Today‘s Hoda Kotb is leaving the NBC morning show after 17 years. There will be tears, but that’s not all you should know about her final episode on Jan. 10.
It’s the end of an era on Today.
Hoda Kotb announced in September that she planned to leave the NBC morning show after 17 years, the last six of which she spent as co-anchor alongside Savannah Guthrie while also remaining in her longtime perch as co-host of Today‘s fourth hour.
“Saying goodbye to something this amazing is hard,” the 60-year-old mother of two—who started her run on the network as a Dateline NBC correspondent 26 years ago—said on the Sept. 26 Today broadcast. “It weighed a lot on me. I went back and forth and back and forth, and then I thought to myself, ‘You know, I think this decade, I think I’m going to have to start choosing me.'”
Yet while her eventual departure seemed a ways off at the time…
That bittersweet day is finally upon us.
Hoda will be saying her final goodbyes to the gig on Jan. 10. And of course her Today family will be out in force for the special send-off that will officially conclude the week-long “Hoda-bration.”
We would advise you to keep a box of tissues handy, but it’s not as if the tears haven’t been flowing for months already.
“It’s the depression stage today,” Jenna Bush Hager, who replaced Kathie Lee Gifford as Hoda’s fourth hour co-host in 2019, said on the Dec. 10 Today broadcast as both ladies cried and laughed simultaneously. “I’ve already been through denial. Denial lasted a good month!”
Nathan Congleton/NBC via Getty ImagesJenna had previously joked that they should bring on CBS’ Gayle King as Hoda’s replacement to make her jealous.
“There’s a seat open,” Jenna teased on Today Dec. 3.
To which Hoda quipped, “My seat isn’t even cold yet!”
She also got all choked up when she opened her Secret Santa gift from Savannah on their Christmas episode and found a set of wishing candles and a lucite cube boasting the quote, “May you find a light to guide you home.”
Nathan Congleton/NBC via Getty Images“It’s a beautiful song that Savannah gave to me every time I was going through something new,” Hoda shared, explaining the significance. Savannah noted, “I thought you could put it on your desk in the morning when you’re reading your stuff.”
And yet somehow there will be even more tears to come by week’s end. Here’s everything to know about Hoda’s final episode of Today:
When is Hoda Kotb’s last Today show?
In case you missed it, Hoda’s final episode of Today is Friday, Jan. 10.
“We are having a Hoda-bration for Hoda’s final show, and guess what? We’re going to have a live audience,” Jenna shared Dec. 18 during Today With Hoda & Jenna. Registering her co-host’s shocked response, Jenna added, “There will be big surprises, lots of surprises that Hoda won’t even know about.”
Tickets for the special live show at 30 Rockefeller Plaza’s Studio 8G—also home to Late Night With Seth Meyers—quickly sold out.
Hoda was a guest on Late Night the next day, telling Seth Meyers, “I was just thinking as I walked in here, because this is going to be the spot…that the last one is going to be live on a Friday, it’s going to be pretty cool.”
Who will be the special guests on Hoda’s last episode of Today?
Well, that’s a surprise, obviously, but expect big-name farewells delivered both in person and over video message.
Who is replacing Hoda Kotb on Today?
Longtime Today news anchor and third hour co-host Craig Melvin will be replacing Hoda as co-anchor alongside Savannah.
“I am beyond excited and grateful,” the 45-year-old said on Today Nov. 14 in response to his promotion. “This is the latest in a long line of blessings.”
Craig will also remain on the third hour along with co-hosts Al Roker, Dylan Dreyer and Sheinelle Jones.
Calling him “that kind of good,” Hoda applauded the decision, telling Craig, “You have all the things that this job needs. You’re the right person for it.”
Nathan Congleton/NBC via Getty ImagesAs for Today‘s fourth hour, it will be temporarily rechristened Today With Jenna & Friends and Jenna said she would “date” different co-hosts before settling on a permanent replacement for Hoda.
Already planning to spend a week in the chair as guest co-host, starting Jan. 21: Scarlett Johansson.
Jenna revealed the booking coup Jan. 7 on Today, promising she had “so many fun things planned” with the Oscar-nominated actress. And, naturally, Hoda gave her enthusiastic seal of approval.
“First of all, you guys had a great click,” Hoda said. “She is an awesome person. And right away, I still remember…when she was here, you were like, ‘Can she do it?’ You know when you know someone’s gonna be good at something?”
And having been married to Saturday Night Live star Colin Jost since 2020, Scarlett already knows her way around 30 Rock.
Hoda previously told E! News that she didn’t care who replaced her with Jenna so long as they truly clicked.
“I don’t care if it’s her best friend, I don’t care if it’s someone she’s worked with, if it’s some celeb,” Hoda said in October, “When she gets in sync, that’s it. If she has chemistry, it will be beautiful.”
Nathan Congleton/NBC via Getty ImagesWhat will Hoda Kotb be doing after leaving Today?
No judgment if Hoda’s plans post-Today included sleeping in and spending more time with daughters Haley, 7, and Hope, 5, full stop.
But while she intends to do both of those things (if, after a decade of 3 a.m. wakeup calls, you consider a 5:30 a.m. SoulCycle class sleeping in), Hoda won’t be idling away the hours.
“I’ve been thinking about this day,” the Making Space With Hoda Kotb podcast host told E! News guest correspondent Daryn Carp in October. “I need a mini-plan, because I’ve had such structure for so many years. I’m a structure person. So I want to have my own little structure that is full of freedom and the ability to take walks and do things. I’m so excited for it.”
InstagramAfter making breakfast for her girls and walking them to school, coffee to-go in hand, Hoda continued, “I’m going to do work in my wellness space because I’ve got a lot of stuff coming. I’m going to be working for a few hours. I’m going to have a lunch with friends who I have not had a chance to eat lunch with in forever. Real conversations.”
Then, when it’s time, she’ll pick Haley and Hope up from school, ferry them to their various activities and make dinner—al fresco, preferably.
“I’m going to fire up the BBQ. I don’t care what the temperature is,” Hoda shared, “I love everything barbecued.”
And the wellness community better make space for Hoda, because she recently elaborated on her plans for a new venture.
“I am starting a wellness app and company that will involve retreats and a podcast and all kinds of things that we can get together, do things that I love,” she said on The Kelly Clarkson Show Jan. 6. “It’s not like going to Mexico with your girls, which is fun, but this is something that when you leave, you’ll go like, ‘Oh my gosh. I feel transformed. I feel different.'”
While she was initially skeptical of doing stuff she considered “woo-woo and weird,” Hoda added, “then all of a sudden, as I was doing it, I was like, ‘Wait, I feel calmer. I feel better.’ Woo-woo makes you feel good.”
And who wouldn’t want to create more memories like these? Check out Hoda’s sweetest photos with her two daughters:
Instagram/Hoda KotbHalloween 2024
After announcing she’s leaving Today, Hoda celebrates her first Halloween in the New York suburbs with her kids.
Instagram/Hoda KotbCheer-Worthy
Haley and Hope match in cheerleader costumes.
InstagramHoda got emotional as Haley and Hope surprised her with an early Mother’s Day gift.
InstagramJoined by her siblings Hala and Adel, nieces Hannah and Ella, mom Sami, daughters Haley Joy and Hope Catherine and fiancé Joel Schiffman, Hoda Kotb described the celebration as “my kinda birthday.”
Hoda enjoys a day with her daughters Haley Joy and Hope Catherine around New York City together.
Another Halloween in the books! Hoda and her first daughter spend their another Halloween together as their Sesame Street alter egos.
The Today show momma spends time with her own mom (and Haley’s grandma!) in this cute group shot on Halloween 2019.
The host shared this pic of her and her little one at a Sesame Street party in Oct. 2019.
The daytime talk show host spends a day splashing around the beach in Aug. 2019.
Haley Joy looks cute as a button celebrating her mom’s 55th birthday this past August.
Instagram“Look who is feeding Hope!” Kotb wrote on her Instagram in May 2019, showing off Haley feeding her newborn Hope.
InstagramKathie Lee Gifford, Hoda’s close friend and long-time former co-host at Today, met Hope in early May and they were all smiles all day.
InstagramIn April, the 55-year-old host shared a photo of her full family for the first time on Instagram writing, “This is us xo.”
InstagramIt’s a girl! Hoda introduced Hope to the world after surprising her Today show family on-air revealing that she had secretly adopted her second child.
InstagramOn Valentine’s Day, the TV host celebrated Haley’s second birthday and shared on Instagram how she felt saying, “So much love today.”
InstagramThe beaming TV personality spent Christmas with her mother, sister and daughter.
InstagramHaley celebrated her second Halloween by twinning with her mom in matching bee costumes.
InstagramIn August of 2018, the mother-daughter duo spent an autumn day together picking apples.
Instagram“I can’t believe I get to do this .. #grateful” she wrote on her 54th birthday.
InstagramOn Mother’s Day, Today co-anchor Hoda posed with her one-year-old cutie, Haley, as she sported a cute tee with the word “mama.”
Instagram“Pre dawn photo shoots in bed are a blast,” gushed the happy mom in a cute Insta selfie early on Mother’s Day.
InstagramOn March 2018, the Oklahoma-native celebrated partner Joel Schiffman‘s 60th birthday with their baby girl and a homemade cake.
Instagram“Home!!!!!” announced the TV host on Instagram after spending two weeks covering the 2018 Winter Olympics in Pyeongchang, South Korea.
InstagramThe day before arriving in Pyeongchang for the 2018 Winter Olympics, the TV personality had some fun with her little sweetheart and her USA beanie.
InstagramGooo Saints! Hoda and her little sport’s fan cheered on the New Orleans Saints in their game against the Minnesota Vikings on January 14.
Instagram“Santa we are ready!!!” the journalist wrote on this Christmas selfie with her mom, her partner and her little angel.
InstagramOn November 23, Hoda posed with her partner and her baby girl for the Macy’s Thanksgiving Day Parade.
InstagramFor her first Halloween, Haley wore an adorable bunny costume as she enjoyed trick-or-treating in a stroller driven by her mom and her mom’s long-term boyfriend.
InstagramOn October 26, Hoda dressed Haley in a jack-o-lantern costume writing on Instagram, “I couldn’t wait !!”
InstagramDuring a Labor Day weekend beach trip, Hoda snapped a selfie with six-month-old Haley and the rest of the family, including her mom (left), sister (top right) and brother (right).
