Craig Melvin's Homecoming to Columbia Featured on NBC’s ‘Today’
South Carolina native Craig Melvin will showcase the Midlands in a segment airing Thursday on NBC’s “Today” show. The piece was previewed the day before in a clip shared by the local station WIS on Facebook.
“Welcome to my hometown, Columbia, S.C.,” Melvin says in the video, standing in the recently renovated Finlay Park downtown. “Join me for a little trip down memory lane. I’m going to bring you back here to my childhood with my kid brother, introduce you to some of my favorite people and places that really sort of shaped me, molded me. And of course, there will be food.”
The segment includes visits to local restaurants, a barber shop, and an interview with Columbia Mayor Daniel Rickenmann, who was recently re-elected in Tuesday’s local election.
Melvin’s return to Columbia follows nearly a year since he was named co-host of NBC’s “Today” show, succeeding Hoda Kotb after 13 years with NBC News. Many locals remember him from his early career at WIS, Columbia’s NBC affiliate, where he began working as a student at Columbia High School before becoming the nightly news anchor.
Since moving to a national platform, Melvin has frequently highlighted his South Carolina roots and home community. This upcoming segment offers a unique look at his connection to Columbia and its people.
Author’s Summary
Craig Melvin returns to his hometown Columbia in a heartfelt “Today” show segment, reflecting on his childhood, local culture, and key community figures who influenced him.