The NBC newsman is taking over the position from longtime 'Today' anchor Hoda Kotb Craig Melvin admits he’s generally not an anxious person. He doesn’t “really do excited” either. But reality was setting in as he welcomed PEOPLE into his Westport,

Watch as the South Carolina native is overcome with emotions on his first day co-anchoring the first two hours of 'Today.'

Craig Melvin's debut as co-anchor of Today proved to be an emotional one. On Monday, January 13, the 45-year-old broadcast journalist — who began his first day in his new gig — received a video message and a handwritten letter from his predecessor, Hoda Kotb, whose last day was Friday, January 10.