It’s the end of an era as Hoda Kotb signed off as Today co-anchor and Hoda & Jenna co-host. There was no shortage of sweet moments over the four hours of TV, with one brief pre-emption announcing President-elect Donald Trump’s “unconditional discharge” sentence.
While there was plenty of news to deliver on Kotb’s last day — the Los Angeles County fires, Jimmy Carter’s funeral — it was also very much a “Hoda-bration,” which is what NBC dubbed her week-long send-off. There were montages, colleague tributes, celebrity tributes and lots of tears.
As the news show kicked off Friday morning, co-anchor Savannah Guthrie teased that the day would be about celebrating “everything everyone adores about Hoda filled with special surprises and a lot of joy.”
See for yourself — The Yodel is the go-to source for daily news, entertainment and feel-good stories.
The female anchor team — the first ever on the show — held hands as Kotb, wearing a white pantsuit, said, “One last time. Let’s do this.”
Kotb revealed in a behind-the-scenes video that Guthrie — who wore black for the occasion — gifted her a bracelet that says “With you” in cursive as well as a ring that says, “Love.” She said, “I feel loved and held.”
Each member of the Today team paid tribute to Kotb in a video. Guthrie, who said Kotb was “like a sister to me,” said, “I love you deeply. I always tell you: Whether you are sitting next to me or not, whether we get up at 4 o’clock in the morning or not, you will always be by my side.”
Al Roker talked about his near-death health scare in 2022, when Kotb visited him nearly every day at the hospital — so often people could have mistaken her for a doctor.
Craig Melvin, Kotb’s replacement, said, “Hoda doesn’t do interviews. She has conversations [in which] she’s peering into your soul.” He talked about how encouraging she has been of him. (Kotb wished him luck on Monday, when he takes over, joking she won’t be watching because she’ll be sleeping in.)
Carson Daly spoke of Kotb’s good energy, how she’s always singing and dancing on the set, and he dedicated Coldplay’s “All My Love” to her.
Keith Morrison, who worked with Kotb on Dateline earlier in her 26-year career with NBC News, talked about mentoring her as she learned to narrate stories. He said, “We will miss our Hoda.”
NBC correspondent Maria Shriver was there to discuss Kotb’s next act professionally: launching a business in the wellness space. Shriver told her, “You’re made for this… You’re going to help people come alive.”
Kotb, a breast cancer survivor, is known for her good energy and sharing inspiring quotes on her Instagram. The team said she added the “morning boost” segment, an uplifting story that airs after a series of tough news stories. Kotb said Jenna Bush Hager will take over the “boost,” handing her Hoda & Jenna co-host a metallic baton to commemorate the transition.
The fans in the plaza were ready to say goodbye to Kotb. There was a big crowd of people with posters and glasses that spelled out “Hoda.” Kotb quipped that a security guard outside told her, “The next time you retire, do it in July,” as it’s an especially cold week in New York.
There were a ton of celebrity tributes, from Olympic gymnast Simone Biles, who appeared in person, to pre-taped ones from Oprah Winfrey and Kristin Chenoweth. Jamie Lee Curtis also had an orb made for Kotb inscribed with, “Every today with you is a better day.”
Kotb said her decision to leave was made around her two young daughters, Haley and Hope, both of whom made an appearance. They said they were excited that their mother would be home on Monday morning to walk them to school.
Kotb — with guest Taylor Swift and former anchor Ann Curry — in 2007, the year she joined Today as a correspondent. (Ali Paige Goldstein/NBCU Photo Bank/Getty Images)
Mother and daughters were serenaded by Kermit the Frog, who sang, “Rainbow Connection,” the song Kotb sings to her girls each night. Kotb became emotional listening to it, especially when her colleagues joined in.
Other family members supporting Kotb on her last day included her sister, brother, sister-in-law and nieces. She said her mother, Sameha, who has supported her as a working mom through the years by taking the kids to school, was “at home watching,” having previously made several long trips to New York City from the suburbs where Kotb moved over the summer.
The 8 a.m. hour ended on the plaza, with everyone rocking purple hats and Kotb thanking ” every person who came out here. I read your cards. I got your bracelets. I got the scarves you crocheted. I read the texts. I got everything. I want to say from the bottom of my heart, thank you,” she said. “I love you.”
The celebration picked up later on Hoda & Jenna at 10 a.m. Bush Hager started by saying their final show together would be “a love letter” to Kotb, and the woman of the hour replied, “I think I’m ready.”
They talked about letting the emotions flow and not trying to stop them. Bush Hager joked that the show was “brought to you by Kleenex.”
TODAY — Pictured: Hoda Kotb and Jenna Bush Hager on Monday, January 6, 2025 — (Photo by: Nathan Congleton/NBC via Getty Images)
Kotb debuted on the fourth hour in 2007 and in 2008 began co-hosting with Kathie Lee Gifford. The current hosting team of the more light-hearted lifestyle show began in 2019 after Gifford departed.
The anchor’s daughters and extended family members were once again present. She also invited her best friends and new mom friends from her Westchester County town.
Kotb’s mom and chief cheerleader taped a tribute, telling her daughter, “I’m proud of you and I’m sure you’re going to be doing great work later on.”
Bush Hager announced that the winner of a “Hoda lookalike contest” was the first guest, and it turned out to be her celebrity lookalike Gayle King of CBS Mornings.
“I’m so excited that [Hoda’s] doing this on her own terms,” King said of Kotb’s decision to leave Today.
A love letter Bush Hager wrote to her co-host was partially interrupted by Trump news, but she praised Kotb, saying, “Thank you, Hoda, for everything you’ve taught me, everything you’ve given me. All the hugs. all the heart, all the laughs, all the love. I will miss you my friend, but I love you and I’m so proud.”
The Today show team — Guthrie, Melvin, Roker and all — appeared to give Kotb hugs. The Tonight Show‘s Jimmy Fallon dropped by to give her a gift — carpet from the NBC elevator. Singer Walker Hayes came on to perform the song “Wednesdays.”
A fun surprise was Gifford sending a video message to her “darling Hoda woman” from Tennessee, saying she was sorry she couldn’t make it but she hoped Kotb was feeling the love. Gifford then appeared live, dancing out. She serenaded her former co-host of 11 years with “The Best Is Yet to Come.” Of course, there was wine and a toast, with Gifford saying, “May you walk into the most joyful, prosperous, purposeful time of your life with those precious daughters that I watched come into your life.” Though Gifford added that she doesn’t drink “straight wine” anymore, just spritzers.
Kotb shared her own love letter to viewers as the show wrapped up. She thanked viewers for years of support, and recapped memorable moments. She also shared personal highlights, including getting to share on-air when she adopted her daughters. She also spoke of her friendships with co-hosts Gifford and Bush Hager.
“As I sit here today, in my final moments on this final day, in this chapter of my career, I want to say thank you from the bottom of my very full heart for the ride of a lifetime.”
The show — and Kotb’s Today tenure — ended with her shouting out the team behind the show, led by executive producer Talia Parkinson-Jones, as they stood onstage with her. She said they lifted her up each day. Haley and Hope ran up to join her as she signed off the last time with Bush Hager by her side.
Her final words? Telling people to tune into Jenna & Friends on Monday and signing off with, “We love you!”
Updated, Jan. 10 at 11:35 a.m. ET: This article has been updated to reflect new details about Hoda Kotb’s last day on Today.
