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Today's Hoda Kotb Tearfully Reveals Plans for Her First Day Off After Retirement
Come Monday morning, Hoda Kotb won’t be tuning into Today.
During the beloved co-anchor’s final day after 17 years with the series, she took a moment to congratulate her colleague Craig Melvin—who will be taking her place alongside Savannah Guthrie as the new co-anchor—at which time she teased her plans for her first day off.
“Craig, I’m so happy for you,” she told the 45-year-old during the Jan. 10 broadcast. “You've earned this, you own this. And come Monday at 7 o'clock—I am going to be dead asleep.”
The joke was met with laughter by her Today colleagues, including from her successor, before Hoda added sincerely, “You’re going to be fantastic, Craig, you're going to be so good. You and Savannah are going to be magic.”
In fact, Hoda took a moment to thank each of her closest colleagues, quipping she hadn’t been able to articulate her thanks properly before then because she’s “a mess most of the time.”
To Carson Daly, she said he was the “secret sauce,” telling him, “Without you, the show doesn't hum. You have the thing and you brought it. You bring it every day.”
To her “first friend” at NBC Al Roker, Hoda referenced her bout with breast cancer in 2007 and the role the weather anchor played at that time. “When I got sick,” she told Al, “you were the first person who walked into the room and said, I said I was going to be okay.”
She then turned to Savannah, with whom she’s worked side by side since 2018.
“My God, you're my person,” Hoda—who is mom to daughters Haley, 7, and Hope, 5—told her friend. “My person who shows up for everybody. When I was going through stuff with Hope, it was this girl. She's in the room. She's always in the room. And I love you.”
Nathan Congleton/NBC via Getty Images
In addition to messages of gratitude from her fellow Today staff and a look back at her many years on the series, Hoda was also greeted by surprise messages from some of the celebrities she’s touched over the years—many of whom have become friends—including Oprah Winfrey, Jamie Lee Curtis, Simone Biles and Maria Shriver.
On the part of Oprah, the media mogul congratulated Hoda on taking this next step, which the Today show anchor has said was inspired by wanting to spend more time with her growing girls.
“I know what making this decision feels like,” Oprah said. “I know how challenging it is to come to the moment where you say, ‘I have done it, and now it’s time to move on to the next thing.’ And I will tell you that in the future, you’re going to look back and you’re going to say, 'Was that the right decision? Did I do the right thing?'”
Nathan Congleton/NBC via Getty Images
She added, “And I will assure you that yes, you have made the right move, although it has been very hard to do. I know that Haley and Hope are going to benefit so much from this decision, and whatever you decide to do in your next chapter, in the next adventure, it will be the best decision for you and for your family.”
Maria, too, shared her excitement for Hoda’s next chapter, which will be focused on the wellness space, and honoring Hoda’s bravery in following that interest.
"You got acquainted with a voice that you didn't even know, and you started to allow it space, and it started to make you come alive in a way you had never known before," Maria said. "You were brave enough to say, 'I think I want to follow this voice of mine into the unknown. I want to leave one of the greatest jobs in television and I want to take a leap.'"
She added, "Very few people will do that, and it's so brave.”
For more on the family awaiting Hoda in her next step, keep reading.
(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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