The Truth Behind The Rumors: Is Craig Melvin Leaving The Today Show?

The short and definitive answer to the swirling question is no, Craig Melvin is not leaving The Today Show. In fact, the popular broadcast journalist has not only renewed his commitment to NBC News but has recently been elevated to one of the most prestigious positions in morning television. The persistent rumors of his departure, which gained significant traction throughout late 2024 and early 2025, were ironically fueled by a major career promotion and subsequent, temporary absences.

As of December 2025, Craig Melvin is firmly entrenched as the co-anchor of the main 7 a.m. and 8 a.m. hours of the flagship program, a role he officially stepped into in January 2025. This move solidified his position as a core pillar of the network’s morning lineup, making any suggestion of an exit entirely false and misleading. The confusion surrounding his status is a classic case of social media speculation misinterpreting a career upgrade as a career change.

Craig Melvin: A Comprehensive Biography and Career Profile

Craig Delano Melvin is a celebrated American broadcast journalist known for his versatile roles across NBC News and MSNBC. His genial on-screen persona and sharp interviewing skills have made him a staple of morning television for over a decade.

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• Full Name: Craig Delano Melvin
• Date of Birth: May 20, 1979
• Hometown: Columbia, South Carolina
• Parents: Lawrence and Betty Melvin
• Education: Wofford College (Spartanburg, SC)
• Early Career: Melvin began his career in journalism early, first joining WISTV in Columbia as a high school student. He later worked for KTVK in Phoenix and WRC-TV in Washington, D.C., before joining NBC News.
• NBC News/MSNBC Milestones:
  • Joined MSNBC in 2011.
  • Became a news anchor on the main *Today Show* in August 2018.
  • Named a permanent co-host of the *3rd Hour of Today* in October 2018.
  • Major Promotion (2025): Named co-anchor of the main *Today Show* (7 a.m. and 8 a.m. hours), replacing Hoda Kotb, starting January 13, 2025.
  • Current Roles (as of late 2025): Co-anchor of *Today* (7-9 a.m.), Co-host of the *3rd Hour of Today*, and an anchor for *MSNBC Live*.

  The Promotion That Sparked the 'Leaving' Rumors

  The intense speculation about Craig Melvin’s future on *The Today Show* can be traced directly to one of the biggest personnel shifts in morning television in years: the retirement of veteran host Hoda Kotb.

  Replacing a Legend: The Hoda Kotb Transition

  In November 2024, NBC News announced that Hoda Kotb would be retiring from her main co-anchor duties in January 2025. The network quickly named Craig Melvin as her successor, a clear signal of their confidence in him as a leading face of the network.

  Melvin officially joined Savannah Guthrie as the permanent co-anchor for the show's most-watched hours (7 a.m. and 8 a.m.) on January 13, 2025. This promotion came with a significant salary increase, placing him among the highest-paid anchors in morning television.

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  The 'Next Chapter' Misunderstanding

  Prior to the official announcement, Melvin shared an emotional social media post about embarking on a "next chapter." This vague but heartfelt message was immediately seized upon by fans and news outlets, leading to the viral, yet completely inaccurate, conclusion that he was leaving the show. The 'next chapter' was, in reality, his massive promotion to the main news desk in Studio 1A.

  Explaining Craig Melvin's Recent Temporary Absences and 'Career Pivot'

  Even after his promotion, the rumors continued to flare up every time Melvin was absent from the *Today Show* desk. These temporary absences are the second main driver of the "Is Craig Melvin leaving?" searches in 2025.

  The Nature of a Top-Tier Anchor's Schedule

  As a high-profile national correspondent and anchor for both NBC News and MSNBC, Melvin's schedule is incredibly demanding and often requires him to step away from the New York City studio for various assignments.

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  • Temporary Assignments: Melvin frequently takes on special reporting assignments and temporary roles within the broader NBCUniversal media projects, which naturally pull him away from the morning show.
  • Personal Time: Like all anchors, Melvin takes scheduled vacations and personal days. For example, his absence in May 2025 was tied to his birthday and personal celebrations.
  • The 'Major Career Switch-Up': Just months after his promotion, reports surfaced that Melvin had announced a "major career switch-up" or "career pivot." This was not a departure from *Today*, but rather an expansion of his duties, likely involving a new long-form documentary, podcast, or special series project outside of his daily anchor role. This is common for top-tier talent seeking to build topical authority in new content areas.

  In short, his occasional absence is a feature of his expanded, multi-platform role, not a sign of contract negotiations or a permanent move away from the *Today Show*. He continues to appear daily alongside co-hosts Savannah Guthrie, Al Roker, and Carson Daly on the main show, and on the *3rd Hour of Today*.

  The Undeniable Future of Craig Melvin at NBC News

  The narrative surrounding Craig Melvin's career in 2025 is one of professional triumph and expansion, not departure. His move to the main co-anchor chair is the clearest possible evidence of NBC's long-term investment in him.

  The journalist has moved beyond his previous roles on *Weekend Today* and is now a central figure in the network's most important news programming. Any social media speculation that suggests he is leaving is simply outdated or misinformed, failing to account for his significant and recent promotion. Craig Melvin is not going anywhere; he is just getting started in his new, highly visible role, continuing to bring his signature style to millions of viewers every morning. His expanded duties across morning television and MSNBC cement his status as a key broadcast journalist for the network for the foreseeable future.