By Daily Mail (U.S.) | Created at 2024-09-26 17:10:49 | Updated at 2024-09-30 19:34:03
4 days ago
When Hoda Kotb announced that she was stepping away from the Today show on Thursday morning, longtime fans of the series were left stunned and heartbroken.
But once the initial shock subsided, many began to wonder: Who will takeover her role as anchor?
Soon after, Today viewers erupted into a heated debate on social media over which star should replace Hoda when she officially departs in early 2025.
The TV icon, 60, shared the heartbreaking news live on air, explaining that she will give up her hosting duties next year so she can give 'a bigger piece of her time pie' to her daughters.
'My broadcast career has been beyond meaningful, a new decade of my life lies ahead, and now my daughters and my mom need and deserve a bigger slice of my time pie,' she explained on the show, before breaking down in tears.
When Hoda Kotb announced that she was stepping away from the Today show on Thursday morning, longtime fans of the series were left stunned and heartbroken
But once the initial shock subsided, many began to wonder: Who will takeover her role as anchor? Here are all the candidates for the role
'I will miss you all desperately, but I’m ready and excited.'
Hoda - who has been a part of NBC for 26 years and reportedly earns about $8 million a year - not only serves as one of the main anchors on Today, alongside Savannah Guthrie, but she also cohosts her own segment with Jenna Bush Hager, called Today with Hoda and Jenna.
So who is going to take her spot? Here are all the candidates for the role - and the one star who fans want most.
Craig Melvin
The top pick amongst fans seemed to be Craig Melvin, who became a news anchor for Today back in 2018.
Craig, 45, had a knack for journalism from a young age, and landed his first job as a reporter at NBC affiliate WIS-TV when he was in high school.
After graduating from Wofford College in South Carolina, he officially joined the network's morning news team, and for years, he slowly worked his way up before eventually switching to Washington, D.C.-based network WRC-TV.
In 2011, he joined MSNBC as a daytime anchor, and within his first year there, he covered a slew of massive events including the Republican and Democratic national conventions and election night.
Soon after, Today viewers erupted into a heated debate on social media over which star should replace Hoda, and the top pick amongst fans seemed to be Craig Melvin
Craig, 45, began cohosting Today's Third Hour in 2018 after spending years working as MSNBC. He's seen in 2018
He began cohosting Today's Third Hour in 2018.
Soon after news hit the web that Hoda was leaving, numerous social media users on X and Instagram said they wanted Craig to replace her.
'As far as I am concerned, there is only one replacement for Hoda. And that is Craig Melvin,' one Today fan wrote.
'I hope Craig Melvin fills her spot as co anchor,' someone else agreed.
'I will miss Hoda but really hope they give Craig his shot. He’s earned it,' another user added.
'Craig Melvin will be the best new anchor when Hoda Kotb steps down,' a fourth post read.
A fifth said, 'So gonna miss @hodakotb at the @TODAYshow, she's one of a kind, but if you all do not give that vacancy to @craigmelvin... That man deserves it.'
'Surely that's who it will be. Who doesn't love Craig?' a different person asked.
Sheinelle Jones
Sheinelle Jones, Craig's cohost on Today's Third Hour, was also suggested to replace Hoda by a slew of social media users
Sheinelle, 46, first joined Today as a part of Weekend Today, but was promoted to Today's Third Hour as a cohost in 2019
Sheinelle Jones, Craig's cohost on Today's Third Hour, was also suggested to replace Hoda by numerous social media users.
The 46-year-old started her career off at Springfield, Illinois, outlet WICS, and moved around quite a bit before landing her role at NBC in 2014.
She first joined Today as a part of Weekend Today, but was promoted to the Third Hour as a cohost in 2019.
'Hopefully NBC will ask Sheinelle or Craig to be the new anchor,' one person wrote on social media amid the Hoda news.
'I can see Sheinelle and Jenna ruling the fourth hour.'
'I really hope @SheinelleJones [is] next [in line],' someone else gushed.
'Let's go, Sheinelle Jones - you're up,' another post read.
Dylan Dreyer
Today's Third Hour cohost Dylan Dreyer is also a potential option to take over as anchor when Hoda departs
She joined NBC News in 2012 as a weather correspondent and a weekend cohost, and in 2019, she joined the Third Hour with Craig and Sheinelle
Today's Third Hour cohost Dylan Dreyer is also a potential candidate to take over as anchor when Hoda departs.
After graduating with a degree in meteorology from Rutgers University, Dylan, now 43, landed a job at Erie, Pennsylvania-based publication WICU-TV.
After that, she worked at WJAR-TV in Providence, Rhode Island, and WHDH in Boston, Massachusetts.
She joined NBC News in 2012 as a weather correspondent and a weekend cohost.
Then, in 2019, she became an anchor on the Third Hour with Craig and Sheinelle.
She also runs the Earth Odyssey with Dylan Dreyer broadcast on The More You Know segment of NBC.
Laura Jarrett
One social media user said Today should consider Weekend Today anchors Laura Jarrett or Peter Alexander for Hoda's role
Laura, 40, joined NBC in 2022; she's best known for breaking the news about former President Donald Trump's guilty falsifying business records verdict back in May
One social media user said Today should consider Weekend Today anchors Laura Jarrett or Peter Alexander for Hoda's role.
'They should replace her with Peter Alexander or Laura Jarrett. They are much more professional than anyone else,' they wrote.
Before her job at Today, Laura, 40 - the daughter of former Obama administration official Valerie Jarrett - worked at CNN, where she cohosted the show Early Start, which has since been renamed to CNN This Morning.
She joined NBC in 2022; she's best known for breaking the news about former President Donald Trump's guilty falsifying business records verdict back in May.
Peter Alexander
As for Peter, 48, he became the co-anchor of Weekend Today in 2018, and still serves as NBC's co-chief White House correspondent
As for Peter, 48, he's been working with NBC for two decades, starting at NBC News where he covered a plethora of world events.
In 2012, he became the NBC News White House correspondent, and spent two years traveling around the globe with President Barack Obama.
He became the co-anchor of Weekend Today in 2018, and he still serves as NBC's co-chief White House correspondent.
