TODAY ratings have seen a resurgence for Hoda Kotb’s last week on air, as three million viewers tuned in to say goodbye to the beloved co-anchor.
Hoda, 60, co-hosted her final episode of Today on Friday, January 10 after 26 years with NBC.
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Hoda Kotb during her final day co-hosting TodayCredit: Getty
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Ratings for Hoda’s final week reached over 3 million viewersCredit: NBC
The U.S. Sun can exclusively reveal 3,068,000 viewers tuned in for Hoda’s final week.
This is a 21 percent increase from the week prior, which had 2,538,000 viewers.
The last time ratings reached the three-million mark was the week of Thanksgiving with 3,214,000 viewers, as the holiday parade aired.
Today with Hoda & Jenna also had a surge in ratings, as 1,956,000 viewers watched her final week, up 39 percent from previous weeks.
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Hoda and Jenna also saw a surge in ratingsCredit: NBC
END OF AN ERA
Hoda announced her departure from Today after six years of co-anchoring the show in September.
Hoda said in a statement, “So I was doing the math, and I realized I have spent 26 years at NBC.
“I just turned 60, and it was such a monumental moment for me when I turned 60 years old… What does that decade mean?… And I realize it was time for me to turn the page at 60, and to try something new.”
Hoda continued, recalling a moment when she celebrated her birthday with her children as “what the top of the wave feels like for me.”
“I thought, it can’t get better. And I decided that this is the right time to move on.”
Hoda Kotb breaks down in tears & sobs ‘that’s not fair!’ after surprise tribute from co-hosts on last day ever at Today
She noted the adoption of her children Haley, 8, and Hope, 5, and said they “deserve a bigger piece of my time pie.”
Hoda called the decision “the hardest thing in the world.”
SAD GOODBYE
The final week was filled with emotional moments.
Hoda broke down in tears when her team organized for the family of a woman who died of breast cancer in 2017 to come to the studio, as Hoda had shared a close bond with her.
The anchor immediately shed tears when Erin Ludwig’s husband and two daughters, now 13 and 10, walked into the studio after a segment about their late mom’s story.
Hugging the family, Hoda cried, “Wow, wow, wow. I can’t believe this moment happened. You guys, I can’t, I don’t know how to say thank you.
“I can’t wait to tell my girls about you girls – it’s going to be pretty cool.”
On her final episode, Today anchors presented Hoda with a surprise video montage of her best moments.
“That was not fair,” Hoda said while crying after the heartfelt video.
“I’ve not been able to articulate because I’m a mess most of the time,” Hoda confessed.
The TV icon went one by one and thanked her co-stars.
The special moment between the anchors was followed by surprise video messages from famous friends Jamie Lee Curtis and Oprah Winfrey.
Hope and Haley joined their mom on the show, along with brother, sister and nieces.
Hoda broke into tears again as she thanked viewers for celebrating her last day with surprises, special messages and friendship bracelets.
Craig Melvin will replace Hoda.
Today also saw a cast shakeup on Tuesday, January 15 when Sheinelle Jones revealed she is taking time off to focus on family health issues.
TODAY Show hosts
NBC’s Today show premiered in 1952 and has bidden viewers good morning every weekday since, adding Saturday and Sunday shows in the 1980s and 1990s. The show’s current host lineup includes:
Al Roker
Savannah Guthrie
Craig Melvin
Jenna Bush Hager
Carson Daly
Sheinelle Jones
Dylan Dreyer
Peter Alexander
Kristen Welker
Willie Geist
NEW CAREER
In addition to spending time with her family, Hoda is also delving into the wellness industry.
Speaking on The Kelly Clarkson Show, she said, “So I kind of got hooked in the wellness space, like a couple years ago.
“I started doing stuff that I thought seemed woo-woo and weird, and then all of a sudden, as I was doing it, I was like, ‘wait, I feel calmer, I feel better.’ Woo-woo makes you feel good!”
“So I am starting a wellness app and company that will involve retreats and a podcast and all kinds of things that we can get together do things that I love.”
Hoda added, “So this thing, I think, is going to launch in the spring, so we’re in the building process, but I can’t wait, and I’ll come and tell you about it as soon as it’s ready.”
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Hoda’s final episode was emotional, as many tears were shed among Hoda and her co-anchorsCredit: NBC
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Hoda will focus on her family and a new venture in the wellness industry
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