• Faith: Christian
• Career: Journalist
• Birthday:  March 08, 1959

Lester Holt is a news anchor for NBC Nightly News and Dateline NBC. The first African American male solo anchor of a major network newscast, he moderated the 2016 presidential debate. In 2025, he announced his departure from Nightly News to focus on Dateline NBC.

Holt was born on March 8, 1959, at Hamilton Air Force Base in Marin County, California. He was the youngest of four children born to Lester Don Holt Sr., an African American Air Force technician from Michigan, and June Holt, who was born in Harlem, New York, to Jamaican immigrants. His maternal grandfather, Canute DeRozario, was of Anglo-Indian descent, while his maternal grandmother, May, was of Afro-Jamaican heritage. This diverse background provided Holt with a rich cultural heritage and instilled in him the values of discipline, perseverance, and respect for others.

Due to his father’s military career, the family moved frequently, spending time in different locations, including Anchorage, Alaska. Holt developed an early interest in broadcasting when his older brother worked as a disc jockey at a local radio station. Inspired by this, he pursued a career in journalism.

Holt attended Cordova High School in Rancho Cordova, California, and graduated in 1977. He then enrolled at California State University, Sacramento, where he studied government. However, his passion for journalism led him to leave college early to accept a job as a reporter for a local radio station. His decision to forgo a formal degree in favor of hands-on experience proved to be the right choice, as it set him on a path to becoming one of the most respected journalists in the industry.

Lester Holt’s broadcasting career began in 1981 when he joined WCBS-TV in New York City as a reporter. A year later, he moved to KNXT (now KCBS-TV) in Los Angeles, where he worked as a weekend anchor and reporter. In 1983, he returned to WCBS-TV, anchoring weekend newscasts and reporting during the weekdays.

In 1986, Holt joined WBBM-TV in Chicago, where he worked as an evening news anchor for 14 years. During this time, he covered major international and domestic stories, reporting from conflict zones such as Iraq, Northern Ireland, Somalia, El Salvador, and Haiti. His experience as a field journalist made him a respected name in news reporting.

In 2000, Holt moved to NBC News, joining MSNBC as a full-time anchor. He quickly became known for his versatility, covering breaking news, political events, and international crises. His ability to remain calm under pressure and provide insightful analysis made him a trusted voice in journalism.

By 2003, he expanded his role, co-anchoring Weekend Today and serving as a fill-in anchor for NBC Nightly News and Today. In 2007, Holt was appointed as the permanent anchor of the weekend edition of NBC Nightly News, a position he held until 2015.

In June 2015, Holt was named the permanent anchor of NBC Nighty News, replacing Brian Williams. His appointment was historic, making him the first African American to serve as the sole anchor of a major network’s weekday evening newscast. Holt’s tenure at NBC Nightly News was marked by in-depth coverage of major global events, including the Russian invasion of Ukraine, the COVID-19 pandemic, and the U.S. presidential elections. He conducted high-profile interviews with figures such as Presidents Joe Biden and Donald Trump, as well as other world leaders and influential personalities.

In addition to his role at NBC Nightly News, Holt has been the principal anchor of Dateline NBC since 2011, allowing him to delve into investigative journalism and long-form storytelling.

In February 2025, after a decade as anchor of NBC Nightly News, Holt announced his decision to step down from the position in early summer 2025. However, he will continue working with NBC, shifting to a full-time role with Dateline NBC to focus on in-depth reporting.

Lester Holt has been married to Carol Hagen since May 8, 1982. Carol, a former flight attendant, later became a real estate agent. The couple has two sons, Stefan and Cameron.

Following in his father’s footsteps, Stefan Holt pursued a career in broadcast journalism. He graduated from Pepperdine University in 2009 and worked as a morning news anchor at WMAQ-TV in Chicago before moving to WNBC in New York. He later returned to WMAQ-TV, where he currently anchors the 10 p.m. newscast.

Holt is also a skilled musician and enjoys playing the bass guitar. He occasionally performs with the band Rough Cuts, which includes fellow NBC colleagues.

What religion is Lester Holt?

Lester Holt has often spoken about the role of faith in his life, emphasizing how his Christian beliefs have guided him both personally and professionally. Raised in a religious household, Holt grew up attending church with his family, and his faith remained an essential part of his upbringing. Today, Holt attends the Manhattan Church of Christ in New York.

In 2018, while hosting the National Prayer Breakfast, Holt spoke about the importance of gratitude and humility in his career. He acknowledged that his success was not solely his own doing but was guided by faith and the opportunities he had been given. He encouraged young journalists to stay true to their values and remember the greater purpose behind their work.

Holt has also credited prayer as an essential part of his daily routine, stating that he begins and ends each day with reflection and gratitude. He has spoken about how his faith keeps him grounded, especially when reporting on difficult or tragic events. Despite the challenges of being in the public eye, Holt has maintained that his Christian values help him remain focused and compassionate in his work.