Those expecting to see Lester Holt when tuning in to NBC Nightly News on February 3, 2025, got a major shock. The anchor was missing from the broadcast as another familiar NBC personality filled in for him.
What Happened to Lester Holt?
The February 3, 2025, episode of NBC Nightly News With Lester Holt started off with the day’s biggest headlines, but it wasn’t Lester reading them. Instead, it was Hallie Jackson filling in for the veteran broadcaster on the show.
“Good evening from Washington, I’m Hallie Jackson in for Lester,” she said without revealing his whereabouts.
She carried on with the rest of the episode, but fans took to the comments on YouTube after the episode was posted on the official NBC News account.
“Where is lester ?” one person asked in the comments section of the video.
“I was just thinking that!?” someone responded.
“Taking a much needed break,” another person said.
“Missed Lester,” another commenter wrote.
On February 2, 2025, while hosting the Sunday edition of NBC Nightly News, Hallie said that Lester would be back in the studio the following day, but that didn’t end up happening.
“Didn’t I hear ‘Lester will be in tomorrow have a good night yesterday’ what happen where is LESTER AT,” another viewer pointed out after the February 3, 2025, episode aired.
“I’m here for Lester! When he’s not here I need a bigger reason than just hes not there,” another person questioned.
Inside Lester Holt’s Life Outside of ‘NBC Nightly News’ Duties
Lester, born in 1959, grew up on an Air Force base in Marin County, California. His passion for broadcasting grew after his older brother became a disc jockey. Ultimately, he decided it was the right career path for himself too.
“I was 28 years old, and I was doing a story about the military. I had the opportunity to go up in an F-16 with an Air Force pilot,” Lester told Esquire in June 2023. “We went up on a little training mission in the Arizona desert and we’re flying between these canyons. He lets me take the stick and I fly it through a loop. We landed, and I had this almost slight feeling of depression, like I had screwed up my life. I thought, This is what I should have done. But life went a different way.”
Lester has been the main anchor of NBC Nightly News since 2015. It’s a job he has loved and has earned the adoration of loyal NBC viewers through the years.
“I love the exhilaration of covering breaking news,” the news personality told People in May 2023. “There are times I’ll be on a story and I still hear that giddy kid inside that says, ‘Can you believe you’re doing this, man?’ If I ever lose that feeling, that’s when it’s time to hang this up.”
Outside of the news world, Lester spends his time with wife Carol Hagen, whom he wed in 1982.
“People say marriage is tough, and it is, but marriage is also great,” Lester said. “It’s really important to have someone who gets you. Who can cut you a little slack sometimes. Who can make you feel good about yourself when maybe you’re not.”
Lester and Carol share kids Stefan and Cameron, the eldest of whom is an NBC Chicago anchor.
“We have a live interaction where we speak to preview what’s on Nightly News,” Lester said. “And sometimes right before that or right after, I’ll ping him with a quick text saying, ‘Love the story you did before my segment,’ or ‘Love that suit, man.’”
