It’s the end of an era for NBC TodayBeloved host Hoda Kotb has announced that her time on the show will soon come to an end.
Hoda shared the surprising news during an emotional segment on this morning’s broadcast.
“I realised that at the age of 60 it was time to change my life and try something new,” he said.
Hoda Kotb recalls the moment she decided to quit
Hoda says she decided to step away from television (at least for now) on her 60th birthday in August.
“I remember standing outside and looking at these beautiful groups of people with these beautiful signs. And I thought, ‘This is what it feels like to be at the top of the wave for me,'” she said.
“And I thought it couldn’t get any better than that, and I decided it was the right time for me to move on.”
Hoda said her decision was primarily motivated by wanting to spend more time with her daughters, Hayley, 7, and Hope, 5.
Hoda plans to spend more time with her family
“Obviously my kids came along later in life, and I thought they deserved a bigger share of my time,” she said.
“I think we have a limited amount of time. And so, having said all that, it is the hardest thing in the world.”
Hoda says she will continue anchoring Today with co-host Savannah Guthrie until January 1, 2025.
She said that after this she will remain in NBC News and her role has not been clarified yet.
“This is a huge deal for me,” Hoda said as she broke down in tears. “I was practicing so I wouldn’t cry, but I did cry anyway.”
History of Hoda
After beginning his career at NBC Dateline Hoda has spent 16 years co-hosting the fourth hour, beginning in the late ’90s TodayFirst with Kathie Lee Gifford and then with Jenna Bush Hager.
Since 2017, she has been co-anchoring the first hour Todaya role he has shared with Guthrie since 2018.
Kotb also shared an emotional letter she wrote to her husband. Today Talking to colleagues ahead of this morning’s announcement:
“My heart is going all over the place as I type this. I know I’m making the right decision, but it’s painful. And you all are the reason,” Hoda wrote.
“They say two things can only be right at the same time, and I feel that very deeply right now. I love you and it’s time for me to leave the show.”
“My time at NBC has been the longest professional love affair of my life. But only because you’ve been with me on this twenty-six-year adventure.”
We know we’re talking about millions of people. Today When we say that viewers will miss Hoda dearly.
We can’t wait to see what’s to come in this exciting new phase of her life.