‘Today’ Hosts Celebrate Al Roker’s 72nd Birthday On-Air With Toast & More

Paige Strout August 20, 2026, 9:42 am

Dylan Dreyer, Jenna Bush Hager, Al Roker, Savannah Guthrie, Craig Melvin, Carson Daly, and Sheinelle Jones on the August 20, 2026, episode of NBC's 'Today.' — NBC

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The Today hosts celebrated Al Roker’s 72nd birthday on air.
Comedian Sebastian Maniscalco contributed a humorous personalized video card for Roker, and Carson Daly gave a birthday shout-out to his daughter, who was also celebrating her birthday.
Craig Melvin and Dylan Dreyer shared more birthday surprises on the third hour of Today.

The Thursday, August 20, 2026, episode of Today was special in more ways than one.

Before Grammy nominee Raye hit the 30 Rockefeller Plaza to perform some of her biggest hits, the Today hosts celebrated a special occasion inside Studio 1A. During the morning’s “Pop Start” segment, Carson Daly shared how comedian Sebastian Maniscalco recently partnered with America Greetings to make “personalized birthday cards.”

“And what better way to kick it off than with Uncle Al? It’s your birthday, and here’s your personalized message,” Daly stated before showing Maniscalco’s customized birthday message for Al Roker, who turned 72.

“Hey, Al. Hope you have a wonderful birthday. But let’s be real, the way people c celebrate birthdays today is too much,” Maniscalco said in the clip. “Back then, the party music was whatever you could find on the radio. Now, you gotta hire some big shot DJ and do the latest viral dance for all your social media apps. Now, let’s get this party started!”

Roker smiled throughout the whole birthday message, going on to state, “That’s amazing!”

Al Roker and Sebastian Maniscalco on the August 20, 2026, episode of NBC's 'Today.'

NBC

The Today hosts ended the segment by raising their cocktail glasses for a special birthday toast to Roker. Daly also gave his daughter London a special shout-out as she celebrated her 12th birthday on Thursday. (Carson shares four kids with his wife, Siri Pinter Daly.)

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Craig Melvin and Dylan Dreyer continued their birthday celebrations during Thursday’s episode of the third hour of Today. “Is that why you showed up to work today?” Dreyer jokingly asked, referring to how Roker has been absent all week while out on assignment. Roker shared that he was in the Bahamas filming a segment that Today fans will see soon.

Dreyer pointed out that Roker’s birthday falls on National Bacon Lovers Day. Knowing Roker loves bacon, the Today crew surprised the weatherman with a bouquet of bacon roses. “That’s fantastic,” Roker said of the edible gift.

Melvin joked, “You eat all that, you’re not gonna make it to 73.” Roker laughed before adding, “Well, you know, it was a good run.”

The hosts’ other birthday surprises included having the show’s “Hump Day” camel onscreen graphic carry a birthday sign for Roker and ending their opening chat with another toast, using the third hour’s “famous” cocktail, the Paper Plane.

Al Roker, Dylan Dreyer, and Craig Melvin on the third hour of 'Today,' NBC, August 20, 2026.

NBC

“This is nice. Thank you so much,” Roker told his colleagues. Teasing his personal birthday plans, he added, “Just hanging out. We’re going to dinner tonight with some family and friends, just hanging out.”

Roker recalled a funny interaction he shared with a young boy on the 30 Rock Plaza earlier that morning, stating, “His mom asked, ‘How old do you think he is?’ He said, ‘53.’ I went, ‘I don’t know where that number came from, but I’ll take it!’”

Today, Weekdays, 7 am/6c, NBC