Lester Holt Ends 10-Year Run as ‘NBC Nightly News’ Anchor With Hopeful Sign-Off: ‘Facts Matter, Words Matter, Journalism Matters and You Matter’

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Lester Holt concluded his tenure as the anchor of “NBC Nightly News” on Friday evening, expressing heartfelt appreciation and a positive outlook to his audience after a decade at the helm.

66-year-old Holt declared his departure from “Nightly” this summer, but he’s not saying goodbye to the network entirely. Instead, he intends to focus all of his time on NBC News’ “Dateline,” a position he has held since 2011.

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In June, Holt, aged 66, announced that he would be stepping down from “Nightly.” However, this doesn’t mean he’s leaving the network entirely. Instead, he plans to dedicate his time solely to anchoring NBC News’ “Dateline,” a role he has occupied since 2011.

In his final broadcast, Holt expressed his gratitude for being the host of this program and for being accepted into the homes of viewers, stating, “It’s been an honor.” He emphasized how much he values their trust, expressing that in this community, facts are important, words hold weight, journalism is crucial, and they themselves are highly valued.

He went on to say, “Over the past ten years, we have experienced some challenging times in our nation – from pandemics to mass shootings, natural disasters that strained our resilience and empathy. To balance this, I usually aim to provide moments of joy that remind us of our unity. I’ll surely miss our meetings, as well as the dedicated individuals who make it happen, my friends and coworkers. For now, I simply want to express my gratitude to my understanding family who have been so supportive, and to each one of you.

In terms of programming updates, Holt announced that Tom Llamas is set to start as the “NBC Nightly News” anchor on Monday, June 2. “I wish Tom all the best,” he added.

SEE ALSO: Lester Holt Will Exit NBC’s ‘Nightly,’ but Not News: ‘I Still Had Gas in the Tank’

Wrapping up another enlightening episode of “NBC Nightly News,” I found myself standing among my dedicated colleagues, as I customarily bid adieu with a heartfelt sentiment: “To our entire team here at ‘NBC Nightly News,’ goodnight, farewell. Remember to prioritize your wellbeing and care for one another.

Surrounded by enthusiastic cheers from his peers, Holt momentarily became emotional, expressing, “Wow, what a journey! Thank you all so much.” (You can watch his farewell in full here.)

In June 2015, Lester Holt officially became the host of “NBC Nightly News,” stepping into the role following the contentious departure of his predecessor, Brian Williams. Prior to this promotion, Holt had been anchoring the weekend editions of “NBC Nightly News” for eight years and had co-hosted “Weekend Today” for a span of twelve years.

Before taking on the role of co-anchor for “Weekend Today” in 2003, Lester Holt had previously hosted “Lester Holt Live,” a daily news program on MSNBC and provided primary anchoring for their coverage of significant news events. Prior to joining MSNBC, he spent 14 years at the CBS Chicago station WBBM, where he was the main anchor for the afternoon and evening news. After completing his studies in government at California State University in Sacramento, Lester Holt commenced his career in television journalism as a reporter at WCBS in New York in 1981. The subsequent year found him reporting for KCBS (then KNXT) in Los Angeles before he returned to WCBS in 1984.

View the farewell address of longtime “Nightly News” anchor, Holt, along with a compilation of his notable broadcasts throughout the years.

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2025-05-31 15:46