As Lester Holt Said Goodbye To NBC Nightly News, Hoda Kotb, Savannah Guthrie And More Shared Heartwarming Tributes

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Last Friday concluded an epoch in broadcast journalism as Lester Holt, a venerable news anchor for over a decade on NBC Nightly News, gave his final farewell. Holt became a fixture of television news during his tenure, and now that he’s moved on, it feels almost unreal to imagine him not at his familiar desk. Interestingly, other journalists such as Hoda Kotb, Savannah Guthrie, and David Muir are honoring him in the aftermath of his departure.

In his farewell broadcast, Lester Holt, at the age of 66, spoke to viewers, expressing gratitude for having anchored Nightly News. He further emphasized the importance of words, journalism, and the public, stating that they all truly matter. Moving forward, we can only hope that his sentiments strike a chord with everyone. It’s heartwarming to witness an outpouring of congratulations for Holt’s accomplished tenure. Hoda Kotb, who announced her departure from NBC’s The Today Show in late 2024, took to Instagram to express her admiration for Holt.

A post shared by Hoda Kotb (@hodakotb)

A photo posted by on

The former TV host may not get up early in the morning for work anymore, but she still shares kind words for her colleagues at her former place of employment. Savannah Guthrie and Craig Melvin have been the recipients of that. When it comes to Today co-host Guthrie, who’s featured in one of the pics above, she shared a variety of photos to IG along with the following caption:

Sharing so many memorable experiences with you, from late nights and sunrises, to moments that left us awestruck. It’s been truly a privilege to collaborate with the epitome of professionalism in broadcast journalism: Lester Holt.

Additionally, longtime NBC News member Peter Alexander paid tribute to Lester Holt too. He shared some heartfelt words along with several images on Instagram. Here’s his touching post:

aside from peers, the touching tributes weren’t limited to them alone. Stefan Holt, Lester’s son and fellow journalist, paid a heartfelt tribute to his father too. Stefan delivered an endearing on-screen message in his honor, as shown below.

It’s easy to see the immense affection that so many people have for Lester Holt, and I love seeing him receive his due. Holt himself also shared a post to Instagram, which garnered comments from even more TV news veterans like David Muir and Katie Couric. Below are just a few of them:

  • A true gentleman. I’ve so enjoyed our conversations through the years. You kept the bar high – a class act in every way. – David Muir
  • Max respect and admiration to a true legend. thank you for being our fearless leader these last 10 years. and for waking me up when we almost missed the flight at LaGuardia! you are the best, sir. – Jacob Soboroff
  • Thanks Lester! ❤️ – Jenna Bush Hager
  • To one of the good ones. Lester, thank you for your years of hard work, intelligence and compassion. You will be missed. ❤️❤️❤️ – Katie Couric
  • I will miss you in this role. Well done. See you on Dateline. – Katie McCall

Lester Holt, previously with CBS, transitioned to NBC News in 2000, assuming various positions over the years. These roles include co-anchoring on Weekend Today, anchoring Dateline NBC, and serving as a correspondent on MSNBC. Following Brian Williams’ controversy surrounding his news coverage in 2015, Holt took over permanently as host of Nightly News. Since then, he has maintained a prominent role on TV and is well-liked by viewers. Here’s a glimpse of his closing remark:

The idea of not finding Holt on NBC Nightly News might seem unusual, but fortunately, he’s not departing from journalism altogether. Instead, he’s set to become the permanent host for Dateline NBC. Given his impressive journalistic skills, it’s reassuring to know that he’ll still be on-air as part of the 2025 TV schedule, and I eagerly anticipate the continued great work he’ll produce.

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2025-06-01 00:07