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‘Today’ Announces Hoda Kotb’s Retirement and Official End Date
Hoda Kotb is saying goodbye to Today.
And on the beloved anchor’s last day on the morning show—after almost 20 years on the series and 27 at NBC—there were a number of individuals who wanted to say goodbye to her, too, in addition to colleagues Savannah Guthrie, Al Roker, Craig Melvin and Jenna Bush Hager.
While the Rockefeller Center Plaza was full of its usual early morning guests, this time bearing signs reading messages such as “thank you, Hoda,” and “we’ll miss you,” Today’s broadcast featured recordings from celebrities such as Jamie Lee Curtis, Kristin Chenoweth, Dwyane Wade and Oprah Winfrey thanking Hoda for everything and wishing her well.
And Jamie Lee made sure Hoda didn’t leave empty handed, having a beautiful orb commissioned for the co-anchor that read, “Every today with you is a better day.”
Other in-person experiences included a surprise appearance from Olympian Simone Biles and Maria Shriver. The former thanked Hoda for her years as Team USA’s “Olympic Mom” while Maria congratulated the newscaster on taking this leap of faith and embracing her next chapter.
Plus, Kermit the Frog treated Hoda and her daughters Haley, 7, and Hope, 5, to a performance of “The Rainbow Connection.”
Hoda’s last day on Today comes almost four months after she announced she’d be leaving the morning show. The newscaster noted at the time that the decision came to her shortly after she celebrated a milestone birthday in August.
Nathan Congleton/NBC via Getty Images
"I realized that it was time for me to turn the page at 60, and to try something new," she said during the Sept. 26 Today broadcast. "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."
Hoda also noted how her family played a role in the decision.
"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."
And as she leaves her time in front of the camera behind, she also has plans for her next step: a wellness app and company which she revealed will “involve retreats and a podcast and all kinds of things that we can get together, do things that I love.”
Nathan Congleton/NBC via Getty Images
But in her excitement for the future, Hoda is also aware of all she’s leaving behind—including the professional relationships that have become more like family.
As she wrote of her colleagues in a letter while announcing her departure, “I’m picturing your faces and your families and all the ways you’ve lifted me up and inspired me. That’s my heart singing. So many of my professional relationships have become some of my most cherished friendships."
(E! News and Today are both part of the NBCUniversal family.)
For more about Hoda’s life behind the camera, keep reading.
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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