Craig Melvin Will Have ‘A Lot of Pressure on Him’ When He Replaces Hoda Kotb on ‘Today’

Hoda Kotb is thrilled at NBC’s decision to replace her with Craig Melvin on Today and had a big hand in him getting the job — but he’s still nervous about following in her footsteps as there’s a bittersweet vibe all around about her decision to move on.

“As much as it was her choice to leave, it’s still a very bittersweet feeling to be saying goodbye to something that was such a huge part of her life for so many years,” an insider exclusively tells Closer. “That being said, she’s very happy that Craig will be taking her spot.”

“They’ve always had a great relationship, and she’s making a big effort to support him any way she can,” the source adds of Hoda, 60, and Craig’s bond. “He couldn’t be more excited but there’s no doubt he’s got big shoes to fill, there’s going to be a lot of pressure on him but the general feeling is that he’s up to the job.”

The source says that being a coanchor on the coveted morning talk show is “a dream job” with “a huge paycheck.”

Craig, 45, will start his new position as Savannah Guthrie‘s official coanchor on January 13. And the source says Savannah, 52, is thrilled that Craig will be joining her at the news desk each morning.

“Ultimately it was Savannah’s call, she’s the one calling the shots now and had to give the greenlight on Craig becoming her new cohost,” the insider says. “She’s going to miss Hoda, but she really likes Craig and has a lot of confidence in him and their chemistry.”

Hoda will be moving on from Today to focus on raising her two daughters, Haley and Hope. The mom of two recently moved to the suburbs into a new home with her kids. And she’s looking forward to embracing her quiet life outside of New York City.

“I’ve already got my routine! I’ve been planning it,” she told Women’s Health while at her Making Space wellness event at the Miraval Austin Resort and Spa in Texas in October. “I’m waking up at 5:15. I’m going to SoulCycle at 5:30 — they have one in my town. I’m going to do it until 6:30. I’m going to get home. I’m going to feed my kids breakfast. I’m going to walk them to school with a Yeti mug full of coffee with heavy cream in it. I’m going to walk home slowly.”

And Hoda’s already got her sights set on her next job — making her presence known in the wellness space.

“I’m going to be in this space, and it hasn’t been fully formed,” the broadcaster explained. “There’s no meat on the bones, but we are working towards some things that I think are going to be really exciting and fun. It’s about making wellness accessible to someone who’s never tried it.”