Why Craig Melvin Got Hoda Kotb’s ‘Today’ Show Gig, His Salary Amount and How the Staff Reacted (Exclusive)

Craig Melvin is following in Hoda Kotb’s legendary footsteps and the Today show staff couldn’t be more thrilled for him.

“Craig is so awesome, people were cheering when they got the staff email,” a source exclusively tells Us Weekly. “He’s the best – everybody is so excited for him.”

Adds a second source: “He is truly one of the nicest, most humble, generous people. People are overwhelmingly happy for him. The good guy won.”

On Thursday, November 14, Melvin, 45, was announced as Kotb’s replacement for the first hour of the morning show ahead of her departure, which she announced back in September.

As Today searched for who could fill Kotb’s shoes, Melvin became the “standout” choice.

“He has been steady Eddie for 7 years – alongside Savannah and Hoda,” the first source says of Melvin. “It was the right choice, the clear choice, the choice that everybody could get behind. He is so beloved.”

One of Melvin’s biggest fans is Savannah Guthrie, who he’ll join on the anchor desk in January. “They’ve worked with each other for 7 years,” the source continues, adding that they’re “good friends” who’ve “hung out together with their spouses …They’ve always had a tight brother-sister friendship. Savannah adores Craig and she adores him.”

While Laura Jarret was one of the potential names considered for the role, the insider shares that the network had “a very strong bench of people” to choose from.

“There are so many talented people on the bench,” they share. ”There is a lot of talent that the audience really loves.”

The second source adds that Melvin’s previous experience also played a major role in getting the new gig.

“He’s done the Olympics, he’s done presidential interviews,” the insider says. “He’s covered big stories out in the field.”

With the new title, comes a new salary. The second source estimates that Melvin will make around “$5 or $6 million” in his new role.