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Today's Hoda Kotb Tearfully Reveals Plans for Her First Day Off After Retirement
It’s a new day for Hoda Kotb.
After nearly two decades at Today, the daytime host said her final farewell Jan. 10 And the whole Today family was there to give her a proper sendoff, including co-anchor Savannah Guthrie, her fourth hour co-host Jenna Bush Hager, Al Roker, Sheinelle Jones, Carson Daly, Dylan Dreyer and Craig Melvin, who will take her place as co-anchor of the first hour.
And the 60-year-old—who is taking a step back from her anchor duties to focus on family—couldn’t help but get emotional as she signed off for the last time.
"Can I say thank you to every person who came out here," Hoda said as she ended the 8 a.m. hour for the final time. "I read your cards. I got your bracelets. I got the scarves you crocheted. I got everything. I want to say thank you from the bottom of my heart."
It’s safe to say there wasn’t a dry eye on the plaza. Even the Today crew had trouble hiding their emotion. Savannah expressed how surreal it will feel to not have Hoda by her side after seven years helming the first hour together during the live episode.
"She's so special it's almost beyond description," Savannah gushed of her co-anchor, before going on to note how the challenges Hoda has faced have made her stronger. She further emphasized that Hoda is incredibly down to earth, adding, "She's about what matters."
Since announcing her departure from the NBC morning show in September, Hoda has been candid about how difficult it will be to step into this next chapter.
Nathan Congleton/NBC via Getty Images
Saying goodbye to something this amazing is hard," she said on the Sept. 26 Today broadcast. "It weighed a lot on me. I went back and forth and back and forth, and then I thought to myself, 'You know, I think this decade, I think I'm going to have to start choosing me.'"
But as she approached a new milestone in her life, the journalist realized that it was time to say goodbye to the beloved 17-year-gig.
"I realized that it was time for me to turn the page at 60, and to try something new," she said through tears. "I remembered standing outside looking at these beautiful bunch of people with these gorgeous signs, and I thought, 'This is what the top of the wave feels like for me.' And I thought it can't get better, and I decided that this is the right time for me to kind of move on."
Following her emotional departure, Hoda revealed that she planned to spend more time with her daughters, Haley, 7, and Hope, 5, whom she shares with ex Joel Schiffman.
"Obviously I had my kiddos late in life, and I was thinking that they deserve a bigger piece of my time pie that I have," she continued. "I feel like we only have a finite amount of time. And so, with all that being said, this is the hardest thing in the world."
As for how the mom of two plans to spend her much-deserved time off, well she’s going to start putting her health and wellness first.
Nathan Congleton/NBC via Getty Images
"I've found out, in my town, there's a 5:30 Soul Cycle class which I'm going to start," Hoda told E! News in October. "Then I'm going to go back and feed my kids breakfast and I am going to make a coffee-to-go in my Yeti."
Then, she continued, "I'm going to walk my kids down the beautiful streets to their school and I'm going to kiss them goodbye."
For Hoda, this has been a long-time coming. And even without the super early call-times the veteran journalist has been planning ahead to keep some structure in her busy life.
"I've been thinking about this day," Hoda said. "Because of me, I need a mini-plan, because I've had such structure for so many years. I'm a structure person. So I want to have my own little structure that is full of freedom and the ability to take walks and do things. I'm so excited for it."
For a look inside Hoda’s life offscreen, keep reading.
(E! and Today are both part of the NBCUniversal family.)
Instagram/Hoda Kotb
Halloween 2024
After announcing she's leaving Today, Hoda celebrates her first Halloween in the New York suburbs with her kids.
Instagram/Hoda Kotb
Cheer-Worthy
Haley and Hope match in cheerleader costumes.
Mother's Day Surprise
Hoda got emotional as Haley and Hope surprised her with an early Mother's Day gift.
Birthday Celebrations
Joined by her siblings Hala and Adel, nieces Hannah and Ella, mom Sami, daughters Haley Joy and Hope Catherine and fiancé Joel Schiffman, Hoda Kotb described the celebration as "my kinda birthday."
I <3 NY
Hoda enjoys a day with her daughters Haley Joy and Hope Catherine around New York City together.
Queens of Halloween
Another Halloween in the books! Hoda and her first daughter spend their another Halloween together as their Sesame Street alter egos.
Family Forever
The Today show momma spends time with her own mom (and Haley's grandma!) in this cute group shot on Halloween 2019.
Party Time
The host shared this pic of her and her little one at a Sesame Street party in Oct. 2019.
Suns Out, Funs Out
The daytime talk show host spends a day splashing around the beach in Aug. 2019.
Gift for Mama
Haley Joy looks cute as a button celebrating her mom's 55th birthday this past August.
Sweet Sister
"Look who is feeding Hope!" Kotb wrote on her Instagram in May 2019, showing off Haley feeding her newborn Hope.
Friends for Life
Kathie Lee Gifford, Hoda's close friend and long-time former co-host at Today, met Hope in early May and they were all smiles all day.
A Full House
In April, the 55-year-old host shared a photo of her full family for the first time on Instagram writing, "This is us xo."
Welcome Hope Catherine!
It's a girl! Hoda introduced Hope to the world after surprising her Today show family on-air revealing that she had secretly adopted her second child.
Birthday Girl
On Valentine's Day, the TV host celebrated Haley's second birthday and shared on Instagram how she felt saying, "So much love today."
Ho Ho Home
The beaming TV personality spent Christmas with her mother, sister and daughter.
Queen Bees
Haley celebrated her second Halloween by twinning with her mom in matching bee costumes.
Apple of Her Eye
In August of 2018, the mother-daughter duo spent an autumn day together picking apples.
Splashing Around
"I can't believe I get to do this .. #grateful" she wrote on her 54th birthday.
Proud Mama
On Mother's Day, Today co-anchor Hoda posed with her one-year-old cutie, Haley, as she sported a cute tee with the word "mama."
Mother's Day Duo
"Pre dawn photo shoots in bed are a blast," gushed the happy mom in a cute Insta selfie early on Mother's Day.
Sixtieth Surprise
On March 2018, the Oklahoma-native celebrated partner Joel Schiffman's 60th birthday with their baby girl and a homemade cake.
Post-Olympic Bliss
"Home!!!!!" announced the TV host on Instagram after spending two weeks covering the 2018 Winter Olympics in Pyeongchang, South Korea.
Pre-Olympics Shenanigans
The day before arriving in Pyeongchang for the 2018 Winter Olympics, the TV personality had some fun with her little sweetheart and her USA beanie.
Football's Cutest Fan
Gooo Saints! Hoda and her little sport's fan cheered on the New Orleans Saints in their game against the Minnesota Vikings on January 14.
Christmas Stripe Stars
"Santa we are ready!!!" the journalist wrote on this Christmas selfie with her mom, her partner and her little angel.
Turkey Time
On November 23, Hoda posed with her partner and her baby girl for the Macy's Thanksgiving Day Parade.
Hoppy Halloween!
For her first Halloween, Haley wore an adorable bunny costume as she enjoyed trick-or-treating in a stroller driven by her mom and her mom's long-term boyfriend.
Lil Pumpkin
On October 26, Hoda dressed Haley in a jack-o-lantern costume writing on Instagram, "I couldn't wait !!"
Selfie Stick Pic
During a Labor Day weekend beach trip, Hoda snapped a selfie with six-month-old Haley and the rest of the family, including her mom (left), sister (top right) and brother (right).
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