‘Today’ Execs Are Begging For Hoda Kotb’s Return

At this stage in her life, Hoda Kotb is ready to retire from The Today Show. There are other things she’d like to focus on, including raising her two daughters and finding love with a new partner. Hoda did an excellent job as a news anchor for NBC, and apparently, executives are already begging for her return. Hoda‘s exit announcement came as a shock to plenty of viewers. It turns out that NBC executives are just as bummed out. These are the details.

Today Show Executives Don’t Want To Lose Hoda Kotb

Losing Hoda from The Today Show will undoubtedly be a loss for NBC executives. It’s no secret that she’s a major reason the show has been so successful over the years. Hoda’s milestones with NBC are impossible to ignore. She joined the network in 1998 and spent the last few decades covering topics like the Rio Olympic Games and Celine Dion‘s health diagnosis.

A source told The Sun:

”There are negotiations in the works with pleas for her to do one day a week like Barbara Walters once did on The View. That’s why she’s been very vague about when she’s leaving and what she’s doing next. They’re still figuring it out. She wants to do prime-time specials like Diane Sawyer does for ABC. This isn’t the last we’ve seen of Hoda.”

Rumors about Hoda parting ways with The Today Show over an alleged pay cut might not have any merit to them either, by the way. The source went on to say, “That’s not true, they are begging her to stay. Plus, Hoda has never cared about money. She’s not flashy.”

When Hoda announced her retirement, she wore a necklace with an “M” letter charm hanging from it. It was her way of showing the symbolic importance of motherhood. The “M” stood for mom, of course. Retiring from The Today Show automatically gives her more time and energy to spend with her little girls. This means that even if NBC executives are pleading with her to strike up some sort of deal, her priorities are in a different place. Responses from social media users about Hoda’s decision to retire have been a mixed bag on Reddit:

Hoda Kotb to Exit NBC’s ‘Today’ at End of 2024
byu/NoCulture3505 intelevision

• “I’ve been watching Hoda since I was a little kid in New Orleans back in the 90s and she’s the main reason I watch the Today Show now. Very sad to hear this news but I’m so happy for her because she deserves whatever she wants at this point in her career.”
• “I think all the morning shows need new people. Gen-Z isn’t watching them and not to be ageist but having some younger hosts might make it more relatable to that demographic.”
• “Maybe a good time to ask Ann Curry back? I loved her.”

Do you think Hoda will listen to NBC executives who are begging her to stay? Let us know your thoughts in the comment section.