If you’ve searched “Craig Melvin Wikipedia,” you’re probably looking for the full story on the man now sitting at the most-watched morning news desk in America. This article pulls together everything that’s publicly verified — his early life in South Carolina, how he climbed from a local TV station to NBC’s flagship morning show, who he’s married to, what he earns, and what’s happening with his career right now in 2026.
Let’s get into it.
Who Is Craig Melvin?
Craig Delano Melvin is an American broadcast journalist and the current co-anchor of NBC’s TODAY show. He’s been on television screens since his teenage years, starting out at a local NBC affiliate in his hometown of Columbia, South Carolina, and working his way up through Washington, D.C., MSNBC, and eventually NBC’s national morning show — one of the longest-running programs in American television history.
Most people searching for him right now are curious because of a big change that happened at the start of 2025: Craig stepped into the primary co-anchor seat on TODAY, replacing Hoda Kotb after she left the program in January of that year. That promotion — from the third-hour co-host chair to the main anchor desk alongside Savannah Guthrie — was one of the most talked-about moves at NBC in years.
Beyond the anchor chair, Craig is also an Emmy Award winner, a published author, a Dateline NBC host, and as of 2026, a podcast host. He’s the kind of journalist who has covered everything from presidential inaugurations to mass shooting scenes to Olympic Games — a reporter with genuine range.
Latest Update
Craig Melvin remains in the co-anchor seat on NBC’s TODAY, continuing to co-host the program with Savannah Guthrie. In May 2026, he was invited to deliver the commencement address at Villanova University’s 183rd graduation ceremony, held on May 19, 2026. Villanova also awarded him the honorary degree of Doctor of Humane Letters — a recognition that put a spotlight back on his career journey and his roots in South Carolina.
Earlier in 2026, Craig launched a podcast called Glass Half Full with Craig Melvin, featuring long-form conversations with well-known figures across sports and entertainment. Season 1 included guests such as Shaquille O’Neal, Shonda Rhimes, Carmelo Anthony, Malcolm Gladwell, and Dawn Staley, among others.
Confirmed: As of this date, there are no unverified claims, controversies, or breaking news items circulating about Craig Melvin that require clarification. His career status, family situation, and professional role are all stable and confirmed.
Craig Melvin — Full Profile
Family and Early Life
Craig was born and raised in Columbia, South Carolina — a fact he talks about openly and with clear pride. His father, Lawrence Melvin, worked shifts at the post office. His mother, Betty Melvin, was a teacher. He has a younger brother named Ryan and had an older half-brother named Lawrence, a reverend who passed away in 2020 from colon cancer.
By his own account, Craig discovered a love for broadcasting while still in his early teens. He got his first taste of broadcast work at NBC-affiliate WIS-TV in Columbia while still in high school — an unusually early start that told him this was the path he wanted to stay on.
Quick Family Note: Craig has spoken publicly about his father’s long struggle with alcohol and how that shaped his outlook on family, responsibility, and honesty. He explored those themes in his book Pops: Learning to Be a Son and a Father, published in 2019.
Career Path
| Period | Role / Outlet |
|---|---|
| Mid-1990s | Early broadcast work at WIS-TV, Columbia, SC (while in school) |
| 2001–2008 | Evening news anchor, WIS-TV, Columbia, SC |
| 2008–2011 | Weekend anchor, WRC-TV (NBC affiliate), Washington D.C. |
| July 2011 | Joined MSNBC as a daytime/weekend anchor |
| 2012 onward | NBC News correspondent; occasional substitute on NBC Nightly News |
| 2015–2018 | Co-anchor, NBC Weekend TODAY |
| August 2018 | Joined weekday TODAY; became permanent co-host of 3rd Hour (January 2019) |
| January 2025 | Promoted to main co-anchor of TODAY (Hours 1 & 2), replacing Hoda Kotb |
| 2026 | Launched Glass Half Full with Craig Melvin podcast |
He’s covered five Olympic Games and six Super Bowls. His political reporting includes interviews with former President Bill Clinton, former Vice Presidents Joe Biden and Kamala Harris, former Ambassador Nikki Haley, and former Secretaries of State John Kerry, Mike Pompeo, and Condoleezza Rice. He has also been a lead reporter for NBC on major criminal cases, most notably the Alex Murdaugh murder investigation and trial beginning in 2021.
Craig is the author of two books: Pops: Learning to Be a Son and a Father (2019) and the children’s book I’m Proud of You. He serves on the board of trustees at Wofford College, his alma mater.
Age
Craig Melvin was born on May 20, 1979. He turned 47 years old in May 2026.
Religion
Craig Melvin has not made his religious beliefs a subject of public discussion. No verified statements about his faith or denomination are currently on record, so this remains unconfirmed.
Spouse / Partner
Craig is married to Lindsay Ann Czarniak, an award-winning sports anchor and reporter. The two met in 2008 when they were both working at WRC-TV in Washington, D.C. — Craig as a news anchor, Lindsay as the sports anchor. They dated for a few years before marrying on October 15, 2011, at the Church of the Holy City in Washington, D.C.
Lindsay had her own high-profile career, anchoring SportsCenter at ESPN from 2011 to 2017 and later doing sideline work for Fox Sports NFL coverage. She now runs her own podcast, The Artist and the Athlete with Lindsay Czarniak. The couple has two children: a son named Delano “Del” (born March 2014) and a daughter named Sybil “Sibby” (born November 5, 2016). They live in Connecticut.
Net Worth
The couple paid $5 million for a 9,000-square-foot home in Westport, Connecticut in 2021, having sold a previous Westport property for $2.9 million that same year.
Parents
His father is Lawrence Melvin, who worked at the post office in South Carolina. His mother is Betty Melvin, a former teacher. Both parents are still alive, a fact Craig acknowledged publicly when he accepted the TODAY co-anchor role in November 2024, saying he was glad they were around to witness it.
Height
Different sources report different figures — one lists him at approximately 6’1″ (1.85 m) and another at 5’6.5″. Craig Melvin has not publicly confirmed his exact height, so the precise number should be treated as unverified.
Education
Craig attended high school in Columbia, South Carolina. He went on to earn a Bachelor of Arts degree in Government from Wofford College in Spartanburg, South Carolina, graduating in 2001. He currently serves on Wofford College’s board of trustees.
Hometown / State of Origin
Columbia, South Carolina — a fact he mentions frequently on air and in interviews. It’s where he grew up, where he started in broadcasting, and by his own description, a place that shaped who he is.
Official Social Media
Craig Melvin is active on X (formerly Twitter) at @craigmelvin and on Instagram. His Instagram account has over 300,000 followers.
Reader Questions (FAQ)
What is Craig Melvin best known for?
Craig Melvin is best known as the co-anchor of NBC’s TODAY show, which he joined as a full-time presence in 2018 and stepped into the main anchor seat in January 2025. He’s also recognized as a Dateline NBC host and an Emmy Award-winning journalist with over two decades of broadcast experience.
Why did Craig Melvin replace Hoda Kotb on the TODAY show?
Hoda Kotb made the personal decision to leave the TODAY show, with her final day on air being January 10, 2025. NBC then named Craig Melvin as her replacement in the co-anchor role alongside Savannah Guthrie. Kotb herself publicly endorsed Craig for the position, calling him “the right person for the job.”
Who is Craig Melvin’s wife?
Craig Melvin’s wife is Lindsay Czarniak, a well-known sports anchor and reporter who previously worked at ESPN and Fox Sports. The couple married in October 2011 and have two children together. Lindsay runs her own podcast in addition to her media career.
What is Craig Melvin’s net worth in 2026?
His combined net worth with wife Lindsay Czarniak is estimated at around $14 million by Celebrity Net Worth. Craig’s NBC salary is reported at approximately $6 million per year since his 2025 contract upgrade. These are third-party estimates and haven’t been confirmed by the parties involved.
Where did Craig Melvin go to college?
Craig Melvin graduated from Wofford College in Spartanburg, South Carolina, with a Bachelor of Arts degree in Government. He completed the degree in 2001 and currently serves on the college’s board of trustees.
How old is Craig Melvin?
Craig Melvin was born on May 20, 1979, which makes him 47 years old as of mid-2026. He was born and raised in Columbia, South Carolina.
What awards has Craig Melvin won?
Craig is an Emmy Award winner — he won an individual Emmy in 2006 and shared in station Emmy Awards for Best Newscast at WIS-TV in 2003 and 2005. He was also named Best Anchor by the South Carolina Broadcaster’s Association in 2007.
What is Craig Melvin’s podcast called?
Craig Melvin launched a podcast called Glass Half Full with Craig Melvin in 2026. Season 1 features long-form conversations with athletes, entertainers, and public thinkers including Shaquille O’Neal, Shonda Rhimes, Malcolm Gladwell, and Dawn Staley, among others.
Wrap-Up
Craig Melvin’s career reads like a textbook case of what happens when someone puts in the work at every level. He didn’t land at NBC because someone handed him a break — he spent years building credibility at local stations in South Carolina and Washington before national television came calling. By the time Hoda Kotb left the TODAY anchor desk, Craig had already put in over a decade of visible, trusted work at the network. The promotion felt natural to anyone who’d been watching.
What makes him an interesting figure beyond the anchor chair is the range. He’s covered murder trials, Olympic Games, presidential inaugurations, and mass shootings — the kinds of assignments that demand both composure and genuine empathy on camera. He’s also been candid in a way that not all TV journalists are, talking openly about his family, his father’s struggles, and what fatherhood has taught him. That honesty likely explains why audiences have warmed to him so readily in his new role.
At 47, with a new podcast, an honorary doctorate, and the biggest morning news seat in American television, Craig Melvin is clearly at the peak of his career — and by all available evidence, just getting started in this chapter of it.
Smith Andrew is the Founder and Editor of BiographyCabal. He researches, writes, and edits accurate, engaging, and well-researched biographies of celebrities, entrepreneurs, athletes, influencers, politicians, and other notable public figures. Committed to factual reporting and quality storytelling, Smith ensures every article is reader-focused, informative, and based on reliable sources, helping readers discover the lives, careers, and achievements of influential people around the world.