During this morning’s episode of the show, anchors Savannah Guthrie, Hoda Kotb and Craig Melvin announced Roker, 68, would be returning to the show this Friday, Jan. 6. “We have some great news to share this morning: Al is coming back to the show,” Guthrie, 51, exclaimed after a highlight reel from the show’s surprise holiday carols at the Roker’s residence played. As Parade previously reported, Roker was admitted to the hospital earlier this year due to an issue with blood clots in his leg and lungs. The hospital stay caused him to miss the annual Macy’s Thanksgiving Day Parade, marking his first time in 27 years not hosting the event. He was discharged from the hospital on Thanksgiving Day, noting it was just in time for dinner, but he was hospitalized again one day after his release. After he was rushed back via ambulance, his condition “improved” during his stay at the medical facility. On Dec. 9, a day after he shared a hopeful Instagram update, he celebrated that he was finally “home." After being discharged from the hospital, Roker spent the last few days of 2022 recovering at home. On Dec. 12, the beloved weatherman made a virtual appearance on the show to update fans on his health status, but didn’t detail any plans to return to the show–until now. “Everyone’s like, ‘When when?’ Well, we have our date,” chuckled Kotb, 58. “He’ll be here Friday. He’ll be right here in Studio 1A. This is his place. He’ll be in his seat, right where he belongs. I cannot wait for that.” “Family will be back together,” Melvin, 43, added before Guthrie chimed in with more praise, noting, “[the show is] not the same without Al” and that “our sunshine is coming back Friday morning.”
