After 17 years on NBC’s “Today,” Hoda Kotb bid a tearful goodbye during her final broadcast on Friday. The episode was filled with tributes, celebrity cameos, and a surprise reunion that touched on the legacy she built with the morning show.
Kotb’s colleagues Savannah Guthrie, Al Roker, Carson Daly and Craig Melvin paid homage to her time on the show. Video messages arrived from Jamie Lee Curtis and Oprah Winfrey; Winfrey shared her experience with leaving a long-running program. The emotional highpoint came with the surprise return of Kathie Lee Gifford. The former co-host joined Kotb during the 10 a.m. hour, sparking an outpouring of emotion from Kotb and viewers alike.
A highlight of the broadcast was a segment titled “Hoda’s Heart of Gold”, which left Kotb in tears as she expressed gratitude for her time at “Today” and her appreciation for her colleagues. Kotb first joined NBC News in 1998, and has been with “Today” since 2007. She began co-anchoring the fourth hour before shifting to the main anchor desk in 2018.
Craig Melvin is taking over Kotb’s co-anchor spot alongside Guthrie, starting on Monday. The fourth hour of “Today” is being re-branded as “Today With Jenna & Friends,” with Jenna Bush Hager joined by a rotating cast of guest hosts, including Taraji P. Henson, Eva Longoria, Keke Palmer and Scarlett Johansson.
Further tributes came from the likes of Kristin Chenoweth, Dwyane Wade, and Kotb’s “Dateline” colleague, Keith Morrison. Maria Shriver, Simone Biles, and Kotb’s daughters were present for the broadcast. Even Kermit the Frog made an appearance, serenading Kotb with “Rainbow Connection”. Kotb initially announced her departure in September of 2024, citing a desire to spend more time with her family.
