Hoda Kotb shares emotional moment behind her decision to leave NBC’s ‘Today’

LOS ANGELES, CALIFORNIA: Hoda Kotb's decision to leave NBC's 'Today' show came during a meaningful moment at her 60th birthday celebration. The beloved TV host shared her feelings during an appearance on 'The Tonight Show Starring Jimmy Fallon.'

“I knew in my heart, like, this is it, man, this is what the mountaintop must feel like,” Kotb said. She explained that the support from friends and coworkers during her birthday party made her realize it was time for a change.

Hoda Kotb embraces change after decades at NBC

After more than 25 years with NBC, Kotb announced she would be leaving her position early next year. She told her colleagues, “It’s time.” Having co-anchored the show with Savannah Guthrie since 2018, Kotb felt confident in her decision to step away from the high-profile role.

Kotb likened her career change to "repotting" herself. She said, “You know when you pull yourself up by the roots, and you're kind of dangling and you're like, ‘Oh, my God, what am I doing? What’s happening?’ But you know you're going to land kind of in fertile ground.”

During her time on the show, Kotb woke up at 3:15 a.m. daily. Fallon joked about her new freedom, saying, “You're going to go to concerts! You're going to go out on dates! You're going to do whatever the heck you want!”

Kotb also shared how she explained her decision to her daughters, Haley and Hope. She told them, “Mommy is going to be able to take you to school,” emphasizing the extra time they would have together.

Reflecting on her long career, Kotb called it “the longest love affair of my life.” She recalled her first day in New York, struggling with her ID badge and receiving encouragement from a tour group. “They were like, ‘Hoda?’ And I go, ‘Yeah?’ ‘Hi, we're from New Orleans, now, you hold your head up, hold your head, you go in there, you show them.’”

Fallon praised her talents, stating, “You created a whole brand - you're Hoda Kotb. People need you in their life.”

Kotb also expressed gratitude for the mentors who helped her along the way, saying, “Something amazing happened, I think from there, I started to get confidence.”

Hoda Kotb bids goodbye to NBC family

In her farewell message, Hoda Kotb acknowledged the emotional weight of her decision. “This is the hardest thing in the world,” she said as tears filled her eyes.

Savannah Guthrie expressed her love for Kotb, stating, “You are so loved. We don’t want to imagine this place without you.”

Kotb’s goodbye note highlighted her close relationships with her coworkers, calling them family. She reassured fans that she would still be part of the NBC family: “How could I not? Family is family.”

As Kotb prepares for this new chapter, her departure opens up opportunities for NBC to compete more fiercely against ABC's 'Good Morning America.' Her presence will be missed, but her legacy at NBC is secure.