Lester Holt Announces He’s Leaving Anchor Role on NBC Nightly News (DETAILS)
It’s onward and upward for the legendary anchor!
Legendary broadcast journalist Lester Holt is stepping away from NBC Nightly News.
In a February 24 announcement simply titled “A note from Lester Holt,” the 65-year-old explained his decision, writing that his “time has come.”
“After 10 years, 17 if you include my years on the weekends, the time has come for me to step away from my role as anchor of Nightly News,” he explained. “It has truly been the honor of a lifetime to work with each of you every day, keeping journalism as our true north and our viewers at the center of everything we do.”
However, Holt clarified that this news should not be construed as a retirement.
Although he will no longer helm the weekday editions of Nightly News, Holt will continue in his current role as anchor of the award-winning Dateline. In fact, he’ll be dedicating even more of his time to the show moving forward.
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“But before we play the walk off music, I have another announcement,” Holt continued. “I’m excited to report I will be continuing as anchor of Dateline NBC, but for the first time in a full time capacity whereby I will be expanding my footprint on the broadcast and crafting Dateline hours on subjects I care deeply about. I am thrilled to be able to work more closely with my enormously talented friends at Dateline as the broadcast continues to grow and attract new viewers in new places.”
Holt will continue anchoring Nightly News through the beginning of summer 2025, with details of his final dates to come at a later date.
In his announcement, the star took a moment to look back on his impressive career and put his journey into the proper perspective:
“As a 20-year-old radio reporter on the police beat chasing breaking news around San Francisco, I could never have imagined my career path would unfold in the way it has.”
How long has Lester Holt anchored NBC Nightly News?
Holt began anchoring the weekend editions of Nightly News in May 2007 and was promoted to anchor of the weeknight editions, replacing longtime star Brian Williams in 2015. He’s even popped up to co-host TODAY from time to time!
In 2019, Holt was awarded the Walter Cronkite Award for Excellence in Journalism by Arizona State University’s Walter Cronkite School of Journalism and Mass Communication. The award has been given to a different journalism luminary every year since 1984.
It is not currently known who will replace Holt at the Nightly News anchor desk.
