Hoda Kotb Explains Why Now Is Right For Her ‘Today’ Exit

Hoda Kotb | YouTube

Hoda Kotb shocked the world when she announced she would be leaving The Today Show at the beginning of 2025. Hoda had been on the show for 17 years, and this seemed to come out of nowhere. She mentioned her young children and wanting to spend more time at home with them.

More recently, Hoda appeared on The Tonight Show Starring Jimmy Fallon and discussed why she chose to leave the morning talk show.

Hoda Kotb On Why She Is Leaving Today Now

Hoda Kotb showed up on The Tonight Show Starring Jimmy Fallon and they talked about her decision to leave The Today Show. She said the biggest thing that happened was that she started thinking about life after she turned 60.

Hoda Kotb | YouTube
Hoda Kotb | YouTube

“When I turned 60, something weird happened, man,” Hoda said. “I turned 60 and we had this beautiful party at the Today show and I looked out at the sea of all the people who came … This is what the mountaintop must feel like. Like I’d never had that feeling before.”

She admitted that she had woken up at 3:15 a.m. to do the show for the last 17 years. Hoda asked what she could do now that she won’;t have to get up anymore, with Fallon suggesting concerts, restaurants, dates, and even watching bad TV.

She then said the kids were her main reason for leaving Today.

“I was like, they need a little more of me, and I need more of them, so I think it’s all gonna work out beautifully,” Hoda said. “But I’m going to be doing stuff at NBC, I’m going to stay in the family.”

Are There Other Reasons For Hoda Kotb’s Departure?

Ever since Hoda Kotb announced she was leaving Today, there have been lots of rumors surrounding her exit. Several people believe there are other reasons that she chose now to say goodbye to the morning talk show.

One source claims that Hoda was asked to take a pay cut, and she chose to leave rather than accept less money. The ratings for morning talk shows has dropped in recent years, and the network seemed to want to save money. However, Hoda had worked hard to reach her level of pay and the rumor is she reportedly figured she could leave and make more money than stay and take less.

There are also rumors that one of Hoda’s children is ill, and she will have to stay home more to help care for them. “She’s been seriously thinking about it for a while, but it really kicked in when her youngest, Hope, got sick last year,” one source said. “She really thought long and hard about her priorities after that.”

What are your thoughts on Hoda Kotb’s reasoning for stepping away from The Today Show? Do you think there might be more to it than what she is saying publically? Let us know your thoughts in the comments below.

Shawn Lealos
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