The Two New Faces: Who Is Taking Hoda Kotb's Place On The Today Show?

The question of "who is taking Hoda's place" became one of the biggest talking points in morning television circles throughout 2025, following the surprising and emotional departure of veteran host Hoda Kotb from her dual roles on the Today Show. After months of speculation, guest hosts, and intense media scrutiny, NBC News officially announced not one, but two established broadcast journalists who would step into the massive void left by the beloved anchor. As of this current date, December 12, 2025, the new era of the Today Show is fully underway with a new lineup.

The network made a strategic decision to split Kotb’s responsibilities, which spanned both the main hours of Today and the highly popular fourth hour alongside Jenna Bush Hager. The two journalists chosen to carry the torch are familiar faces to the NBC audience: Sheinelle Jones and Craig Melvin. This shift marks one of the most significant shake-ups in the show's history, signaling a fresh chapter for the long-running morning program.

Meet the Successors: Sheinelle Jones and Craig Melvin Biography Profile

The decision to replace Hoda Kotb with two internal candidates speaks volumes about NBC’s confidence in their existing talent pool. Both Sheinelle Jones and Craig Melvin are seasoned professionals with deep roots in broadcast journalism and a proven rapport with the Today Show audience. They are now tasked with maintaining the warmth, gravitas, and chemistry that defined Kotb’s tenure.

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Sheinelle Jones: The New Fourth Hour Co-Host

• Full Name: Sheinelle Marie Jones
• Born: April 19, 1978
• Age (as of Dec 2025): 47
• Role: Permanent Co-Host of the fourth hour of Today (with Jenna Bush Hager)
• Career Highlights: Jones is an American journalist, news anchor, and correspondent for NBC News. She began her career with an internship at a CBS newsroom in high school. Her early professional work included anchoring and reporting roles at WICS in Springfield, Illinois, and KOKI-TV, the FOX affiliate in Tulsa. She gained significant recognition as an anchor for *Good Day Philadelphia*. Jones officially joined NBC News in 2014, initially working on the weekend edition of Today before becoming a co-host of the third hour of the program. Her promotion to the fourth hour is the culmination of over a decade of dedication to the network.

Craig Melvin: The Main Today Show Anchor

• Full Name: Craig Delano Melvin
• Born: May 20, 1979
• Age (as of Dec 2025): 46
• Role: Co-Anchor on the main hours of the Today Show (with Savannah Guthrie)
• Career Highlights: Melvin is a highly respected American broadcast journalist and anchor for NBC News and MSNBC. A native of Columbia, South Carolina, he began his broadcasting journey in 2001 at his local station, WIS, where he worked as an anchor and reporter. He later moved to WRC-TV in Washington, D.C., before joining the national NBC News team in 2011. Since then, he has served as a daytime anchor for MSNBC and a correspondent for NBC News. Prior to taking Hoda’s place, Melvin was already a co-host of the third hour of Today, making his transition to the earlier hours a natural progression. His work has been praised for its journalistic integrity and calm, authoritative delivery.

The Split Succession: Why Two Anchors Replaced One Icon

Hoda Kotb’s departure in January 2025 was not merely a change in personnel; it was the end of an era that had seen her become one of the most recognizable and beloved faces on morning television. Her last day on the show was Friday, January 10, 2025. Her move, which she described as a desire to pursue a "quieter, more meaningful chapter," left two major co-hosting positions vacant: the 7-9 AM main show and the 10-11 AM fourth hour, *Today with Hoda & Jenna*.

NBC’s decision to appoint two different anchors to these roles was a calculated move to stabilize both broadcasts. The two roles require slightly different skill sets and on-air personalities:

Craig Melvin’s Role in the Main Hours (7-10 AM)

The primary hours of the Today Show, particularly the 7-9 AM slot, are the most news-heavy and high-stakes. This slot requires a journalist with strong breaking news chops and the ability to pivot seamlessly between hard news, politics, and lighter lifestyle segments. Craig Melvin, with his background as an MSNBC anchor and a veteran NBC News correspondent, was the ideal choice to share co-anchoring duties with Savannah Guthrie. His experience in covering major national and international stories provides the journalistic gravitas needed to lead the network’s flagship morning news program.

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Melvin’s promotion ensures a smooth transition and maintains the credibility of the main broadcast. His existing presence on the third hour of Today also meant the audience was already familiar with his style and chemistry with the other anchors, including Savannah Guthrie and Al Roker, minimizing the disruption caused by Kotb’s exit.

Sheinelle Jones’ Role in the Fourth Hour (Hoda & Jenna)

The fourth hour of Today, now officially *Today with Jenna and Sheinelle*, is a different beast entirely. It’s known for its relaxed, conversational, and deeply personal tone. Jenna Bush Hager and Hoda Kotb cultivated a unique, authentic friendship that viewers adored, making the replacement process particularly challenging. The network famously used over 60 different guest co-hosts in the months following Kotb’s departure to test chemistry and gauge audience reaction.

Sheinelle Jones was ultimately chosen to permanently join Jenna Bush Hager, an announcement that was met with widespread approval from fans and critics alike. Jones’s warm, empathetic, and relatable on-air personality, which she honed during her time on the third hour of Today, makes her a perfect fit for the intimate, light-hearted nature of the fourth hour. Her established friendship with Jenna Bush Hager off-camera was a key factor, as the success of the 10 AM hour depends entirely on the genuine connection between the co-hosts. The new partnership, which officially began in early 2026, is set to bring a fresh, dynamic energy to the popular slot.

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The Future of the Today Show and Topical Authority

The changes implemented following Hoda Kotb's exit are part of a broader strategy by NBC News to solidify the Today Show’s topical authority in the competitive morning show landscape. By promoting internal, highly respected journalists, the network minimizes the risk associated with bringing in external talent.

The new line-up leverages the strengths of its core team:

• Savannah Guthrie & Craig Melvin: A formidable pairing for hard news and high-profile interviews in the crucial 7-9 AM window.
• Al Roker & Carson Daly: Providing continuity and beloved personalities across the early and middle hours.
• Jenna Bush Hager & Sheinelle Jones: Offering a dose of uplifting, conversational, and engaging lifestyle content in the final hour.

This strategic placement of talent ensures that all hours of the broadcast maintain a distinct identity while benefiting from the collective star power of NBC’s morning hosts. The promotion of Sheinelle Jones and Craig Melvin is not just a replacement; it's a recalibration designed to ensure the Today Show remains a dominant force in morning television for years to come, building on the legacy that Hoda Kotb helped create.

The transition proved that Hoda Kotb’s influence was so significant it required two seasoned professionals to fill her shoes, underscoring her monumental impact on the program and setting the stage for the next generation of Today Show excellence.