It’s officially the end of an era. After gracing television screens across the world on the Today show for the past 17 years, Hoda Kotb announced that she will be departing the show as co-anchor in an emotional letter written to NBC staff.
“As I write this, my heart is all over the map,” Kotb wrote on September 26. “I know I’m making the right decision, but it’s a painful one. And you all are the reason why. They say two things can be right at the same time, and I’m feeling that so deeply right now. I love you and it’s time for me to leave the show.”
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The host revealed in her letter that her departure from anchoring stems from her desire to spend more time with family, specifically her mother and two daughters, Hope and Haley. “My broadcast career has been beyond meaningful, a new decade of my life lies ahead, and now my daughters and my mom need and deserve a bigger slice of my time pie,” she added. “I will miss you all desperately, but I’m ready and excited.”
Kotb will remain in her current role until 2025—when the time comes, she will no longer anchor or host, but will still remain a part of the team in a much smaller capacity. “Happily and gratefully, I plan to remain a part of the NBC family, the longest work relationship I’ve been lucky enough to hold close to my heart,” she concluded her statement. “I’ll be around. How could I not? Family is family and you all will always be a part of mine,”
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The host has been a part of the NBC network for a total of 26 years, but joined Today‘s fourth-hour broadcast at 10 a.m. in September 2007, with co-host Kathie Lee Gifford joining her in April 2008. Jenna Bush Hager then became Kotb’s co-host in August 2019 when Gifford left the show. Kotb was named Today co-anchor in January 2018 following Matt Lauer’s sexual misconduct scandal.
