Christmas is the time to rejoice and celebrate what we have in life. However, the holiday can be sad for many people who are missing their loved ones who have passed on. Today host Craig Melvin opened up about the sad passing of his older brother. He shared why there’s still hope ahead despite the loss.
Craig Melvin Loses Co-Anchor For A While
Craig Melvin has been with NBC since 2018 as part of the network’s third hour of The Today Show. His role at the morning news program expanded in 2025 when he replaced Hoda Kotb on the first two hours.
His co-anchor, Savannah Guthrie, made her last appearance on the show for a while last week. The Today anchor told viewers that she’ll be out for an extended break amid an unexpected health issue. Al Roker and the other anchors for the morning news program will step up to fill in the void.
Today Show Host Opens Up About Sad Passing Of Brother
Craig Melvin recently interviewed Dawson’s Creek star James Van Der Beek for an update on the actor’s battle with colon cancer. The popular ’90s TV star was diagnosed with Stage 3 colorectal cancer in 2023. He was forced to sell off memorabilia to fund the treatments.
The Today Show host earned praise for his respectful and caring interview. It turns out Craig Melvin has a personal connection to colon cancer. He lost his older brother, Lawrence, who passed away from the disease in 2020. He was just 43.
Ahead of the Christmas holiday, Craig Melvin sat down with Rev. Jeff Rider at Green’s Farms Church in Westport, Connecticut, to talk about how the holiday season can be difficult. “This is such a stressful time for people. And there’s a sense that they want to nail the holidays. They want to get them right,” the pastor said.
“I think one of the things that people are really looking for more than anything is what they’re looking for all the time. They’re looking to be part of something bigger than themselves, and they are looking to connect and grow with their relationship with God,” he continued.
Craig Melvin revealed that his late brother was a Baptist minister and often told him, “You’re there for the baptisms. You’re there for the weddings. But you’re there for the illnesses. And you’re there for the funerals.”
Rev. Jeff Rider revealed how grief can affect people during the holiday season. He said, “Sometimes, when we’re feeling that sense of grief and loss, we isolate. We go into our corner. And I think really what it is, it’s an invitation to embrace.”
However, he shared a message of hope for anyone struggling this holiday season.
There’s Hope Ahead Despite Heartbreaking Loss
“My hope and prayer for 2026 is not all that different from 2025, 2024, and a whole bunch of others,” the pastor said. He added, “It’s the prayer to help me and to help this world to learn how to disagree better. You know, learn how to lean into difference, and to lean into the sense of community and belonging that comes from that.”
He said that keeping hope that things will get better is important. “Hope. Hope is alive. Hope is here for you. And it’s found in the most unlikely of places. When we do church right, we make room for God, and God shows up. God never disappoints.”
The words helped heal Craig Melvin, and if you’re struggling, they might help you, too.
Jennifer Havener grew up in a small town in Upstate New York. She earned her B.A in Writing & Literature from Naropa University in Boulder, Colorado. She always knew watching reality TV shows and soap operas, particularly ‘Days of Our Lives’, would come in handy someday. When she’s not writing, she’s playing with her dogs, Lola and Ruger
