Quick answer: Craig Melvin and Dylan Dreyer joked about missing Friday’s Today after Kenny Chesney’s Sept. 17 concert made Thursday feel like Friday. The exchange, which also involved Al Roker, was playful banter about confusing the days, not a confirmed announcement of either host’s absence.
A Craig Melvin and Dylan Dreyer Friday absence was floated as a joke, not announced as a schedule change. The Today cohosts teased that they might miss the following morning’s broadcast after Kenny Chesney’s Sept. 17 performance left them feeling as though the weekend had already arrived.
Al Roker joined the playful exchange, which followed Chesney’s three-song appearance for the Citi Concert Series at Rockefeller Plaza. The reason for the mock attendance warning was simple: the concert had given a Thursday morning a distinctly Friday atmosphere.
What Craig Melvin and Dylan Dreyer actually said
Roker put that feeling into words after Chesney performed “Get Along.” Addressing the singer on the Sept. 17 broadcast, he explained that the cohosts had been comparing notes about the mood.
“We’ve been talking,” Roker said. “It’s almost thrown us off because the vibe is Friday. It’s such a Friday vibe.”
Melvin then took the calendar confusion a step further. “If you don’t see us tomorrow, you know what happened,” he joked, prompting Dreyer to add, “Yes, we got confused.”
That exchange is the context behind the suggestion that Melvin and Dreyer might be absent on Friday. Neither comment amounted to a confirmed day off; both were part of the cohosts’ joking response to the concert.
For viewers wondering whether an actual absence had been announced, the distinction matters. The on-air remarks explained why the pair were kidding about not showing up, but did not establish that either would miss the next broadcast.
Melvin also praised the audience’s response to Chesney’s set. “Everybody out there is singing along,” he said, “and they’re such good songs.”
Kenny Chesney brought music—and an album update
Chesney’s appearance included “Carry On” and “Silver Sands Marina,” the title track of his upcoming 21st album, alongside “Get Along.” The album is scheduled for release on Sept. 25.
The performance supplied the upbeat backdrop for the hosts’ banter, but Chesney also discussed the work behind the new music. He described the collection as a “reflection” and “mirror” of his current life.
Time, he explained, had made a difference to the process. Rather than working toward the kind of quick follow-up that can accompany a successful release, he had room to develop the album over several years.
“The thing that I love about [the record]—I was afforded the gift of time for this one,” Chesney said. “Usually when an artist has a record and they put it out and it does well, the label kind of wants another one, or the same one in a 12-or 18-month period.”
His two-year residency at The Sphere in Las Vegas and the release of his 2025 memoir, Heart Life Music, formed the background to that different timeline. Chesney said the longer process allowed him to get the record where he wanted it.
“I wasn’t on that treadmill,” he explained. “I was doing stuff and so it took about three years to get this album where I wanted it and I was very thankful.”
As for Melvin and Dreyer, their Friday comments remained a punchline to a lively morning of music. The exchange was about losing track of the day—not a formal announcement that either host was taking time away from Today.
Frequently Asked Questions
Why did Craig Melvin and Dylan Dreyer joke about being absent on Friday?
Kenny Chesney’s Sept. 17 Today performance gave the cohosts a Friday feeling a day early. After Al Roker noted the atmosphere, Melvin joked about not appearing the next morning, and Dreyer joined in about getting confused.
Did Craig Melvin and Dylan Dreyer confirm they would miss Friday’s Today?
No confirmed absence was announced in the exchange. Their comments were jokes about the concert making them lose track of which day it was.
What songs did Kenny Chesney perform on Today?
Chesney performed “Get Along,” “Carry On” and “Silver Sands Marina” for the Citi Concert Series at Rockefeller Plaza. Silver Sands Marina is also the title of his 21st album, scheduled for release on Sept. 25.
