Lester Holt Gets Choked Up After Hearing Man’s Eclipse Tale: ‘I’m Caught Up in the Emotion’

Lester Holt was almost brought to tears while speaking with a viewer during the 2024 total solar eclipse. 

On Monday, April 8, the NBC News journalist, 65, was doing network coverage of the rare solar event at the Indianapolis Motor Speedway in Indiana when he struck up a conversation with a man that became unexpectedly emotional for both. 

“My mom always promised me a trip to the moon, so this is as close as we get,” the unnamed spectator told Holt during the live broadcast. 

The clip was also shared via social media in a joint post with NBC Nightly News and Stay Tuned ’s Instagram accounts. 

“She’s taking you there?” Holt asked. “Yeah,” the viewer replied. 

The anchor then asked for his mother’s name. 

Her name was Anne Lakin, and according to her son, all the kids affectionately called her “Nani.”

“When did you lose her?” Holt asked. 

The spectator explained that December made two years since his mother had died.

“And, you know, 1969, watching the first moon landing together — she made it an event that we would never forget,” he explained. The spectator then paused and looked up to the skies. 

“This is to her,” he continued, while also choking up. 

Giving the individual a second, off camera, Holt patted his back and said, “She’s with you today.”

Once the camera panned back to the television host, he was visibly touched by the moment. 

“Listen, I’m caught up in the emotion, too,” Holt said after thanking the viewer for speaking with him. “It’s — you don’t know what to expect. You go into this thinking, ‘Well, it’s just gonna be nighttime for a few minutes.’ Yea, kinda, but not really.”

Fans in the comment section were also moved by the person’s story.

“What a great memory,” one user wrote.” Another added, “Parents make an impact.”

One shared how they were also overcome with feelings on the special day. 

“Oh, I never expected to feel any emotions today and I definitely burst into tears felt very close to my dad who passed away [in] 2011,” an individual added.  

Monday’s total solar eclipse was the first to occur anywhere in the U.S. since 2017. The next time the country will experience a darkened sky will not happen for another 20 years. 

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To mark the special occasion, crowds of people traveled near and far to witness the cosmic event. There were even hundreds who planned for their wedding to fall on the rare date. 

“It’s a once in a lifetime experience with the eclipse and a lot of couples have unique reasons for wanting to be married during that time,” event organizer Rodney Williams told KATV.

“I think the emotions from seeing the eclipse take place are just going to be a synergistic effect that heightens everything and brings tears to the eyes,” he added. “Seeing the smiling faces and hopefully seeing stars and just being a part of that is going to make me happy.”