Craig Melvin | |
|---|---|
 Melvin in 2016 | |
| Born | Craig Delano Melvin (1979-05-20)May 20, 1979 (age 46) Columbia,South Carolina, U.S. |
| Education | Wofford College (BA) |
| Occupation | Journalist |
| Years active | 1995–present |
| Known for | NBC News andMS NOW anchor and reporter |
| Spouse | |
| Children | 2 |
Craig Delano Melvin[1] (born May 20, 1979) is an Americanbroadcast journalist and anchor atNBC News. From August 2018 until January 2025, he was a news anchor on NBC'sToday, in October 2018, a co-host ofToday Third Hour before being made permanent host in January 2019, and in January 2025, he became a co-anchor for the first and second hours ofToday. Melvin also serves as a fill-in & substitute anchor for theNBC Nightly News.
Craig Delano Melvin was born on May 20, 1979, inColumbia, South Carolina, to Lawrence and Betty Melvin.[2][3][4] He has a younger brother, Ryan Melvin,[5] and an older half-brother, Rev. Lawrence Meadows,[6] who died fromcolon cancer on December 9, 2020 at the age of 43.[7]
In 1996, he was elected as the first African-American president ofKey Club International.[8] In 2001, he received aBachelor of Arts degree in government fromWofford College.[9][10] He is a member ofKappa Sigmafraternity and also served as a senior counselor for South Carolina's PalmettoBoys State program.[11][12][13]
Melvin first joinedNBC-affiliateWIS-TV inColumbia, South Carolina as a high school student, working as an "Our Generation Reporter" from 1995 to 1997.[14]
After college, he returned to WIS in July 2001 as a news photographer and producer, before becoming a reporter for the station's morning news team, producing his "Craig Cam" live segments.[14] He was later promoted to news anchor for the weekend morning newscast and the weekend evening newscasts before heading the weekday newscasts.[14] At WIS-TV, Melvin also created several series that covered issues affecting education and the homeless in Columbia, among others.[15][16]
In July 2008, Melvin left WIS-TV to join NBC'sowned-and-operated station inWashington, D.C.,WRC-TV, where he anchored the weekend evening newscasts.[17][18]
Three years later, in July 2011, Melvin departed WRC-TV for MSNBC to become a daytime anchor, while also contributing to NBC News as a reporter.[18] In 2012, Melvin anchored MSNBC's coverage of thenational conventions for theRepublican andDemocratic parties, as well asTV One's Election Night coverage, in partnership with NBC News.[19] He also covered theSandy Hook shootings in December 2012.[20] In 2013, he covered theMoore tornado in May,[21] as well as the crash ofAsiana Airlines Flight 214[22] and theGeorge Zimmerman trial in July.[23][24] In 2014, Melvin covered theshooting of Michael Brown in August[25] and themurder of Hannah Graham in September.[26] In 2015, he covered theCharleston church shooting[27] as well as thedeath of Freddie Gray in June.[28] In 2016, Melvin covered themass shooting of Dallas police officers in July[29] and was also among the NBC reporters covering theSummer Olympics inRio de Janeiro in August.[30] That same year, he also succeededJosé Díaz-Balart as an anchor ofMSNBC Live, which would becomeMSNBC Reports.[31]
In 2017, Melvin hosted his own true crime seriesDateline: Secrets Uncovered. It premiered onOxygen in July 21.
In 2018, Melvin reported fromPyeongchang County for NBC's coverage of theWinter Olympics in February.[32] He was also promoted to weekday news anchor onToday in September[33] and formed the cast of hosts headingToday Third Hour in October.[34]
In December 2020, Melvin co-hosted NBC's annual broadcast of the lighting of theRockefeller Center Christmas Tree.[35]
In March 2022, Melvin announced he would be leaving his hour ofMSNBC Reports to focus onToday.[36]
On January 13, 2025, Melvin stepped into the co-anchor chair alongsideSavannah Guthrie and replacedHoda Kotb, who left the program the week before.[37]
Melvin was slated to host the2026 Milan-Cortina Winter Olympics, beginning inMilan on February 6, 2026, however, due to the disappearance of Savannah Guthrie's mother,Nancy Guthrie (which occurred on January 31, 2026), Melvin decided to withdraw from Olympics coverage and remain in New York City.Ahmed Fareed will replace Melvin as host as a result.[38]
Melvin married then-ESPN sports anchor and former WRC-TV sports reporterLindsay Czarniak on October 15, 2011.[39] They reside inConnecticut and have a son, Delano (“Del”), who was born in March 2014,[40] and a daughter, Sybil (“Sibby”), who was born in November 2016.[41] Melvin is a Christian and attends a congregational church.[42]
In 1996, Melvin received anAssociated Press award for his story on innovative teaching, making him one of the youngest recipients to ever receive such an award.[17]
In 2003 and 2005, Melvin shared in theEmmy Awards won by WIS-TV for having the best newscast.[17]
In 2006, Melvin received anEmmy Award for his work as news anchor.[16]
In 2007, he was named "Best Anchor" by the South Carolina Broadcaster's Association.[17][43]
| Media offices | ||
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| Preceded by | Today Co-Anchor January 13, 2025 – present Served alongside:Savannah Guthrie | Succeeded by Incumbent |
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| National | |
