Hoda Kotb Announces Exit From Today Show: “Time For Me to Turn the Page”

After nearly three decades at NBC, Hoda Kotb is vacating her regular seat on the Today show. She announced her departure during Thursday’s episode of the morning show, tearfully explaining that her recent 60th birthday inspired the decision to leave.

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“I realized that it was time for me to turn the page at 60, and to try something new,” said Kotb. “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.”

She also hopes to spend more time with her daughters: Haley, 7, and Hope, 5. “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,” Kotb said. “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.”

In a letter to Today staff ahead of her official announcement, she reflected on “the longest professional love affair” of her life. Kotb joined NBC News 26 years ago, spending a decade at Dateline before transitioning to the morning show. There, she sipped wine and co-hosted the 10 a.m. hour with Kathie Lee Gifford, then Jenna Bush Hager. In 2018, after Matt Lauer’s ouster at the network, Kotb also became the co-anchor of Today alongside Savannah Guthrie, who gave an emotional sendoff during Thursday’s episode.

“You are so loved. We don’t want to imagine this place without you,” Guthrie told Kotb, adding that despite her sadness, “I am so proud of my friend. You have guts. For someone to leave at the top of their game, to leave something that’s wonderful that you love, where it’s easy and comfortable and beautiful and fun, and say, ‘But I dream bigger for myself into the great unknown.’ You have so much guts. You inspire me. I love you.”

Kotb will remain on the Today show through Jan. 1, 2025, and remain at NBC in an unspecified role. Her departure leaves two major hosting vacancies, but Kotb assured her co-workers “there’s plenty of time to talk about what’s ahead for all of us,” writing in her memo, “But one thing I know for sure right now is this: everything’s going to be just fine. The Peacock’s feathers are never ruffled… no matter who comes or goes.”