SUDDEN GOODBYE ON AIR! Savannah Guthrie STUNS Today Show Fans As She ANNOUNCES Craig Melvin’s SHOCK BREAK And UNEXPECTED REPLACEMENT Steps Into His SPOTLIGHT

Savannah Guthrie announced her co-anchor Craig Melvin’s replacement last week(Image: 2025 NBCUniversal Media, LLC.)
News broke recently that NBC News broadcaster Craig Melvin would be taking a brief hiatus from the Today show, and viewers are eager to know who his replacement will be.

Melvin’s co-anchor, Savannah Guthrie, revealed the news on April 10, telling viewers that Melvin would be taking some time off to enjoy Easter break. Melvin, she said, would be spending some time with his wife Lindsay Czarniak, whom he married on October 15, 2011, and their kids, Delano and Sybil.

While Guthrie never gave an exact date for when Melvin would be back, she did reveal his temporary replacement. Mike Tirico will step in to fill Melvin’s spot on The Today Show.

The NBC Sports commentator has had a busy week at the Masters, which Guthrie referenced saying: “And by the way, we’ve got some special news!”

“After Mike gets his fill of golf, all next week he’s going to join us right here in Studio 1A. Craig’s going on Easter break with his kids. Tirico, you are going to fill in and co-host!”

Craig Melvin stepped away from the show earlier this year for another NBC assignment(Image: Nathan Congleton/NBC via Getty Images)
Tirico announced Irish golf legend Rory McIlroy’s Masters win yesterday, excitedly saying on SiriusXM Radio, “It’s a Grand Slam roar at Augusta National! Rory McIlroy, on his knees, bent down in emotion, clutching his head. He’s won the Masters. He’s won all the Grand Slam events. He’s the sixth in the history of the game to enter golf’s … greatest … group.”

This isn’t the first time Melvin has sparked departure rumors. Back in March, he was absent from the show for a short period causing viewers to wonder on social media, “where is Craig?”

It was later revealed that Melvin was attending the 2026 Milan Cortina Winter Olympic Games venue for another NBC assignment. Co-host Dylan Dreyer was also away on assignment in France for some time this year.

Another co-host, Sheinelle Jones, also took time off from the show earlier this year, citing a family illness. Sheinelle wrote on Instagram, “Hi everybody… I sincerely appreciate all of you who have reached out while I’ve been absent from the show.”

“I want to share with you that I’m taking time to deal with a family health matter. “It’s not lost on me how lucky I am to have not only the support of my Today Show family, but to also have all of you. Your kindness means so much to me. I’ll see you soon. Love, Sheinelle.”