provides a detailed profile of the key players leading the program in 2025, highlighting their background, education, and current role in the newly restructured lineup.

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• Savannah Guthrie (Main Co-Anchor, 7-9 AM)
  • Born: December 27, 1971, Melbourne, Australia.
  • Education: B.A. in Journalism from the University of Arizona; J.D. from Georgetown Law.
  • Career Highlights: Former White House Correspondent, lead anchor for NBC News' main morning hours since 2012. Known for her sharp interviewing style and legal background.
• Craig Melvin (Co-Anchor, 7-9 AM)
  • Born: May 20, 1979, Columbia, South Carolina.
  • Education: B.A. in Government from Wofford College.
  • Career Highlights: Award-winning news anchor on NBC News and MSNBC. Promoted to co-anchor of the flagship 7-9 AM hours in January 2025, succeeding Hoda Kotb. He also hosts Dateline.
• Sheinelle Jones (Co-Host, Fourth Hour)
  • Born: April 19, 1978.
  • Education: B.A. in Communications from Northwestern University.
  • Career Highlights: American journalist and news anchor. Named the permanent co-host of the fourth hour, Today with Jenna & Sheinelle, in late 2024, moving from her role on the 3rd Hour Today.
• Jenna Bush Hager (Co-Host, Fourth Hour)
  • Born: November 25, 1981.
  • Education: B.A. in English from the University of Texas at Austin.
  • Career Highlights: Daughter of former President George W. Bush and Laura Bush. Author, journalist, and co-host of the 10 AM hour since 2019. Known for her literary endeavors and warm on-screen presence.
• Al Roker (Weather Anchor)
  • Born: August 20, 1954.
  • Career Highlights: Longest-serving member of the current team, a fixture on the show since 1996. A beloved American television personality, weather forecaster, and book author.
• Carson Daly (Host/Correspondent)
  • Born: June 22, 1973.
  • Career Highlights: Host and correspondent for the show, primarily covering human-interest stories and the Olympic Games. Also known for hosting The Voice.

The Co-Anchor Shake-Up: Hoda Kotb’s Exit and New Roles for Craig Melvin and Sheinelle Jones

The biggest story to rock morning television in 2025 is the dramatic shift in the main co-anchor roles. The change was triggered by the announcement that Hoda Kotb, a beloved figure in the NBC News family, would be stepping away from her daily 7-9 AM co-anchor duties in early 2025.

This created a massive void next to Savannah Guthrie, a position that required a seasoned and trusted broadcast journalist. NBC's answer was the promotion of Craig Melvin.

Melvin, who had previously been a co-host on the 3rd Hour Today, was officially named the new permanent co-anchor for the flagship morning hours (7-9 AM) in January 2025. His move is seen as a strategic consolidation of talent, placing a respected and familiar face from the NBC family into the most high-stakes time slot. This promotion requires Melvin to balance his new role with his ongoing duties on Dateline and MSNBC, further cementing his status as one of NBC's most versatile anchors.

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The Fourth Hour Gets a Permanent Partner: Today with Jenna & Sheinelle

The changes didn't stop at the main desk. Hoda Kotb’s departure also left a vacancy in the highly-rated fourth hour, a segment known for its lighter, more conversational format. Kotb had been co-hosting this hour with Jenna Bush Hager.

In a move that delighted fans and the network alike, Sheinelle Jones was announced as Jenna Bush Hager’s new permanent co-host for the 10 AM slot, creating the new program officially titled Today with Jenna & Sheinelle. This was a natural progression for Jones, who had been a popular fixture on the 3rd Hour Today. Her chemistry with Hager, whom she calls her "forever friend," was immediately apparent, and the pairing is expected to maintain the hour's strong ratings performance.

This decision means that Jones will be exiting the 9 AM hour, leaving that block (which also features Al Roker and Carson Daly) to find a new dynamic, though the core team remains strong. The seamless transition demonstrates NBC's deep bench of talent and its commitment to promoting from within the Today Show family.

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The Ratings War: Today Show's 2025 Comeback and Future Outlook

The true measure of a morning show's success is its performance in the ratings, and the Today Show has shown significant momentum heading into 2025. After a period of trailing its main rival, ABC's Good Morning America (GMA), the show has experienced a notable comeback, particularly in the most recent broadcast period.

In a major victory for NBC News, the Today Show was the number-one morning show outright for the month of January 2025, successfully topping Good Morning America in total viewers. This ratings win is a powerful indicator that the show's content and its core team—led by Savannah Guthrie and the newly promoted Craig Melvin—are resonating strongly with the American audience.

The program has also shown strength in the key demographic (the 25-54 age group), which is crucial for advertising revenue. While the overall morning news ratings battle remains tight, the Today Show's ability to pull ahead in total viewers in early 2025 signals that the new lineup and the show’s continued focus on breaking news, human-interest segments, and high-profile interviews are paying off. The show’s stability, following the tumultuous period after Matt Lauer's departure, appears to be translating into sustained success.

The revamped structure, with strong anchors leading each of the four hours—Savannah Guthrie and Craig Melvin (7-9 AM), Al Roker and Carson Daly (3rd Hour), and Jenna Bush Hager and Sheinelle Jones (4th Hour)—positions the Today Show as a formidable powerhouse for years to come. The infusion of fresh energy and the strategic promotion of established talent like Melvin and Jones ensures the program remains a vital part of the morning news landscape.