Hoda Kotb announces departure from the Today Show: “Time for me to close the chapter”

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

“At 60, I realized it was time for me to turn over a new leaf and try something new,” Kotb said. “I remember standing outside and looking at this wonderful group of people with these amazing signs, and I thought, ‘This is what the crest of the wave feels like to me.’ And I thought, it can’t get any better than this, and I decided this is the right time for me to move on.”

She also hopes to spend more time with her daughters: Haley7 and Hope5. “Obviously, I had my kids late in life, and I thought they deserved a bigger piece of my time pie than I did,” Kotb said. “I feel like we only have a limited amount of time. And when you consider all of that, it’s the hardest thing in the world.”

In a letter to Today employees before her official announcement, she reflected on “the longest professional love affair” of her life. Kotb joined NBC News 26 years ago and spent a decade at Date line before switching to the morning show. There she sipped wine and hosted the 10 a.m. hour together with Kathie Lee GiffordThen Jenna Bush Hager. In 2018, after Matt LauerAfter his dismissal from the station, Kotb also became co-host of Today next to Savannah Guthriewhich led to an emotional farewell in 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’m so proud of my friend. You have guts. For someone to leave at the peak of their career, to leave something wonderful that you love, where it’s easy and comfortable and beautiful and fun, and say, ‘But I dream bigger for myself, the great unknown.’ You have so much guts. You inspire me. I love you.”

Kotb stays on the Today She will air the show until January 1, 2025, and will remain at NBC in an unspecified role. Her departure leaves two major anchor positions vacant, but Kotb assured her colleagues that “there is still plenty of time to talk about what lies ahead for all of us,” writing in her memo, “But one thing I know for sure now: Everything will be OK. The Peacock never gets rattled…no matter who comes or goes.”