Hoda Kotb is on her way out after 17 years at the Today show.
Kotb, 60, announced on Thursday, Sept. 26 that she’ll be departing the NBC morning show — which she co-anchors with Savannah Guthrie and then hosts the 3rd hour of with Jenna Bush Hager — in a tearful moment.
She called it “the hardest thing in the world” to share as she said that turning 60 last month led her to decide to “turn a page” and “try something new.”
“I had my kiddos later in life and I was thinking that they deserve a bigger piece of my time pie,” she said of her daughters Haley, 7 and Hope, 4.
Following the announcement, viewers are wondering when Kotb will make her final appearance on the Today show.
While she didn’t confirm exactly when she will be leaving, she told her co-hosts, “I’m gonna be here through the first of the year — past the first of the year,” so, it’s safe to say she’ll be around through early 2025. She also reiterated that she’s “gonna stay in the NBC family” even after she leaves.
In her letter to staffers, she also confirmed she’ll “be working through the beginning of 2025.”
After making the emotional announcement, each of Kotb’s colleagues took a moment to thank her and reflect on the relationships they’ve formed.
Guthrie, 52, kicked things off as she praised Kotb for having “so much guts.”
“Honestly, I don’t think any of us can imagine — we won’t wanna imagine this place without you,” Guthrie said. “So it’s complicated because we love you so much and we don’t want you to ever go. But also, I just want to say, I am so proud of my friend. You have guts. For someone to leave at the top of their game, to leave something that’s wonderful, that you love, where it’s easy and comfortable and beautiful and fun and say, ‘But I dream even bigger for myself.'”
Bush Hager then jumped in and jokingly told Kotb, “It’s not over. I’m gonna be showing up at your house, like the stalker you are to Zac Brown. I’m gonna be there on your doorstep. And we are your friends forever.”
“We are family,” Sheinelle Jones said next. “And I’m telling you, Hoda has a relationship with every single person on this couch in her own way. So I think we’re all just kind of wrestling with it inside, but we also know what a dynamic mom you are, what a presence you are, and your whole movement with wellness. You are going to change the world.”
Al Roker then told Kotb, “I have never known anybody like you, and that is… I’ve known you forever.”
Later, Craig Melvin got choked up as he told her she’s been “the heart of this show for a long time, and there’s no replacing that.”
“You are our sunshine,” Guthrie said as the segment ended. “We love you so, so much. We love you enough to let you go shine and run after your dreams and go find this next chapter and we frankly can’t wait to see what you do. But we’ll just be here waiting for you.”
Source: People
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