Hoda Kotb has announced her departure from the “Today” show after six years of co-anchoring. She shared her decision in a letter addressed to the show’s staff on Thursday, expressing mixed emotions about her choice.
Kotb, who started her career with NBC News in 1998 as a correspondent for “Dateline,” joined the “Today” show team in 2007. She began co-anchoring alongside Savannah Guthrie in 2018, becoming part of the first all-women anchor team in the show’s history following the firing of Matt Lauer due to sexual harassment allegations.
In her letter, Kotb expressed her deep appreciation for her colleagues, including Guthrie, Jenna Bush Hager, and Al Roker, describing them as integral to her experience at the show.
During Thursday’s broadcast, Kotb revealed that her decision to leave came after her 60th birthday. She emphasized that it was time for her to embark on a new chapter in her life.
Kotb also indicated her desire to spend more time with her daughters, Haley, 7, and Hope, 5, stating that her career has been incredibly meaningful but that family needs a larger portion of her time.
Although she will remain with the “Today” show until the beginning of 2025, Kotb assured fans that she plans to stay with NBC, though she did not specify her future projects. NBC has yet to announce a replacement for her co-anchor position after her departure.