Hoda Kotb might be returning to daytime TV sooner than we think, according to an insider.

Hoda Kotb could be getting ready to come back to daytime TV.
Hoda Kotb may be headed back to daytime TV.

The former Today co-host is reportedly being considered to take over The Kelly Clarkson Show, should the singer-turned-host step down, according to a person familiar with NBC’s internal discussions.

“There’s a long list of names and Hoda is part of that list,” the source claimed to the New York Post. “NBC never wanted Hoda to leave. The question is, would she want to come back?”

Kotb left Today in January to focus on family and health following her daughter’s medical issues.

Her decision stunned viewers and network colleagues alike.

With Clarkson’s contract set to expire next year, the network is weighing options as the pop star balances a full slate of music projects, including a new album in June and a Las Vegas residency beginning July 4.

“If the album doesn’t do well, she might want to keep her talk show,” the source said. “But she has a lot going on and the timing may be right for the next chapter.”

NBC declined to comment. Representatives for Clarkson and Kotb also did not respond to requests for comment.

While no final decisions have been made, the network is reportedly seeking a familiar face with broad appeal, and Kotb, who joined NBC in 1998, checks multiple boxes.

“Hoda ticks a lot of boxes. She’s an Egyptian, older Kelly Clarkson,” the source said.

In addition to Kotb, other potential replacements mentioned include Wanda Sykes, Willie Geist, Roy Wood Jr., Josh Groban, and Molly Sims, all of whom have previously guest-hosted or worked with NBC.

Maria Shriver, the former weekend Today anchor and recent author, is also said to be in the mix.

Insiders say Kotb might be drawn back by the relative ease of a daytime show, compared to the grueling early-morning hours of Today.

The talk show tapes two episodes a day, typically at 11 a.m. and 3 p.m., giving hosts a more family-friendly schedule.

“A talk show is good for a mom,” one person said. “It’s a cakewalk compared to what she was doing before.”

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Kotb co-hosted Today with Savannah Guthrie for seven years. Since her departure, ratings have dipped slightly, from around 2.8 million viewers to a range between 2.5 and 2.7 million.

Her former 10 a.m. show with Jenna Bush Hager, now titled Jenna & Friends, also saw a modest ratings slide, currently averaging 1.1 to 1.2 million viewers.

Kotb left Today in January to focus on family and health.(Image: Nathan Congleton/NBC via Getty Images)
The Kelly Clarkson Show, which premiered in 2019, has seen ratings slip from 1.9 million viewers to an average of 1.2 million this season, despite winning 22 Daytime Emmys.

“Kelly’s No. 1 priority is her children, and they always will be,” a separate industry source said. “The show is grueling. It’s a whole lot of work and I hear that Kelly would like to spend more time down South.”