Craig Melvin revealed he questioned Hoda Kotb about whether she chose to leave 'Today' when he learned of her exit from the NBC morning show

Hoda Kotb put her writing skills to good use before leaving TODAY by penning a letter to her successor. Ahead of Hoda’s last day on Jan. 10, she wrote a heartfelt poem to Craig Melvin for him to read as he takes over as co-anchor of TODAY alongside Savannah Guthrie on Jan. 13.

Though Hoda Kotb has officially left Today, her presence is still heavily felt around the show’s set! The longtime TV host wrote a letter to Craig Melvin, who replaced her in the coanchor seat on the program on Monday.

With Hoda Kotb officially out of the Today show, longtime viewers have turned their attention to Craig Melvin, the morning news show’s longtime personality who has taken over as Savannah Guthrie‘s new co-anchor.

Craig Melvin's debut as co-anchor of Today proved to be an emotional one. On Monday, January 13, the 45-year-old broadcast journalist — who began his first day in his new gig — received a video message and a handwritten letter from his predecessor, Hoda Kotb, whose last day was Friday, January 10.

Hoda Kotb left her TODAY family with full hearts and years of fond memories — but she also left behind some gross mementos, as Savannah Guthrie and Craig Melvin revealed during their Tonight Show visit on January 15.

Craig Melvin shined during his first day on the job as Hoda Kotb’s replacement on Today on Monday. The NBC personality sat next to Savannah Guthrie at the news desk to welcome viewers to the program during the first episode since Hoda’s departure.

Craig Melvin is stepping into a new role at Today after being part of the morning show family since 2018. After Hoda Kotb announced her departure from Today in September 2024, Melvin was named as the morning show’s new coanchor alongside Savannah Guthrie.