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Hoda Kotb is a celebrated television personality. She is leaving her long held position on the “Today” show, this decision marks a new chapter for the well known journalist .
After a run that spanned 17 years she has announced that she will be leaving her anchor post. This decision prompted an on air "Hoda-bration" which acknowledged her accomplishments on the show as well as a look ahead into a new direction in the future.
Hoda has been with the show since 2008. Starting her career in hard news for “Dateline” the former journalist later partnered with Kathie Lee Gifford and then took on the co-hosting role. She has been a face known by many since joining "Today" but now shifts focus to areas more personal. She leaves as one of the most important faces of morning news shows that have inspired generations of female journalists.
Her farewell episode included many tributes from well known faces. Such as Kathie Lee Gifford, Jimmy Fallon, and media figures Maria Shriver and Gayle King were all at the show to support Hoda. These are among many which also included a visit from her mom and her two daughters Haley and Hope. Each person she was closest too came together to give her one last send off.
The broadcast featured multiple video segments such as stars Simone Biles, and Oprah Winfrey. Each message celebrated who she is as a journalist and her personal growth with being a mother which were mentioned and emphasized during their comments. Hoda’s daughters even got the chance to enjoy a performance from Kermit the Frog with “Rainbow Connection,” as he and Hoda also shared a warm hug. The episode had its fair share of touching moments with her colleagues making for a very meaningful departure.
Despite her leave of the “Today” show she will continue to work with NBC by doing stories for “Today” the “Making Space With Hoda Kotb” podcast and joining their coverage for the upcoming Olympics. With these plans Hoda has maintained she still has work to be done at the network while having an altered structure which suits the next stage of her journey.
The change will also provide more personal space by allowing her to dedicate herself more into raising her young daughters Haley and Hope. They were often seen with her during her final show creating an atmosphere of family unity.
Hoda created special bonds with her colleagues throughout the run of her work and many were present during her goodbye. Both Carson Daly, Al Roker and her co-host Savannah Guthrie mentioned her great impact on each one. She praised those that would carry on saying her belief in their work while also acknowledging how they would become "magic" as time went on. Craig Melvin was praised as being the best fit for what the “Today” show would become moving forward.
Guthrie called her “everyones’s sister” with an importance she held to being a good person who loves those that have came into her life. Melvin noted Hoda’s sense of compassion and love and was so appreciative of her as a colleague and as a close friend. These actions and viewpoints highlight how much she was valued by those she spent a majority of her time with and gave an image of her personal characteristics.
Hoda delivered a thoughtful message which was a pre-recorded love letter to her viewers and described how she had been touched by the outpouring of care, cards and letters over the years. With over 16 years with a wide viewership her love and thanks was displayed with raw emotion. She acknowledged what those viewers mean to her along with her time on set.
The letter included acknowledgement to her previous coworker and friend Kathie Lee and stated that she became who she was because of the time she spent there. Along with being "Hoda Women" she also then became “Hoda Mama” and those are among moments which changed her life trajectory.
Moving towards more aspects of personal goals she is creating a new business venture to involve things she learned about wellness including breath work. A wellness app and related items is set for her to continue with what has shown to be beneficial in her own life, also sharing information she had taken in from friends throughout her time.