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New York (CNN) \u2014\u00a0Craig Melvin will begin his tenure as the co-anchor of NBC\u2019s \u201cToday\u201d show Monday, following the\u00a0departure of Hoda Kotb.<\/a>
Melvin is a familiar face to \u201cToday\u201d viewers, having been with the program in various roles for nearly 14 years.
Savannah Guthrie<\/span>\u00a0announced the news in November, saying that Today staff \u201cbroke into applause\u201d and it was one of the \u201cmost popular decisions NBC News has ever made.\u201d
Melvin, 45, said he was \u201cbeyond excited and grateful\u201d for the new role.
He is an \u201cintegral and beloved part of our family,\u201d Libby Leist, senior vice president of Today, said in a statement. \u201cFrom breaking news coverage in the field, to presidential interviews, to multiple Olympics and Super Bowls, Craig\u2019s shown he has the talent and the range to cover all that we do here at Today. And he does it without ever losing that Southern charm.\u201d
Kotb announced in September that she was stepping down from the co-anchor role after nearly a decade-long stint. \u201cIt was time for me to turn the page at 60,\u201d Kotb previously said. \u201cI decided this is the right time for me to move on.
Kotb told Melvin in her final show Friday that he\u2019s earned his new co-anchor position and joked that she will be \u201cdead asleep\u201d on Monday when he starts.<\/span>
She also co-hosted the 10 am hour with Jenna Bush Hager. NBC announced said that the fourth hour will be renamed \u201cJenna & Friends\u201d\u00a0featuring a stint of guest co-hosts \u2014 including actors Keke Palmer, Eva Longoria and Scarlett Johansson \u2014 until a permanent co-host is named.<\/span>
To report an error or typo, email news@komu.com<\/a>.<\/em>
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