Craig Melvin Named Hoda Kotb’s ‘At this time’ Alternative Beginning in January

Craig Melvin will co-anchor the At this time present alongside Savannah Guthrie following information of Hoda Kotb‘s departure.

Practically two months after Kotb introduced that she was stepping away from her anchoring duties after 17 years to deal with her kids, NBC named Melvin, 45, her everlasting substitute on Thursday, Nov. 14.

Melvin — who at present hosts the third hour of At this time alongside Al Roker, Sheinelle Jones and Dylan Dreyer — will host three hours in a row beginning on Monday, Jan. 13, following Kotb’s final day on the present, Friday, Jan. 10.

The 2-time Emmy Award winner and South Carolina native began working on Today in 2018 when he was promoted to a weekday information anchor, after engaged on MSNBC and NBC Information. Melvin married sports activities broadcaster Lindsay Czarniak in 2011, and so they share two youngsters, son Delano and daughter Sybil.

“Craig is a sleeper expertise. He’s very well-rounded. He has all of the stuff you need to fill this function. Hoda has two actually large jobs and so they’re taking it one step at a time, figuring all of it out,” a supply tells PEOPLE.

The fourth hour of At this time, which Kotb at present co-hosts alongside Jenna Bush Hager, will characteristic a rotating panel of visitor co-hosts.

“It is going to be At this time with Jenna and Associates till a brand new host is known as,” the supply tells PEOPLE, noting that it’ll additionally characteristic “enjoyable surprises.”

“It’ll be a full-bodied rotation of individuals. Some anticipated, some who’re within the household already and a few surprising. They do not know the place it should land,” says the supply.

In a letter to staff, Kotb introduced her departure from the At this time present, saying it was “the suitable choice, nevertheless it’s a painful one.”

“My broadcast profession has been past significant, a brand new decade of my life lies forward, and now my daughters and my mother want and deserve an even bigger slice of my time pie. I’ll miss you all desperately, however I’m prepared and excited,” she mentioned, noting that she’s going to nonetheless be part of the community in some capability.

“Fortunately and gratefully, I plan to stay part of the NBC household, the longest work relationship I’ve been fortunate sufficient to carry near my coronary heart. I’ll be round. How might I not? Household is household and also you all will all the time be part of mine,” she wrote.

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At this time airs weekday mornings on NBC (examine native listings).