Craig Melvin tears up on Today after revealing what happened to his mom

Craig Melvin became emotional on the Today show after revealing his mom Betty had finished cancer treatment

Craig Melvin became emotional during Monday’s episode of Today after revealing that his mother, Betty Jo Melvin, had completed her breast cancer treatment and celebrated by ringing the bell.

The emotional moment came on Aug. 17 during Jenna Bush Hager’s “Morning Boost” segment. Bush Hager showed a touching video of a grandmother being surprised by her granddaughter during her final chemotherapy treatment. After the clip aired, she noticed that Melvin was visibly moved.

“Oh, Craig, you have the Monday feels over there,” Bush Hager said.

Melvin explained that the video had struck a personal chord because his mother had reached an important milestone in her own cancer journey.

“My mom rang the bell today, so, yeah, that’s a good one,” he said.

His Today co-host Carson Daly responded, “It hits home,” while Sheinelle Jones offered support as Melvin became emotional.

Betty Jo Melvin was diagnosed with breast cancer in June 2025 after a routine mammogram. She later spoke publicly about the diagnosis and described the difficulty of telling her sons, Craig and Ryan, about her illness.

Cancer has had a profound impact on the Melvin family. Craig’s half-brother, Lawrence Meadows, died from colon cancer in 2020. Since his brother’s death, the NBC anchor has become an advocate for colorectal cancer screening and regularly speaks about the importance of early detection.

Craig has also frequently celebrated his mother and her role in his family. In a 2023 birthday tribute, he described Betty as the “rock” and “glue” of their family.

The latest milestone marks an emotional moment for the Melvin family as Betty celebrates completing her breast cancer treatment. Craig and his wife, Lindsay Czarniak, recently spent time with Betty and their extended family during a vacation in South Carolina.