Why is Hoda Kotb leaving the Today Show?
On January 10, 2025, adored Today Show host Hoda Kotb concluded her farewell segment, evoking both laughter and tears.
Here, we examine the co-anchor’s motivations for departing the beloved program.
After an emotional homage on her final day at the Today Show after 17 years, Hoda Kotb was crying uncontrollably on January 10, 2025.
There wasn’t a dry eye in the house when Showanchors surprised Hoda with a video collage of her greatest moments today.
The former co-anchor sobbed as she said, “That was not fair.”
She continued by saying that she hasn’t been able to discuss her emotional departure from the program.
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Hoda admitted that “I’ve not been able to articulate because I’m a mess most of the time.”
Her “first friend here” was Al Roker, for whom she expressed gratitude.
In addition, Savannah Guthrie shed a tear when Hoda said to her co-anchor, “You’re my person.”
After Hoda’s temporary appointment was extended to permanent status, Savannah and Hoda became the first all-female hosting team in 2018.
Together, they had hosted Today since 2017.
Why is Hoda Kotb leaving the Today Show?
Hoda has been candid about the factors that led to her choice.
“I was doing the math and I realized I have spent 26 years at NBC. 16 years on the ten and seven years with you,” she said in an announcement.
And I recently had my 60th birthday, which was a significant milestone for me since I began to reflect on that decade and its significance.
She went on: “I also realized that it was time for me to attempt something else and turn the page at 60.
“And I guess I recognized how insane this was, but do you recall our outside celebration of our 60th birthday?
“I can remember standing outside looking at this beautiful bunch of people with all these gorgeous signs and I thought, this is what the top of the wave feels like for me.”
“I thought, it can’t get better,” Hoda continued. And I came to the conclusion that this was the appropriate moment for me to move on.
“And then I thought, obviously I had my kiddos late in life, and was thinking that they deserve a bigger piece of my time pot that I have.”
What’s next for Hoda Kotb?
Hoda has previously announced that she will be concentrating on wellness on the Kelly Clarkson Show as her next professional move.
“I kind of got hooked in the wellness space, like a couple years ago,” the woman explained.
“I started doing things that I thought were strange and woo-woo, and then I suddenly saw that I was feeling better and calmer while I was doing them. Woo-woo lifts your spirits.
She added that her children “deserve a bigger piece of my time pie” because they were adopted.
In September 2024, Hoda informed the staff of her plan to leave in a letter.
Following her statement on-air, Savannah, Hoda’s co-anchor, exclaimed, “We love you so much.”
“These tears that you see all around you are expressions of love.
“You are incredibly liked. None of us could ever envision this area without you, in my opinion.
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We love you so much and don’t want you to ever leave, so it’s complicated. I’m incredibly proud of my pal. You’re brave.
“I dream even bigger for myself, but I want someone to leave at the top of their game, to leave something that’s amazing, that you love, where it’s simple, cozy, lovely, and enjoyable.”