Craig Melvin's Homecoming to Columbia Featured on NBC’s ‘Today’
South Carolina native Craig Melvin will spotlight the Midlands in a segment airing Thursday on NBC’s Today show. He previewed the story on Wednesday during a short feature shared by local station WIS on Facebook.
“Welcome to my hometown, Columbia, S.C. 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.”
In the segment, Melvin is shown standing in the recently renovated Finlay Park downtown. The footage includes scenes of local restaurants, a visit to a barbershop, and an interview with Columbia Mayor Daniel Rickenmann, who was recently re-elected.
Melvin returned to Columbia almost a year after becoming co-host of Today, succeeding Hoda Kotb. He earned this role after 13 years with NBC News. However, many locals remember him from his early career at WIS, Columbia’s NBC affiliate, where he started while still attending Columbia High School and later served as the nightly news anchor.
Even with his national presence, Melvin often highlights his South Carolina roots and his hometown, making this visit especially meaningful for local viewers.
Author's summary: Craig Melvin’s nostalgic return to Columbia, South Carolina, celebrates his roots and local culture during a special segment on NBC’s national morning show.