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Today's Hoda Kotb Tearfully Reveals Plans for Her First Day Off After Retirement
One last toast for Hoda Kotb.
And fittingly, her former cohost Kathie Lee Gifford was the one to do it. In honor of the long-time Today anchor’s final day Jan.10, the former Kathie Lee & Hoda host made a surprise appearance.
After a morning filled with special messages and surprises from Jimmy Fallon, Kermit the Frog, and Simone Biles in honor of Hoda’s final day at the Today Show, there was one person who couldn’t be forgotten.
At first, Kathie Lee appeared via a video message from Nashville with words of support for her longtime friend. However, just seconds later, the 71-year-old appeared in the studio, greeting her former cohost with a hug.
Sharing her surprise, Hoda gushed, “I wondered, because I love you so much, I was thinking to myself, ‘I sure hope that Kath comes.’ I’m so glad that you’re here.”
Kathie dazzled Hoda with a quick serenade of “The Best is Yet to Come,” before reflecting on the moment they became a team in 2008, after Kathie Lee spent most of her daytime career alongside Regis Philbin.
“I wasn’t interested in coming back to daytime television after 15 years with the king,” Kathie Lee said. “I just thought ‘I can’t do better than that.’”
But after having lunch together, Kathie Lee revealed that’s when she knew that she would be a perfect match with Hoda.
“I fell in love with Hoda at lunch in the Rainbow Room,” she said. “We closed down the Rainbow Room.”
Kathie Lee admitted that she initially signed on to do the fourth hour for one year. But her bond with her cohost-turned-friend was simply too strong.
“My problem is I fall in love, and I fell in love with Hoda,” she said. “And I said, ‘I don’t want to leave her.’ One thing I had in common with you, and with Regis—two very different people—I looked forward every single day to being with you both.”
Nathan Congleton/NBC
“She’s sunshine in a bottle. Especially in our world today which is so dark,” she continued. “You took away fear. You proved to me that you're a fearless person. You are, because she didn't do what she does now at the beginning. She was [a] world-renowned journalist, but she didn't trust her performing instincts, and that wasn't going to work with me."
Hoda admitted that after years of covering more timely world events, she was “scared” to jump into a new role. Together, Kathie Lee and Hoda sat alongside each other, with a glass of wine, until Kathie Lee left in 2019. (She was replaced by Jenna Bush Hager.)
Before saying goodbye, Kathie Lee sent her friend off with one final toast, a prayer, and of course, a large glass of wine.
“May you walk into the most joyful, prosperous, purposeful time in your life with those precious daughters that I watched come into your life,” Kathie Lee shared of Hoda’s time with her daughters Haley, 7, and Hope, 4, through tears. “What a blessing it was. And once those babies came, I knew it was time, ‘She ain’t gonna be here for long.’”
Nathan Congleton/NBC via Getty Images
Hoda signed off one last time alongside her Today family, Savannah Guthrie, Al Roker, Sheinelle Jones, Carson Daly, Dylan Dreyer, Craig Melvin, and Jenna on Jan. 10. And the longtime TV anchor gave a tearful goodbye to the network she’s been a part of for over two decades.
"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."
Keep reading for more on Hoda’s life outside of the Today plaza…
(Today and E! 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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