Tom Llamas is continuing to prioritize his family as he takes on his new role as the host of NBC Nightly News.
“I’m gonna be up early. I’m gonna be working late. And I’m gonna be dedicated to two things in my life: my family and that show,” Llamas told Jose Diaz-Balart on the June 1, 2025, episode of the news program, just one day before he made his anchor debut. “I think I have to be because even though we work for NBC, we really work for the viewers.”
Llamas was announced to be taking over NBC Nightly News in March 2025, less than one month after former host Lester Holt announced he would be stepping down after a decade leading the show. “Anchoring NBC Nightly News is a profound honor and one that carries tremendous responsibility,” he said in a statement at the time. “I look forward to working with the world class journalists at Nightly News and Top Story to bring viewers the most important stories every night.”
Llamas — who makes history as the show’s first Latino weeknight anchor — continued, “Lester Holt is a great man and one of the most trusted broadcasters of our time. Just like Lester, I promise to be devoted to our viewers and dedicated to the truth.”
Off the small screen, Llamas is the son of Cuban refugees and the father of three kids with his wife, Jennifer.
Scroll down to get to know Llamas’ family:
His Parents
Llamas’ parents both fled Cuba during the regime of Fidel Castro and met as teens after moving to the U.S. Llamas, who grew up in Miami, credits his mom and dad for sparking his passion for journalism.
“My parents were always into current events, and they gave that to me,” he told Florida NBC affiliate WESH in June 2025. “I think they also gave me, they taught me I should say, about hard work and diligence and they’ve worked very hard.”
While chatting with Diaz-Balart on NBC Nightly News that same month, he added, “To say that my parents came here with nothing and now their son is gonna be the anchor of Nightly News … to me, that means the American Dream is still alive. And I know that because I’m living it.”
Jennifer Llamas
Tom reportedly met his wife, Jennifer, during their time at Loyola University New Orleans, where they graduated in the same class. “Best thing that ever happened to me,” he said of his wife in a June 2025 interview with Nola.com. “None of this happens without her. I always wonder what about New Orleans makes her so special.”
The pair said “I do” in 2006. While Tom is known for his role in front of the TV camera, Jennifer works behind-the-scenes as a media producer.
Malena Llamas
Tom and Jennifer welcomed their eldest child in 2013. Malena got a taste of her dad’s job by serving as a correspondent for NBC Nightly News with Lester Holt: Kid’s Edition. She interviewed Georgie & Mandy’s First Marriage star Montana Jordan during a November 2024 episode of the series.
Tom celebrated his daughter’s birthday via Instagram in March 2025. “Happiest ‘Golden Birthday’ this week to the best big sis we know,” he captioned a post featuring photos of her from over the years. “M we love you so much!”
Tom and Jennifer became a family of four with the birth of daughter Juliette in 2015. The host’s second eldest has a talent for gymnastics, taking home a first-place trophy at a competition in April 2024. “Big week for our little competitors. Go Team Llamas!” Tom wrote alongside Instagram pics and clips from Juliette and his son Thomas’ respective events.
Thomas Llamas
Tom and Jennifer’s son Thomas, born in 2017, shares his dad’s love of sports and news. Thomas sat down with several members of the New York Mets during an April 2025 episode of NBC Nightly News with Lester Holt: Kid’s Edition.
“Great shoot with @mets for @nbcnightlynews kids,” Tom captioned photos from his son’s segment shoot via Instagram. “Big thanks to @polarpete20 and @real_jessewinker.”
