TODAY’s Al Roker received a Lifetime Achievement Award at the 46th Annual News & Documentary Emmy Awards in New York City on June 25.
“This recognition really is truly the honor of a lifetime — a lifetime of happy accidents and good fortune,” Al said in his acceptance speech.
He also praised the late former weatherman on TODAY, Willard Scott, for providing invaluable advice
“Willard told me, ‘Always be yourself. Everybody else is taken.’ And never give up your day job. And that is true. I’ve gotten to go places, see things and meet people because of my job on the TODAY show.”
On the June 26 episode of TODAY, Al called the honor "very special."
“You only do this because you’re surrounded by great people,” he said.
“I could not do any of this, I would not have achieved any of this without all of you and this crew that’s here and the folks who are in the control room, our staff across the street. Nobody does this by themselves. I don’t care who you are, you just can’t,” he told Savannah Guthrie, Craig Melvin, Dylan Dreyer, Carson Daly and Jenna Bush Hager.
“You’ve been doing it well for a long time,” Carson said.
“You lift us all up and carry us,” Savannah said.
“I love working with you, every single day. The way you looked up to Willard Scott is the way I look up to you and I’ve learned so much just by having the privilege to work next to you,” Dylan said.
In the shadow of the honor, which was presented to him by former TODAY anchor Bryant Gumbel, his TODAY colleagues gushed about him in a taped segment that aired on June 26 on TODAY.
“Al Roker is iconic. He’s a legend,” Savannah said
“Class act, top to bottom,” Craig said, while adding he is a “trailblazer in many ways.”
“He is an institution. It’s like people know him,” Carson said.
“He’s always been himself,” Dylan said.
“He’s certainly the hardest working person in our business,” NBC's Lester Holt said.
Al’s career on NBC began in 1978 with a five-year run on Cleveland’s affiliate WKYC. He then moved onto New York’s local WNBC before he became part of the TODAY team in 1996.
“I was 19 years old when I got my first job in television, doing weekend weather in Syracuse, New York,” he said.
“I was chubby. I was balding, and I was black. ‘Wow, let’s sign him up.’”
Roker stepped in after Scott semi-retired from TODAY, opening the door for Al, whose forecasts are punctuated with his trademark line, “That’s what’s going on around the country. Here’s what’s happening in your neck of the woods.”
While Al is known for his wit and forecasts, his colleagues salute his sense of adventure and humanity when covering weather stories that have taken him all over the world.
“After the fact, he's there to lend a hand,” Dylan said.
“He feels their pain and that comes through on the screen,” Craig said.
“Al is his own force of nature,” said Savannah, who also called him “intrepid.”
Al is certainly no one-trick pony, as he's showcased an ability to sit down to speak with a wide range of personalities.
“He has evolved, can interview presidents, interviews movie stars,” Craig said.
The weatherman is also a presence on the plaza, where he is as much of a draw to anyone who stops by the show.
“It’s just like being with Santa Claus. He says ‘my people’ and you hear the crowd goes wild,” Carson said.
Fans also know Al has been open about his health, talking about being diagnosed with prostate cancer in 2020, something he has no qualms about doing.
“I’ve never hesitated about sharing my health issues because if you can help somebody out, why wouldn’t you?” he said.
After he was hospitalized in 2022 with blood clots in his lungs and legs, the TODAY family showed up at his home to sing Christmas carols.
“The way that he came out the other side even stronger was so inspiring,” Savannah said.
As everyone sang his praises in celebration of his Lifetime Achievement Award, Al gave his gratitude right back.
“From the people I work with to the people I live with, I’ve got an embarrassment of riches,” Al said.
