Al Roker Says He's 'Thankful' to Be at Macy's Thanksgiving Day Parade After Missing Last Year's Due to Health Issues

The 'Today' host appeared to be in good spirits at the start of the parade route in New York City's Upper West Side

This year’s Macy's Thanksgiving Day Parade was especially meaningful for Al Roker.

The Today host acknowledged his appreciation for the tradition and appeared to be in good spirits at the start of the parade route in New York City's Upper West Side neighborhood. "I say yay, let's have a parade!" the 69-year-old said excitedly while corresponding with co-hosts Savannah Guthrie and Hoda Kotb.

Roker said he was "so grateful" to be at this year's parade after last year, when a health issue kept him from the festivities.

"Look, I missed last year," he later added. "I am so thankful to be anywhere this year, but especially here."

Related: Al Roker Opens Up About His Health Crisis: 'I Am Blessed to Be Alive'

Roker was absent from the parade in 2022 while he was recovering from blood clots in his legs and lungs. It was the first time he missed the parade since 1995.

Since then, he has shared details of his health journey with fans.

“It’s no secret that I had a severe medical issue, and to be completely honest, I almost died. I didn’t know it at the time,” he said during an episode of the Your Mama’s Kitchen podcast on Audible.

“But I missed Thanksgiving, and almost missed Christmas. And I forgot how important those touchstone moments are,” he continued.

Related: Al Roker's Health Journey Over the Years, in His Own Words

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The host said his Thanksgiving hospitalization made him want to make it to Christmas as a healthier man. “I felt, in a sense, badly because I ruined Thanksgiving for the family and I was not going to let that happen for Christmas,” he said.

Roker later added, “It was important to me and gave me something to push for. And I made Christmas dinner.”

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