When Matt Lauer left the Today Show in November 2017, there was some talk of NBC trying to find a replacement for their signature network morning show. I think the Lauer sh-tstorm meant that NBC was also wary of hiring another man though, so they just put Savannah Guthrie and Hoda Kotb together as co-anchors. Hoda was already hosting the later hours of Today, so basically NBC hired “in-house.” It seemed to surprise everyone, including NBC, that Guthrie and Kotb really worked well as co-anchors, and that Hoda is such a fan-favorite anchor. Well, sad news. Hoda is stepping down and retiring from Today. It doesn’t sound like she’s got another job lined up, it sounds like she just wants to spend more time with her kids.
Hoda Kotb is bidding farewell to Today show anchoring duties after 17 years.
“As I write this, my heart is all over the map,” the journalist wrote in a letter to staff of the NBC morning show, shared Thursday, Sept. 26. “I know I’m making the right decision, but it’s a painful one. And you all are the reason why. They say two things can be right at the same time, and I’m feeling that so deeply right now. I love you and it’s time for me to leave the show.”
Explaining her reasoning, Kotb added in part, “My broadcast career has been beyond meaningful, a new decade of my life lies ahead, and now my daughters and my mom need and deserve a bigger slice of my time pie. I will miss you all desperately, but I’m ready and excited.”
She’ll stay in her current role until the beginning of 2025. But she won’t be absent from the network entirely after the new year; Kotb will remain on in some capacity, writing, “Happily and gratefully, I plan to remain a part of the NBC family, the longest work relationship I’ve been lucky enough to hold close to my heart.”
Hoda’s daughters are seven years old and five years old, just FYI. And she’s a single mom, and she just turned 60. I think she legitimately just wants to be home more and more of a hands-on mom. NBC executives are probably breathing a sigh of relief that she’s not exiting under a cloud of scandal. Plus, it doesn’t feel like ageism either – she wasn’t pushed out because of her age. If anything, NBC is probably really sad to see her go because she really is popular and stable for the brand. I shudder to think about what kind of d-bag they’ll bring in to replace her.
Hoda cried when she announced it this morning! She made me tear up a little too.
Photos courtesy of Cover Images.
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- Cast at the ‘Today’ Show Studios Featuring: Hoda Kotb Where: New York, United States When: 05 Feb 2024 Credit: Roger Wong/INSTARimages
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- Cast at the ‘Today’ Show Studios Featuring: Hoda Kotb Where: New York, United States When: 05 Feb 2024 Credit: Roger Wong/INSTARimages
They need to make Craig Melvin the regular co-anchor. I like him a lot. He already does the rest of the show so why not make him the replacement?
I love her and will miss her.
Me too!
Me three!
She is so lovely and real. I heard her speak once at a conference for women and she was so inspiring.
I will miss her but I’m sure she wants to be home more for her daughters. She has worked her whole life and can now do as she wants. I wish her well.
One of my friends had her baby later in life and her husband, who was older still, retired to be a stay at home dad. I thought that was awesome.
I liked her on-air. She has had a good run and should be financially set. I can see that she wants more time with family, I think we all do.
Congrats and enjoy.
Btw, I do wish celebs and all tv talent could control their emotions and stop crying on air.
Practice your statements on air, have a goodbye cry in private.
I know this does not apply to her, but I miss the days of Cronkite, Rather, Jennings who reported the news with little emotion, IMO.
IIRC One of her daughters had a bit of a health scare and was hospitalized which I could see leading to her stepping back from work obligations
She is 60, a single parent of 2 young ones, has been working her entire adult life, financially in good shape = Family time is #1.
I’m always surprised that financially stable folks, don’t dial back the employment ASAP. I know I would.
Good for her.
Working full-time into your mid 70’s+ is mostly bc it is a financial realty survival for most of us.
She’s such a class act. I, too, shudder to think about the “kind of d-bag they’ll bring in to replace her.”
I love Hoda, and I love this for her. I’m going to miss seeing her on my TV, but she deserves to live her life full of happiness with her family. Way to go for going out on top!
Just saw DM headline saying “No amount of money can change her mind” about leaving. LOL
Well good for her! Family time wins.
The DM always being drama queens, looking for clicks. What a rag!
Oh yeah, you know whoever replaces her is not going be anywhere close to her level of talent.