SD. Lester Holt is closing one of the most iconic chapters in American broadcast journalism — and opening a far more personal one. After nearly a decade as the trusted face of NBC Nightly News, the veteran anchor has announced his decision to step down, ending an era defined by calm authority, integrity, and heart. But this isn’t retirement — it’s reinvention. Holt will remain with Dateline NBC, diving deeper into the stories that matter most to him, while finally embracing something he’s long sacrificed

Lester Holt, one of America’s most respected news anchors, is preparing to close a remarkable chapter in his storied career — and open a new one with the people who have always been his greatest support system: his family.

After nearly a decade at the helm of NBC Nightly News, Holt announced that he will be stepping down from his anchor chair this summer, marking the end of an era for the Emmy-winning journalist who became a trusted voice during some of the most pivotal moments in modern history. Though he will continue to lead Dateline NBC — a role he’s held since 2011 — Holt said he’s ready to spend more time pursuing stories that matter deeply to him, and more importantly, enjoying time at home with his wife of over 40 years, Carol Hagen, and their growing family.

Holt and Hagen’s love story began in California in the early 1980s, when she was a flight attendant and he was a young radio reporter. The pair married in 1982 and began a life marked by career moves across the country — from New York to Chicago and back again — before settling permanently in Manhattan, where they raised their two sons.

Carol, now a successful real estate agent, has long been Holt’s biggest supporter. During the pandemic, when broadcasts were filmed from home, she became his “set designer, lighting director, and dog wrangler,” Holt joked during a 2020 interview. Behind the calm, composed journalist millions watch nightly is a devoted husband who has never shied away from crediting his wife for his balance and joy.

Their sons, Stefan and Cameron, also reflect that legacy of dedication and hard work. Stefan Holt, 38, has followed directly in his father’s footsteps, becoming a respected NBC anchor in Chicago. After graduating from Pepperdine University, he carved out a reputation of his own as one of the Midwest’s most trusted journalists. His younger brother, Cameron, 35, pursued a different path — graduating from Stanford and building a successful career in finance as an executive director at Morgan Stanley in New York.

Today, the Holts’ family circle continues to grow. Stefan and his wife, Morgan, are parents to three young sons — Henry, Samuel, and James — making Lester and Carol proud grandparents. Photos of the family together reveal a more relaxed side of the broadcaster: a grandfather laughing with his grandsons, far removed from the gravity of the newsroom.

As Lester Holt prepares to say goodbye to Nightly News, he does so with the same poise that has defined his career — thoughtful, measured, and full of gratitude. His next chapter isn’t about stepping back, but stepping closer: to family, to purpose, and to the stories that still need to be told. For a man who has spent decades chronicling history, it seems his most meaningful moments are now unfolding right at home.