Saturday Today cohost Peter Alexander is leaving the show after nearly eight years.
“I’ve had the most incredible experience over 22 years with NBC News,” Alexander said during his final broadcast in March 2026, announcing his surprising departure. “I could not be more grateful for … the leaders and mentors here who have believed in me and given me more opportunities than I ever dreamed of.”
Alexander, who joined NBC News in 2004, began anchoring the weekend edition of Today in 2018.
“It’s hard to believe, but I have been part of the NBC family for longer than I’ve had my own family,” Alexander added upon his exit. “Studio 1A, being right here, with this team and with all the folks you don’t see on TV, this is literally my happy place.”
Keep scrolling to learn more about Alexander’s Today exit and next steps:
Why Is Peter Alexander Leaving ‘Today’ After 2 Decades?
Peter Alexander said that he ultimately decided to leave NBC News in order to spend more time with his wife, Alison Starling, and their two daughters.
“Because I live in Washington [D.C.], it’s also a trek,” he said in March 2026. “ I’ve been away from my home more than 80 nights in the last seven months, [and] more than 200 Friday nights away from my family in the last seven years.”
Alexander continued, “So, in this limited window before my daughters lose interest in hanging out with me [and] it’s already happened quick, I’m eager to carve out a better balance between my personal and professional lives. … I’m excited because I was taught, ‘Family first, the rest is details.’”
Alexander and Starling’s daughters, Ava and Emma, were 12 and 10 at the time.
Where Is Peter Alexander Going to Work After NBC News?
Peter Alexander has not announced his next endeavor, but did publicly reveal that he has no plans to step away from broadcast journalism anytime soon.
“[I want] to challenge myself with something new,” he said on Saturday Today in March 2026.
Multiple outlets, including CNN and The Los Angeles Times, have since reported that Alexander will join MS Now as an anchor and chief national reporter. (MS Now has not publicly revealed their next anchor.)
Peter Alexander’s History at NBC
Peter Alexander joined NBC in 2004, covering news for local affiliate stations. He joined the national broadcast in 2018, co-anchoring Saturday Today and serving as the network’s White House Correspondent. Alexander was named the Chief White House Correspondent in 2021.
Peter Alexander’s Wife Reacts to His NBC Exit
Peter Alexander and Alison Starling, a former TV journalist, have been married since 2012.
“You make us so proud,” Starling, who hosts her own “Living Well” podcast, wrote via Instagram in March 2026 after Alexander announced his departure from NBC.
Peter Alexander’s ‘Today’ Colleagues Address His Show Departure
After Peter Alexander announced his exit on Saturday Today in March 2026, cohost Laura Jarrett held back tears.
“Peter, we love you, we are going to miss you,” Jarrett told Alexander during the show. “We have laughed so hard we want to cry with you, we have learned from you and we are not the only ones. You are a brilliant journalist. You are a good and decent man, and you are an extraordinary father. You only get one shot to be Ava and Emma’s dad [and] 200 nights is a long time. They are lucky to have you as their father.”
Savannah Guthrie and Sheinelle Jones, for their parts, sent their own best wishes via Instagram.
“A great colleague, a better friend. We love you, Peter,” Guthrie replied via Instagram comment, while Jones added, “We love you! I second Savannah — you’re a rock star journalist … but you’re also such a good friend and a light in the workplace. I’ll certainly miss your Halloween showcases (Mrs Doubtfire & Jimmy Buffett are my favorites 🥰) … but I’ll be forever thankful that I got to spend part of my career with someone I’ve admired since college!!!”