Hoda Kotb is saying goodbye to her role as an anchor on NBC’s Today show after 17 years.
Kotb shared the news in an emotional letter to the Today show team on September 26. She expressed the difficulty of her decision while acknowledging that it was the right time to step away.
“As I write this, my heart is all over the map,” she wrote, highlighting the challenge of leaving the job and people she loves, while emphasizing the importance of spending more time with her family.
Kotb’s decision comes as she turns 60 and reflects on the next phase of her life. Her daughters, Haley and Hope, and her mother are now her top priority. In her letter, she said, “My broadcast career has been beyond meaningful, a new decade of my life lies ahead, and now my daughters and my mom need and deserve a bigger slice of my time pie.” Although her final day as anchor is set for early 2025, she plans to remain involved with NBC in some capacity. “I’ll be around. How could I not? Family is family and you all will always be a part of mine.”
Throughout her career, Kotb has broken barriers and made history. She was part of the first-ever female co-host team on the Today show alongside Savannah Guthrie in 2018, and she co-hosted the show’s fourth hour, first with Kathie Lee Gifford and later with Jenna Bush Hager. Her warmth, authenticity, and professionalism have left a lasting impression on viewers and colleagues alike.
Kotb’s decision to step down is also deeply influenced by her journey into motherhood. After a breast cancer diagnosis in 2007 left her unable to conceive, she adopted her daughter, Haley, in 2017, followed by Hope in 2019. She frequently shared her experiences of motherhood on the Today show and social media, allowing viewers to witness her joys and challenges. The family recently moved to a house in the suburbs, where her daughters have more space to play and grow. Kotb has expressed her excitement about this new chapter, wanting her daughters to experience a more relaxed and cozy home life.
