If you had told America in the late 1990s that a vibrant, Egyptian-American woman named Hoda Kotb would one day become the heartbeat of morning television, most would have blinked in confusion. But here we are, a quarter-century later, and Hoda Kotb’s name is as synonymous with morning coffee and sunrise as the Today show itself. And now, in a move that has left the nation stunned, sentimental, and scrambling for answers, Hoda has announced her departure from the anchor desk that made her a household name.
It’s hard to overstate what Hoda Kotb has meant to the Today show—and to millions of viewers who have faithfully tuned in for years, through presidential elections, royal weddings, Olympic triumphs, and the most ordinary Tuesday mornings. She’s been the steady hand in breaking news, the warm hug after a national tragedy, the friend who makes you laugh so hard you nearly spit out your cereal. And now, she’s leaving it all behind—not in disgrace, not in scandal, but at the very top, on her own terms, and with the kind of grace and gratitude that’s become her signature.
The announcement came on September 26th, and for a moment, the bustling studio seemed to freeze. There was Hoda, flanked by her Today family, her eyes shining with emotion as she called her tenure “the longest professional love affair of my life.” For viewers, it felt like watching the end of an era—one that began when Hoda first joined NBC as a Dateline correspondent in 1998 and culminated in her historic appointment as Savannah Guthrie’s co-anchor in 2018, making them the first all-female anchor team in the show’s 72-year history.
But if you think this is just another TV anchor calling it quits, think again. Hoda’s story is one of resilience, reinvention, and the kind of quiet revolution that changes not just a show, but a culture. She’s a trailblazer in every sense—a woman of color who broke through the glass ceiling of network news, a survivor who shared her breast cancer battle with the world, a single mom who adopted two daughters in her fifties and never missed a beat on air.
Her decision, she says, was not made lightly. She turned 60 in August, a milestone that prompted deep reflection. “This is the hardest thing in the world,” she admitted, “but I feel ready to turn the page while I’m at the top of the wave.” For Hoda, it’s about more than just sleep (though after years of waking up at 3 a.m., who could blame her for wanting to hit snooze?). It’s about her daughters, Haley Joy and Hope Catherine, the two little girls who changed everything when they entered her life.
“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,” she told viewers, her voice trembling with honesty. “I feel like we only have a finite amount of time.” It was a moment that resonated with parents everywhere—the realization that even the most fulfilling career can’t compete with the need to be present for the ones you love most.
For Hoda, the decision to step away was both heartbreaking and liberating. She described wanting to leave “at the top of the wave,” not waiting until she was “clinging to the surfboard.” It’s a move that’s as bold as it is rare in television, where anchors often hang on until they’re pushed out or fade into irrelevance. Not Hoda. She’s leaving with the respect and admiration of her colleagues, her audience, and her industry intact.
Her co-anchor, Savannah Guthrie, put it best: “It takes such guts to leave a place where you’re so comfortable, so beloved. There’s nothing rash about this.” Jenna Bush Hager, Hoda’s partner-in-crime during the lighter fourth hour of Today, was moved to tears discussing her friend’s exit. “It’s brave to make the choice to be there for your family and to give up something that we all love so much,” she said.
But if Hoda’s history is any indication, this is not the end of her story—it’s simply the start of a new chapter. She’s not disappearing from NBC; she’ll remain with the network in an as-yet-undisclosed role. There are whispers of a project in the wellness space, an area Hoda describes as “a beautiful, fertile, wonderful place to be.” She’s also continuing her podcast, “Making Space With Hoda Kotb,” where she dives deep into the stories of people who’ve reinvented their lives, much like she’s doing now.
And then there are her books—collections of inspiring quotes and personal reflections that have become bestsellers, beloved by fans who find comfort in her words. Her Instagram, a patchwork of motivational mantras and snapshots of single-mom life, is a testament to her enduring optimism and relatability. Just before her exit announcement, she posted, “By the way, I’m wearing the smile you gave me.” It’s classic Hoda—grateful, gracious, always looking for the light.
But what, exactly, will life after Today look like for Hoda Kotb? For starters, there will be more mornings spent walking her daughters to school, coffee in hand, sneakers on her feet, relishing the simple joys she’s so often had to miss. In September, she took a day off just to be there for her girls’ first day at their new school—a moment she described with genuine delight. “I loved the school walk, wearing sneakers, carrying coffee and being like normal people. It was awesome!”
That, perhaps, is the most remarkable thing about Hoda. Despite her fame, her accolades, her history-making run on one of television’s most iconic shows, she’s never lost sight of what matters most. She’s been open about her struggles—her battle with cancer, her journey to motherhood, her breakup with fiancé Joel Schiffman (with whom she continues to co-parent). She’s let viewers in on her lowest lows and her highest highs, never shying away from vulnerability.
It’s this authenticity that has endeared her to millions. When she documented her breast cancer treatment in 2007, including a mastectomy and reconstructive surgery, she didn’t do it for ratings. She did it to give hope to others facing the same fight. When she adopted Haley Joy and later Hope Catherine, she let the world in on her joy and her fears, proving that motherhood has no expiration date.
And when her youngest daughter faced a health scare in 2023, Hoda was candid about the terror and helplessness she felt as a parent. “To watch her go through a difficult time at just 3 years old is really tough for any parent because you’re helpless,” she shared. “But I think you realize just how incredibly resilient and strong she is. She’s teaching me, which is so funny.” It’s a sentiment that parents everywhere understood—and one more reason why Hoda’s departure feels so personal to so many.
Of course, there’s also the history she made on the Today show itself. In January 2018, she and Savannah Guthrie became the first all-female anchor team in the program’s long history—a milestone that reverberated far beyond Studio 1A. For decades, morning news was dominated by men, with women relegated to supporting roles or “lighter” segments. Hoda and Savannah shattered that glass ceiling, proving that women could lead, inform, and connect with viewers just as powerfully as any male anchor.
It wasn’t just a win for gender equality—it was a seismic shift in the culture of morning television. Hoda, only the second woman of color to sit in the Today anchor chair (after Ann Curry’s brief stint), brought a new perspective, a new energy, and a new kind of empathy to the show. She wasn’t afraid to show emotion, to laugh, to cry, to be real. And audiences responded, making Today the top-rated morning show and cementing Hoda’s status as a national treasure.
Her partnership with Jenna Bush Hager on the fourth hour of Today has been a masterclass in chemistry and fun. Whether they were dressing up as Sonny and Cher for Halloween or swapping stories about motherhood and marriage, Hoda and Jenna made mornings feel a little lighter, a little brighter, a little more human. It’s no wonder Jenna was so emotional about her friend’s departure—she knows, as we all do, that there’s no replacing Hoda Kotb.
So, what’s next for the beloved anchor? Only time will tell. But if history is any guide, Hoda will approach this new chapter with the same curiosity, courage, and heart that have defined her career. She’s hinted at new projects, new adventures, and, most importantly, more time with her daughters. She’s ready to “turn the page,” to see what life has in store beyond the bright lights and early mornings of Studio 1A.
For fans, the news is bittersweet. There’s nostalgia for the years gone by, for the mornings spent with Hoda’s infectious laugh and boundless optimism. But there’s also excitement—curiosity about what she’ll do next, and confidence that whatever it is, she’ll do it with the same integrity and joy that have made her a legend.
In the end, Hoda Kotb’s legacy isn’t just about the stories she’s told or the barriers she’s broken. It’s about the lives she’s touched—the viewers who found comfort in her words, the colleagues who found inspiration in her example, the daughters who will grow up knowing that their mother changed the world simply by being herself.
As she prepares to say goodbye to the Today show, Hoda leaves behind more than just an empty chair. She leaves a legacy of kindness, courage, and authenticity—a reminder that the best anchors aren’t just the ones who deliver the news, but the ones who make us feel a little less alone in the world.
So here’s to Hoda Kotb—trailblazer, survivor, mother, friend. Here’s to the mornings she made brighter, the ceilings she shattered, the hearts she healed. Here’s to whatever comes next, and to the millions who will be cheering her on, every step of the way. The Today show may never be the same, but thanks to Hoda, it will always be a place where hope, humor, and humanity reign supreme.
