Al Roker to miss Rockefeller Center Christmas tree lighting amid hospitalization
Al Roker will sit out this year’s annual Rockefeller Center Christmas tree lighting after being rushed back to the hospital via an ambulance Friday.
The “Today” show weatherman will be replaced by Mario Lopez, who will co-host the event with Savannah Guthrie, Hoda Kotb and Craig Melvin, the event page announced.
A rep for “Today” didn’t immediately return Page Six’s request for comment.
Gwen Stefani and Blake Shelton will perform a duet of their holiday single, “You Make It Feel Like Christmas,” and there will be additional performances from David Foster and Katharine McPhee, as well as Alicia Keys, Dan + Shay and more.
Roker, 68, missed his first Macy’s Thanksgiving Day Parade in 27 years last week as he remained hospitalized after developing blood clots in his legs and lungs.
Fortunately, the longtime NBC personality was released from the hospital in time to enjoy the holiday with his family.
A happy-looking Roker posted a video of himself in comfortable attire as he walked around the hallways of a hospital.
“Alright, this is my version of the Thanksgiving Day Parade,” he said. “Getting ready to leave the hospital. Time to blow this taco stand. Woohoo!”
The weather anchor later informed fans that he made it home just “in time” to catch some of the parade commentary from Guthrie and Kotb.
“So very #thankful to be able to be home for #thanksgiving#dinner with #family,” he wrote in another post shared via Instagram.
However, Page Six broke the news Wednesday that Roker was rushed back to the hospital 24 hours after being released. Sources told us that his wife, Deborah Roberts, attempted to break into their malfunctioned Tesla to retrieve her cell to follow her husband to the hospital.
In November 2020, Roker disclosed that he had been diagnosed with prostate cancer and underwent surgery shortly thereafter. He returned to the “Today” show just weeks later after he had made a full recovery.