Viewers tuning into the TODAY Show on Tuesday were greeted with a major surprise: Dylan Dreyer stepped in to fill the shoes of long-time host Al Roker. This shakeup comes just after a sudden departure of a popular MSNBC anchor.

Dylan Dreyer, 43, the well-known meteorologist who usually appears during the 3rd Hour, joined Craig Melvin and Savannah Guthrie, while Al Roker was noticeably absent from the lineup. Not long ago, Hoda Kotb was the familiar face in this time slot, but she bid an emotional farewell to TODAY back in January after an impressive 17-year run.

Normally, viewers catch Dylan later in the show alongside Al, Craig, and Sheinelle Jones, but this time she made an earlier-than-usual appearance to take on a special role. Al’s absence comes just a day after he, Dylan, and Craig announced plans for the NBC morning show to hit the road later this month.

Meanwhile, the American TV landscape also witnessed long-time CNN host Jim Acosta leaving after his show was abruptly canceled. To mark Mardi Gras, TODAY hosts are set to broadcast a special live episode from New Orleans, Louisiana, on March 4th.

Announcing the news from Studio 1A, Al excitedly told viewers, “We have some exciting news to share. We’re taking the show on the road to New Orleans. On the 3rd Hour of TODAY, Friday, February 28, we’ll head down to celebrate Mardi Gras in the Big Easy. We’ll soak up the parades, festivities, sights, sounds, and tastes of the city.”

Dylan also revealed that fans could join in the excitement of the special broadcast, encouraging, “We want you guys to join in on our fun.”

Craig chimed in to announce that TODAY is launching its first-ever food festival, dubbed “Taste of New Orleans,” featuring top local chefs serving up their signature dishes. While tickets to be part of the live audience are already sold out, you can still snag a spot at the Taste of New Orleans event for $249.

The TODAY Show has been undergoing big changes lately, especially after Hoda Kotb’s departure in January. On her final day, Hoda appeared radiant in a crisp white suit, surrounded by close colleagues like Al Roker and Carson Daly, as she delivered a heartfelt goodbye.

With tears streaming down her face, Hoda shared, “I can’t even articulate how I feel because I’m a mess most of the time, but I just want to say thank you. Carson, you’re like the secret sauce of this show. Without you, the show wouldn’t be the same. You bring something special every day.”

She didn’t forget to thank Al: “Al, you were my first friend here, the first person I met. When I got sick, you were the first one who came into the room and told me I was going to be okay.”

Hoda grew especially emotional when mentioning Savannah, whom she called “her person,” saying, “Who shows up for everyone? This girl. When your brother died, it was this girl. When I was going through things with Hope, it was this girl. She’s always there, and I love you.”

Hoda ended on a high note, sending her best wishes to Craig, her successor: “Craig, I’m so happy for you. You earned this. You own this. And come Monday at 7:00 a.m., I’ll be sound asleep. But you’re going to be fantastic. You’re going to bring it home! You and Savannah are going to be magic.”