Hoda Kotb is stepping into a fresh phase of her life after saying an emotional goodbye to Today. 

The television personality announced in September 2024 that she would be leaving the morning show after nearly three decades with NBC. 

At 60 years old, Kotb felt it was the perfect time to embrace change and explore new opportunities.

“I just turned 60, and it was such a monumental moment for me,” Kotb shared during her on-air announcement. 

“I started thinking about that decade—what does it mean? What does it hold? What’s it gonna have for me?

And I realized that it was time for me to turn the page and try something new.”

Her decision was deeply personal, influenced by both her career aspirations and her role as a mother.

Prioritizing Family and Personal Growth

Kotb has always been open about how much motherhood means to her. She adopted her two daughters, Haley and Hope, later in life, and that played a significant role in her choice to leave Today.

“I had my kiddos late in life, and I was thinking, ‘They deserve a bigger piece of my time,’” she explained. “We only have a finite amount of time, and I want to be present for them.”

Her departure was marked by a heartfelt farewell episode on January 10, which was dubbed the “Hoda-bration.” Following her exit, Craig Melvin stepped into her role alongside Savannah Guthrie, while Jenna Bush Hager continued hosting Today With Jenna & Friends with a rotating lineup of guest cohosts.

A Continued Presence at NBC

Although Kotb stepped away from her full-time hosting duties, she isn’t severing ties with NBC completely. She confirmed that she will continue to be part of the network in a special correspondent role.

“I think it’ll be kind of a Snoop-ish role,” she joked, referencing Snoop Dogg’s commentary during the 2024 Olympics. “I want to be a supporting character on a team that is already in place so that I’ll come in and just have a role there.”

Additionally, she will continue hosting her popular Making Space podcast. Kotb also revealed that she and NBC had discussed the possibility of her making occasional appearances on Today and other network programs every few weeks.

A New Passion for Wellness

Beyond her television career, Kotb is also looking to explore the wellness industry. She first hinted at this new direction during an October 2024 episode of Today With Hoda & Jenna, where she shared her growing interest in health and self-care.

“I don’t know if you’ve ever had a yearning, a calling, a desire, and you can’t quit it, even if you try,” she said. “But sometimes, you know there’s something else you want to try in your life.”

Her fascination with wellness stems from personal experience. “I realized what was happening to me—I tried different things, and I noticed my body was calmer, I was getting sick less, I was feeling better,” she explained. “I was a better parent, a better friend, a better sister, a better daughter. And I thought, all these tiny things I was doing day after day were helping to change me inside.”

Launching a Wellness Brand

During a January 6 appearance on The Kelly Clarkson Show, Kotb officially announced her latest venture—a wellness-focused company and app.

“I am starting a wellness app and company that will involve retreats and a podcast and all kinds of things that we can do together,” she said. “It’s not like going to Mexico with your girls, which is fun, but this is something that when you leave, you’ll go like, ‘Oh my gosh, I feel transformed. I feel different.’”

She described the project as still being in its “building process,” with the app expected to launch in the spring.

Embracing Life Beyond Television

Leaving Today has also given Kotb the chance to focus on the simple joys of everyday life. Since relocating outside of New York City in early 2024, she has embraced a more suburban lifestyle with her daughters.

“I’m so excited because, for the first time, we decided where the Christmas tree was going to go,” she shared on a December 2024 episode of Hoda & Jenna. “And we know from this day on, this is where it’s gonna go—all these cool things.”

From trick-or-treating with her kids to hosting family holiday celebrations, Kotb is fully embracing the opportunity to create lasting memories with her loved ones.

A Bright Future Ahead

While her departure from Today marked the end of an era, Kotb’s future is filled with exciting possibilities. Whether she’s contributing to NBC as a special correspondent, expanding her wellness brand, or simply enjoying quality time with her children, she’s approaching this next chapter with enthusiasm and purpose.

As she put it, “I want to live in wellness. I want to work in that space. I want to start things. I’ve got things that are percolating inside that I’m gonna, hopefully, have fully formed soon.”

With her signature warmth and determination, Hoda Kotb is proving that life’s most meaningful moments often come from embracing change and stepping into the unknown.

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