Hoda Kotb bid a heartfelt farewell to the Today show after a week-long sendoff, culminating in a touching “love letter” to the viewers. During her final episode of “Today with Hoda & Jenna” on Friday morning, the cherished television personality expressed her gratitude directly to her fans.
“This is not a goodbye letter. This is a love letter—a love letter to you,” Kotb began. “It’s actually kind of a thank you note as well. So how do I say it? How do I say thank you for more hugs and more love than one person deserves?”
After over 16 years as a leading figure on the popular morning show, the 60-year-old Kotb is stepping away to prioritize her two young daughters, seven-year-old Haley and five-year-old Hope. Viewers witnessed and supported her journey into motherhood in her 50s.
“It went from Hoda woman to Hoda mama. When Haley was born, I held Haley, and you held me,” she shared. “You supported me, the cards, the comments, the letters, I read them all, and then Hopi came too.”
Reflecting on her transition from hard news to morning television, Kotb described the pivotal role former co-host Kathie Lee Gifford played in her life, selecting her and profoundly impacting her trajectory. She also highlighted the introduction of Jenna Bush Hager six years ago, marking a new chapter of “uncontrollable laughter and pure friendship.”
“Isn’t she so hilarious? I can hardly even say her name without laughing out loud,” Kotb enthused. “But that is not the part I fell in love with. I fell in love with her tears, her vulnerable, lovable self, and as I say to her in my cards to her, you’re all mine and we’re all ours.”
Expressing her deep appreciation, Kotb thanked fans and guests for welcoming her into their lives. “Having a front-row seat to all of this truly helped shape who I am. Thank you so much for letting me be part of your journey,” she acknowledged.
While acknowledging the difficulty of leaving the Today show, Kotb ultimately felt the time was right after much contemplation. Celebrating her 60th birthday in August prompted introspection, leading her to make the decision to embark on a new chapter.
“When I turned 60, you threw me one hell of a party,” Kotb recalled. “I reached the mountain top so high on that day, I knew in that very moment, there was no greater peak. I have become who I am on this hour of this show, and you are there with me every step of the way.”
As she bid her final farewell in this career chapter, Kotb expressed profound gratitude to her fans for the impactful journey. “So 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
