Today Show Co-Host on Navigating Life Through Faith

FINDING HIS PLACE

In 1995, Melvin's journalism career began during high school when he served as an "Our Generation" reporter for NBC-affiliate WIS-TV in Columbia, South Carolina. In 1996, he won an Associated Press award for his story on innovative teaching. He was one of the youngest ever to win such an award.

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. Later, he became a weekend anchor for WRC, NBC's owned-and-operated station in Washington, DC. 

Currently, he is an award-winning news anchor on NBC News’ TODAY, a co-host of the 3rd Hour TODAY, host of Craig Melvin Reports on MSNBC, and contributing anchor for NBC’s Dateline.In addition, he has also covered two Olympic Games and six Super Bowls.

Melvin has covered a wide range of news events, including several Republican and Democratic National Conventions and three Presidential Inaugurations. His coverage of politics has included notable interviews with former President Bill Clinton, Former Vice President Joe Biden, Ambassador Nikki Haley, and Secretaries of State John Kerry, Mike Pompeo, and Condoleezza Rice.

He has also covered tragic mass shootings across the country for the network, including Dallas and Orlando in 2016; Charleston, South Carolina in 2015; the Navy Yard in Washington, D.C. in 2013.

Melvin lives in Connecticut with his wife, sportscaster Lindsay Czarniak, who is a Fox Sports reporter and the host of the podcast The Artist and The Athlete. They have a son and daughter.

GROWING UP IN CHURCH

Craig Melvin grew up in a Christian home as the middle child of three sons: Lawrence Jr., Craig, and Ryan in Columbia, SC. His mother, Betty, took them to church several times a week. His father Lawrence (AKA “Pops”) was a good provider but rarely present or engaged in their lives. Pops struggled with alcoholism and gambling and it became all-consuming; Craig resented him for it. 

In 2018, Pops got into a car accident and it served as the impetus for the family to stage an intervention. He finally agreed it was time to get help and go to rehab. Pops was 67 years old when he finally got sober and he has been since. Finally, after decades, Craig was able to build a good relationship with his father.

TRAGEDY STRIKES

Craig’s older brother, Lawrence Meadows (half-brother) was diagnosed with stage 4 colon cancer at only 39 years of age. He died of the disease four years later at 43. Lawrence was a pastor who loved the Lord and his family, which includes his wife and two young children. 

“He (Lawrence) spent a fair amount of time over the past few years raising awareness about the disease," Craig wrote in a tribute on Instagram. "We’ll be keeping up that fight." Craig has been outspoken about men prioritizing their health on TODAY and recently shared that he is now on the board of directors for the Colorectal Cancer Alliance.

His younger brother, Ryan Melvin, 35, is part of the mission too, taking TODAY along when he underwent his first colonoscopy — three years after a doctor first recommended he get the screening.

Craig's younger brother, Ryan, lost his daughter to pediatric cancer at only three years of age. These tragedies tested Craig’s faith. He shares, “I knew in those moments, I could choose to either run away from God or run to Him. I chose the latter.”

Today, Craig is passing his faith down to his children by taking them to church and teaching them the word of God.