If you grew up watching a guy in a baggy sweater countdown music videos in Times Square, it’s a bit of a trip to realize how much time has actually passed. It feels like just yesterday we were all dialing a phone to get Britney or Eminem to the number one spot on TRL. But time moves fast.
How old Carson Daly is today tells a pretty interesting story about longevity in a business that usually spits people out after five years.
As of right now, in early 2026, Carson Daly is 52 years old. He was born on June 22, 1973. He'll hit that 53-milestone later this summer.
It’s kind of wild, right? He’s basically the elder statesman of NBC at this point.
The TRL Era vs. The Today Show Reality
Most people still have that mental image of "Kid Carson" from the late 90s. Honestly, he’s one of the few VJs who didn’t just fade into a "where are they now" trivia question. He’s been on our screens for over 25 years.
Think about that.
He started at KROQ in LA, moved to MTV when he was just 24, and then transitioned to Last Call and eventually The Voice and Today. Most people change careers three times in that span. Carson just changed time slots.
He’s currently a father of four. Jackson, Etta, London, and Goldie. His oldest, Jackson, is already 16 and looks exactly like a mini-Carson from the 1998 archives. Seeing them together really puts the "how old is he" question into perspective.
Why He’s Still Everywhere in 2026
You’d think after decades of the 4:00 AM wake-up calls for the Today show, he’d want to retire to a golf course somewhere. But he's busier than ever.
He’s still the face of The Voice, which is heading into its 28th season. That’s a lot of spinning chairs.
Beyond the hosting gig, he’s become a huge advocate for mental health. He’s been super open about his struggle with Generalized Anxiety Disorder (GAD). He’s even talked about how, during live broadcasts of The Voice, he sometimes has to grip his leg in his pocket just to get through a panic attack.
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It’s that kind of honesty that keeps him relevant. He isn’t just a "talking head" anymore; he’s a guy people actually trust.
A Quick Reality Check on the Numbers
- Birth Date: June 22, 1973
- Current Age: 52 (Turning 53 in June 2026)
- Years in the Spotlight: 30+ (since his early radio days)
- Net Worth: Estimated around $40 million (those NBC contracts add up)
He’s managed to bridge the gap between Gen X, Millennials, and now Gen Z. If you ask a 40-year-old about Carson, they’ll talk about TRL. If you ask a 20-year-old, they’ll talk about The Voice or his segments on Today.
What Most People Get Wrong
People assume he’s older than he is because he’s been famous for so long. Or they think he’s younger because he still has that "California cool" vibe.
The truth is, he’s right in that sweet spot of middle age where he’s got the experience to handle 15 hours of live TV a week but enough energy to keep up with four kids and a dozen different producing projects.
Honestly, the guy is a workhorse.
Whether he’s hosting New Year’s Eve (though he’s taken some breaks from that lately) or sitting in the Orange Room, he’s become a permanent fixture in American living rooms.
If you're looking to keep up with Carson’s latest projects or his mental health advocacy work, the best move is to follow his "Daly Click" segments on Today or check out his work with Project Healthy Minds. He’s shifted from just counting down hits to actually trying to make a dent in how we talk about our brains.
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Check back in June for the official 53rd birthday festivities—no doubt there will be some throwback TRL clips involved.