Hoda Kotb Announces 'Painful' End to 'Today' Career

Hoda Kotb announced on Thursday, Sept. 26, that after over five years as co-anchor of the morning program Today, she'll be stepping back from the broadcast.

The television personality shared the bittersweet news on that day's episode, telling the audience, "I realized that it was time for me to turn the page at 60, and to try something new."

She continued, "I remembered standing outside looking at these beautiful bunch of people with these gorgeous signs, and I thought, 'This is what the top of the wave feels like for me.' And I thought it can't get better, and I decided that this is the right time for me to kind of move on."

In a letter to her fellow Today staffers, she added, "...my heart is all over the map. 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."

While Kotb has spent several years as co-anchor at Today, her time with NBC has spanned over two and a half decades.

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"My time at NBC has been the longest professional love affair of my life," she continued in her letter. "But only because you’ve been beside me on this twenty-six-year adventure. Looking back, the math is nuts. 26 years at NBC News — Ten years at 'Dateline,' seven on the seven o’clock hour, sixteen on the ten o’clock hour."

She's also built an incredibly close network of "professional relationships" that turned into "some of [her] most cherished friendships."

"Savannah: my rock. Jenna [Bush Hager]: my ride-or-die. Al [Roker]: my longest friend at 30 Rock. Craig [Melvin], Carson [Daly], Sheinelle [Jones] and Dylan [Dreyer]: my family. Libby, Mazz and Talia: my fearless leaders," she continued. "I will miss each and every one of you at TODAY desperately."

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The impressive group still has time to spend together, though. Kotb plans to stick around a little longer, with her final show scheduled for sometime in early 2025. She's also not completely retiring from the network.

"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. "I’ll be around. How could I not? Family is family and you all will always be a part of mine."

Next: Hoda Kotb Distracted by Jenna Bush Hager's New Hairstyle During 'Today' Segment