Hoda Kotb bids tearful 'Today' show farewell: Final show recap

It's the end of an era for the "Today" show.

Hoda Kotb, who has anchored the main program for six years and been an NBC staple for nearly two decades, marked her last show Friday.

The show transformed into a Hoda-palooza as "Today" hosts Al Roker, Craig Melvin, Carson Daly, Savannah Guthrie and Jenna Bush Hager united to pay tribute to their colleague. They were joined by a cast of characters from Kotb's past and a star-studded lineup of special guests.

As Kotb bid an emotional farewell, the host's impact on the program and its fans came into view. Loyal watchers outside held up signs, the crew behind the cameras shared in the emotion and NBC peers expressed admiration at Kotb's on-camera evolution.

Here's how NBC bid farewell to one of their most famous faces.

A Kathie Lee Gifford return

Kotb's former co-host Kathie Lee Gifford made a surprise return to the show.

In a video tribute, she told Kotb: "You are so beloved. I hope you’re feeling that from everybody."

Gifford said she was tuning in from Tennessee and was sorry she couldn't make it, before pulling a bait-and-switch and appearing through the curtains.

"I fell in love with Hoda," Gifford said of her tenure on the show, calling her former co-anchor "sunshine in a bottle."

Gifford then offered a prayer for Kotb's next chapter as she joined Hager for a wine toast to the future.

'You are so beloved': Kathie Lee Gifford surprises Hoda Kotb on final 'Today' episode

'Hoda & Jenna's' final chapter

At the top of the program, Kotb passed Hager a literal baton to mark the transition, saying "You're the perfect person to do this."

Later, in front of a live studio audience, Hager got the opportunity to share her own heartfelt farewell to Kotb.

"Endings can be hard and they can be so beautiful because it’s the start of something new," she said, as both women unsuccessfully attempted to hold back tears.

NBC royalty showed out for Hoda's exodus. Jimmy Fallon joined the farewell to gift her a framed piece of the carpeting from the elevators at 30 Rockefeller Center, where the “Today” show broadcasts.

"Onward and upward," Fallon signed the framed carpet. Fallon brought the jokes and applauded Kotb on her "curiosity" and on-air evolution.

The segment also featured a video message from Kotb's mother, who narrated what it felt like to sit on the sidelines of her daughter's illustrious career.

'We're in the building process': What's next for Hoda Kotb after 'Today' show exit?

The whole day came with a lavender hue. While Kotb herself wore a white pantsuit, crew and fans celebrating her outside the building sported purple hats and scarves. The baton Kotb passed to Hager featured a purple bow, and the walls of the "Today" studio were lit up lavender.

Fellow newswoman Gayle King (also dressed in the purple theme) joined Kotb for another surprise, gifting her a T-shirt making fun of the fact that the two women are oft-confused.

"I'm so excited that she is doing this on her own terms," King said of Kotb's exit.

Hoda Kotb debuts song with Walker Hayes

"Fancy Like" hit-maker Walker Hayes joined the show to perform an original song he penned alongside Kotb.

The tune, "Wednesdays," plays on the idea that while life may be punctuated by exclamations (It's a girl! She said yes!) it's made up mostly of just Wednesdays – average moments that if you love them will end up totaling a quality existence.

Kotb teared up as Hayes performed the song's chorus: "Just another Wednesday with you."

The entire tribute ? an hours-long affair? ultimately wrapped up with Kotb driving away in her mini-van, daughters in the backseat, to the tune of "Wednesdays."

The bumper was decked out newlywed style with streamers, cans and a sign that read: "Just repotted."

Hoda Kotb gets star-studded 'Today' sendoff with Walker Hayes, Simone Biles, Oprah

Savannah Guthrie, Craig Melvin bid farewell

In an anchor-specific video tribute to Kotb, "Today" looked back at her tenure on the show, chronicling interviews, costumed bits and heartfelt surprises for fans.

"If I don't do this interview does that mean she won't leave?" Guthrie joked to cameras, recalling how the two would need a makeup artist to come in for touch-ups after their off-camera chats got emotional.

"She's so special, it's almost beyond description," Guthrie said. The two shared another tear-streaked moment after the video wrapped.

"Hoda doesn't do interviews, she has conversations," said Melvin.

The first video tribute of the morning features messages from longtime fans as well as Hollywood and sports stars. Dwyane Wade, Jamie Lee Curtis and Kristin Chenoweth all offered parting messages.

Curtis, who was supposed to be at the show in person but was home instead to deal with the fallout from the fires ravaging Los Angeles, gifted Kotb a statue for her home, and Oprah Winfrey offered some parting words as well.

Craig Melvin replacing Hoda Kotb as 'Today' show co-anchor with Savannah Guthrie

Hoda Kotb's 'Eras' tour featuring Simone Biles, Maria Shriver

Hoda, a Taylor Swift superfan, received an Eras Tour-style sendoff as co-hosts offered her friendship bracelets and aired a 2009 interview with the then-emerging star.

In a look back through Kotb's own "eras," the broadcast featured an interview with gymnastics legend Simone Biles and a surprise appearance by Biles herself which brought Kotb to tears.

"I'm so proud of you," Kotb told Biles. "I love you."

Maria Shriver, who Kotb credited as helping her find a new chapter, also stopped by the show.

"Very few people will do that," Shriver said of leaving her post for the unknown, "and it's so brave."

Kotb's daughters Hope and Haley also joined the "Today" couch briefly, for a rendition of "Rainbow Connection" sung by Kermit the Frog himself.

Kotb shares farewell message with viewers

Kotb took some of the final moments of the show to turn the camera back towards viewers.

"This is not a goodbye letter, this is a love letter," she said, reading aloud a message she penned to viewers.

Reflecting on what it felt like to "rip off the news corset" she once wore during her hard-reporting "Dateline" era, she thanked viewers for supporting her as she evolved and became herself on camera in "the ride of a lifetime."

"Along the way, you invited me into your lives, your triumphs," Kotb said over videos of fans celebrating big milestones like being cancer-free news or receiving a scholarship.

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When is Hoda Kotb leaving the 'Today' show?

Kotb's final day on the show is Friday, Jan. 10.

When is Hoda's last day on the 'Today' show? Longtime NBC anchor signing off

Who will replace Hoda Kotb with Savannah Guthrie and Jenna Bush Hager?

Her exit, marked with plenty of fanfare, represents a new chapter for the show. That her anchor chair will be hard to fill is a given.

Melvin will take Kotb's spot on the main "Today" program alongside Guthrie, while the rest of Kotb's duties will be shared.

Loyal viewers have become accustomed to the specific brand of chemistry Kotb shares with co-host Bush Hager. In her place for now will be a rotating cast of A-listers from Scarlett Johansson to Keke Palmer. The musical chairs approach to hosting imitates a strategy some late-night hosts have used when they go on prolonged leave.

Hoda Kotb on wellness and the 'whispers' that led to 'Today' exit: 'Have you done it all?'

Who is Craig Melvin?

Melvin has been with NBC and MSNBC since 2011, joining as an MSNBC Live anchor through 2022, and an NBC News correspondent since 2012. The Emmy-winning journalist is also a "Dateline" anchor and has been with "Today" since 2018.

Melvin will begin his role on Monday, Jan. 13, and will continue co-anchoring "Today Third Hour."

"I'm beyond excited and grateful," Melvin said. "I wanted to thank NBC and the folks here who deemed me worthy … I have enjoyed just a lifetime of blessings, and this is the latest in a long line of blessings."

Why is Hoda Kotb leaving NBC morning show?

Kotb opened up to USA TODAY in October about her decision to leave, saying her exit didn't feel like a risk or loss.

"Weirdly, at that point, it was my only choice to me," she said. "I have everything I want. I'm not risking something. I have the love of my family. I have wonderful colleagues who will be my friends forever. I have it. So I didn't feel like, 'What am I losing?'"

She said an inner voice beckoned: "The whispers were very quiet, and then as they went on they became much louder, to a point where you almost couldn't not listen," Kotb said. "In different forms, it was saying, 'You're an adventurer.' It was saying, 'You need time with your kids (Haley Joy, 7, and Hope Catherine, 5).' It was saying, 'What's this next chapter?' It was saying, 'Have you done it all?'"

Kotb has worked with NBC News since 1998, originally as a "Dateline" correspondent, and has served as co-anchor of the "Today" show with Guthrie since 2018.

Hoda Kotb details 'weird' decision to leave 'Today' show after 16 years

Where is Hoda going after the 'Today' show?

Her next venture leans into wellness ? a concept she has long spotlighted on the show. In an appearance on "The Kelly Clarkson Show" earlier this month, the newswoman revealed she plans to launch a wellness company in the spring complete podcasts and retreats.

"I've been given way more than I deserve, way more," she told Clarkson. "So now it's like this is the season of giving, of helping, of mentoring, of showing and hopefully it could make someone else's life easier."

Contributing: Erin Jensen, Taijuan Moorman

This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: Hoda Kotb 'Today' show exit: Walker Hayes, Maria Shriver join farewell