Renowned long-time anchor Hoda Kotb is preparing to bid adieu to NBC's Today Show, marking the end of 26 memorable years on the air. Kotb first announced her retirement back on September 2024, leaving fans shocked but eager to send her off properly. Fans have flooded social media with tributes, illustrating the depth of her connection with viewers. Her last day as co-host and co-anchor is set for Friday, January 10, 2025.
The final episode will be quite the spectacle, with the Today Show planning to host what they call a "Hoda-bration." Various guests—including her co-hosts Savannah Guthrie, Al Roker, Jenna Bush Hager, and Craig Melvin, who will take over her segments—are expected to join the celebration, along with surprise appearances from familiar faces from the realms of movies and television. Reports suggest NBC is keeping many details under wraps to maximize the excitement of her sendoff.
Kotb, who turned 60 last summer, felt it was time to transition throughout her extensive broadcast career, expressing her sentiments through emotional messages to her colleagues. She poignantly noted, "I've been weighing this decision for quite some time—am I truly ready? But, my 60th birthday celebration on the Plaza felt like a shift. Like a massive, joyful YES, you are!" This reflection speaks volumes about her readiness to embrace new opportunities outside the daily grind of the morning show.
According to reports, it seems the decision to leave was not entirely straightforward. Sources claim NBC executives suggested Kotb take a reduction in her reported $20 million salary per year due to declining ratings and changing industry dynamics. While Kotb remains highly valued, it appears management sought to adjust to current market realities, indicating possible tension about her future at the network.
Hoda's departure has led her to contemplate what her post-Today Show life will look like. While she aims to spend more time with her daughters, Haley and Hope, aged 7 and 4 respectively, she has not completely severed her ties with NBC. Insiders suggest she may work on special reporting assignments, focusing on wellness topics, which align with her personal interests and wellness practices she has embraced throughout her life.
Reflecting on her time at the Today Show, Hoda noted, “I will miss you all desperately, but I'm ready and excited.” The legacy she leaves behind includes innumerable cherished friendships and deep bonds forged over nearly three decades with NBC. She expressed gratitude to her colleagues, calling them her family and attributing her success to their support: "It's my longest professional love affair, and I will always cherish my time with all of you at Today. I will be around. How could I not? Family is family."
With her departure imminent, Hoda's colleagues are preparing to celebrate her intensely impactful presence on the show, recognizing both her influence and the emotional vacuum her exit creates within the program. The sentiments expressed by Savannah Guthrie during the farewell announcement highlighted the show’s dedication to celebrating Hoda’s immense contribution to the Today Show and the family they have built over the years.
Craig Melvin, her successor, also publicly expressed gratitude for the opportunity to follow in Hoda's footsteps, emphasizing the significance of her contributions to morning television and the admiration shared among the staff. It's clear there’s hope within the team as they prepare to navigate the upcoming changes together.
Hoda Kotb's impending exit from the Today Show symbolizes not just the end of her tenure, but also the shift of the broadcasting industry as it adapts to contemporary viewer preferences and challenges. While she may be moving on, the indelible mark she leaves is sure to resonate within the networks, her colleagues, and the audience she has inspired all these years. The upcoming final episode promises not only to celebrate Hoda’s remarkable career but also to reflect on the love and appreciation felt throughout the NBC family.