By Daily Mail (U.S.) | Created at 2025-01-10 12:32:01 | Updated at 2025-01-10 15:52:43
3 hours ago
Hoda Kotb has been a welcome face for millions of Americans while serving as a co-host at the Today Show for the past 17 years.
However, last year saw the TV legend announce she had chosen to end her time on the morning program - a move that left viewers devastated.
Indeed, the star has enjoyed a career at NBC News for nearly three decades - starting out as a Dateline correspondent and rising up to become one of the most beloved stars on the network.
From her headline-making antics with Kathie Lee Gifford at the 'news and booze desk' to her heartfelt moments with Jenna Bush Hager, Hoda has been a star example of how to enjoy a lengthy career in broadcast journalism.
However, after celebrating her 60th birthday last year, the star realized she wanted to spend more time with her daughters as she explained: 'Obviously I had my kiddos late in life, and I was thinking that they deserve a bigger piece of my time pie that I have. I feel like we only have a finite amount of time.'
Here, DailyMail.com takes a look back the inspirational career journey of the beloved journalist and anchor.
Hoda Kotb has been a welcoming face for millions of Americans over the past 17 years while serving as a co-host at the Today Show
Hoda famously graduated from Virginia Tech with a degree in broadcast journalist back in 1986 and began working as a local news journalist
From journalism graduate to local news star
Hoda graduated from Virginia Tech with a degree in broadcast journalist back in 1986.
Reflecting on her decision to attend the university, she explained in 2023 that she felt like she was 'supposed' to attend the popular college and was drawn to the large student population
Speaking to Virginia Tech's Dawn Jefferies, she stated: 'It taught me skills that still serve me to this day, things that are far beyond the books and the pulling the all-nighters.'
After she graduated, Hoda had to wait a while before she landed her first on-air gig at WXVT in Greenville, Mississippi.
Her big break came after Greenville station's news and sports director Stan Sandroni gave her that all important first chance to climb the job ladder.
She then moved to Moline, Illinois, to be a reporter at WQAD from 1988 to 1989 before becoming a reporter and weekend anchor at WINK in Fort Myers, Florida. Her last local news job was at WWL in New Orleans, where she worked for six years.
Speaking to Media Bistro about her early career, she noted: 'A lot of it was just timing and luck along with hard work. A lot of people work hard, but I think I got lucky with timing. While I was working in a place, I fell in love with that place. I wasn’t about, "What’s the next place?"'
Her life-changing move to NBC News
Hoda joined NBC in 1998 after a vice president of NBC reached out to the journalist to interview for a role
September 2007 saw Hoda join Today and she became a co-host for the fourth hour of Today alongside Ann Curry and Natalie Morales
Kathie Lee Gifford later replaced Ann and Natalie, leading them to a become an iconic duo who delighted fans for the following 11 years.
Hoda joined NBC in 1998 after a vice president of NBC reached out to the journalist to interview for a role.
In April 1998, the broadcast journalist officially joined the NBC News team as a correspondent for Dateline NBC and all the network's platforms.
On a Today with Hoda & Jenna episode in 2022, Hoda recalled feeling inferior to her peers at the time: 'I show up at Dateline and suddenly I'm in first grade and everybody else is a senior in high school.
'And I realized that when I thought I was top of my game, I had a whole new thing to learn.'
Joining Today and helping to launch the Fourth Hour
September 2007 saw Hoda join Today after NBC announced that the morning show would be expanded to four hours.
She became a co-host for the fourth hour of Today alongside Ann Curry and Natalie Morales.
Kathie Lee Gifford later replaced Ann and Natalie, leading them to a become an iconic duo who delighted fans for the following 11 years.
Making history as half of Today's all-female anchor team
After Matt Lauer was fired amid sexual misconduct allegations, Hoda stepped up to join Savannah Guthrie as the co-anchor of Today in January 2018
Hoda, who was born to parents of Egyptian descent, also became the second woman of color to sit in the Today anchor chair following Ann Curry's short stint
After Matt Lauer was fired amid sexual misconduct allegations, Hoda stepped up to join Savannah Guthrie as the co-anchor of Today in January 2018.
It was an historic moment for the show as the pair became the first women to anchor Today together since its premiere in 1952.
Hoda, who was born to parents of Egyptian descent, also became the second woman of color to sit in the Today anchor chair following Ann Curry's short stint.
She told People magazine at the time: 'We were just trying to make it through those days together. Sometimes when you go through something with someone, you see something special. I think that’s what happened. I didn’t think about whether it would be me.'
During her time on Today, the broadcast TV legend won the hearts of fans as she shared her many personal high and lows with the world, including her breast cancer battle, which saw her undergo a mastectomy and reconstructive surgery, to her advocacy for adoption.
The star famously shared her journey to bringing home her two daughters, Haley Joy and Hope Catherine.
Announcing her decision to leave Today
She stunned viewers last September with her shocking decision to leave the network after 26 years
The mom of two revealed she made the decision to move out of New York City so she could provide a better family life for her children
The TV icon - who reportedly earns around $8 million a year - wrote a letter in September 2024 revealing her 'painful' decision to her colleagues, explaining that marking her 60th birthday sparked a seismic 'shift' in her life.
'As I write this, my heart is all over the map,' Hoda said. 'I know I'm making the right decision, but it's a painful one. And you all are the reason why. They say two things can be right at the same time, and I'm feeling that so deeply right now. I love you and it's time for me to leave the show.
'My time at NBC has been the longest professional love affair of my life. But only because you've been beside me on this twenty-six-year adventure. Looking back, the math is nuts. 26 years at NBC News - Ten years at Dateline, seven on the seven o'clock hour, sixteen on the ten o'clock hour.'
She continued: 'I'm picturing your faces and your families and all the ways you've lifted me up and inspired me. That's my heart singing. So many of my professional relationships have become some of my most cherished friendships.'
The host went on to pay a heartbreaking tribute to her 'ride-or-die' Jenna Bush Hager and claimed she will 'desperately' miss everyone she has worked with on the popular morning show.
'Savannah: my rock,' she continued. 'Jenna: my ride-or-die. Al: my longest friend at 30 Rock. Craig, Carson, Sheinelle and Dylan: my family. Libby, Mazz and Talia: my fearless leaders. I will miss each and every one of you at TODAY desperately.'
The TV star added that she has been thinking long and hard about the decision as she continued: 'I've been weighing this decision for quite a while – Am I truly ready? But, my 60th birthday celebration on the Plaza felt like a shift.
'Like a massive, joyful YES, you are! I saw it all so clearly: my broadcast career has been beyond meaningful, a new decade of my life lies ahead, and now my daughters and my mom need and deserve a bigger slice of my time pie. I will miss you all desperately, but I'm ready and excited.
'Because I'll be working through the beginning of 2025, there's plenty of time to talk about what's ahead for all of us. But one thing I know for sure right now is this: everything's going to be just fine. The Peacock's feathers are never ruffled… no matter who comes or goes. TODAY and its amazing people - all of you - never waver. You always weather change with grace and guts.'
She concluded: 'Happily and gratefully, I plan to remain a part of the NBC family, the longest work relationship I've been lucky enough to hold close to my heart. I'll be around. How could I not? Family is family and you all will always be a part of mine.'
On November 14, it was revealed live on air that Craig Melvin, 45, would officially replace Hoda.
Forging a new path in the wellness space
During a recent interview, Hoda revealed what is coming next for her career - a move into the wellness space!
During a recent interview on The Kelly Clarkson Show, Hoda revealed what is coming next for her career.
Talking about her next move, the mother-of-two revealed: 'I kind of got hooked in the wellness space a couple of years ago.
'I started doing stuff that I thought seemed woo-woo and weird, and then all of a sudden as I was doing it I was like, "Wait, I feel calmer, I feel better."'
'Woo woo makes you feel good!' Kelly replied, as Hoda agreed and said: 'Woo woo makes you feel good!
'So, I am starting a wellness app and company that will involve retreats and a podcast and all kinds of things that we can get together, do things that I love.
'And when you're done, it's not like going to Mexico with your girls - which is fun - but this is something that when you leave, you'll go, "Oh my gosh. I feel transformed, I feel different."
'I'm in the building process of that,' Hoda added, confirming that she thinks it will be launched in the spring.
