Highlighting the Most Memorable Moments from Hoda Kotb’s Last Episode of Today Show
After an impressive 17 years, Hoda Kotb has officially said goodbye to the Today show.
Kotb, 60, marked her final appearance on the NBC morning program on Friday, January 10. The day began emotionally as she became teary-eyed after viewing a video montage featuring Savannah Guthrie, Al Roker, Craig Melvin, and Carson Daly celebrating her contributions. In turn, she shared heartfelt sentiments about her colleagues.
“Carson, you’re like the secret sauce of this show. It wouldn’t be the same without you,” Kotb expressed during the show’s second hour. “Al, you were my first friend here. You were the first to comfort me when I was unwell.”
She added: “Savannah, you’re my rock, you’re my everything. No one supports others like you do. I adore you. Craig, congratulations! You’ve truly earned this, and come Monday at 7 a.m., I’ll be sound asleep. But I know you and Savannah will be brilliant together.”
The news of Hoda Kotb’s departure from the Today show was met with mixed emotions by her fellow hosts. “Turning 60 was a milestone for me, leading me to ponder what this next decade signifies and what it might hold,” Kotb shared.
In September 2024, Kotb revealed her decision to leave the show. “I came to the realization that it was time to embrace changes as I turn 60 and explore new opportunities. This is my moment to move forward,” she stated, mentioning her daughters, Haley, 7, and Hope, 5 — whom she adopted with her ex-fiancé Joel Schiffman — as pivotal to her choice.
Kotb joined NBC News in April 1998, originally serving as a correspondent for the national network and Dateline before cohosting the fourth hour of the Today show in September 2007. Kathie Lee Gifford was her cohost from April 2008 until April 2019, when Jenna Bush Hager took over. Following Matt Lauer’s departure due to harassment allegations, Kotb was named co-anchor alongside Guthrie in January 2018.
Kotb further elaborated on her departure in a letter published on Today.com in September 2024.
“As I put this down on paper, my emotions are all over the place,” she expressed. “I know this is the right move, but it doesn’t come without its challenges. You all are the reason I feel this way. It’s possible to hold two conflicting feelings at once, and I’m deeply experiencing that right now. I love you all, but it’s time for me to go.”
Kotb reflected on how she pondered if she was truly ready for this move.
“This decision has been in my heart for some time — am I genuinely prepared?” she continued. “However, my 60th birthday celebration on the Plaza felt like a pivotal moment. It signaled a huge, joyful ‘YES, you are!’ My broadcasting career has been incredibly significant, and as I enter this new decade, my daughters and my mother deserve more of my attention. I will miss you all so much, but I’m eager and ready for what’s next.”
Nathan Congleton/NBC Hoda Kotb’s journey on the Today show was filled with unforgettable moments. The TV host announced in September 2024 her decision to part ways with the beloved morning show after 26 years with NBC, of which 16 were spent as a cohost and seven alongside Savannah Guthrie. “I just turned 60, and it […]
Kotb confirmed she would remain part of the NBC family. “I’m delighted and thankful to stay connected with NBC, the longest professional relationship I’ve cherished,” she affirmed. “I’ll still be around. How could I not? This is family, and you will always have a place in my heart.”
Following Kotb’s departure, NBC confirmed that Melvin, 45, will step in as Guthrie’s new co-anchor starting January 13. Meanwhile, a series of guest hosts will fill in temporarily until a permanent replacement for Kotb is chosen.
Continue reading to discover the highlights from Kotb’s final episode celebration:
A Purple Plaza
During her last appearance greeting fans on the Today Plaza, Guthrie led Kotb through a spirit tunnel made up of Today staff wearing purple beanies and waving purple pom-poms. Describing the day as “Hoda’s Eras Tour,” Guthrie unveiled that their colleagues and fans had personalized friendship bracelets themed around Kotb. Third hour co-host Dylan Dreyer even returned to New York City from covering the Los Angeles wildfires to support Kotb on her special day.
Muppets Sing-Along
Kermit the Frog made a special appearance alongside Kotb, Haley, Hope, and the Today hosts in the studio to perform the beloved song “Rainbow Connection,” a tune Kotb plays for her children each night and had enjoyed on her way to work that morning. Kermit expressed, “Hoda, you truly bring beauty into every day like a rainbow,” as the group joined in for the singing.
“I adore you, I cherish that song, and I love everything about it,” Kotb replied, also acknowledging more of her family present in the studio. “Mom, I love you,” she expressed directly to the camera.
A Message from Mom
Many of Kotb’s friends and family were present in the audience during her last live episode of Hoda & Jenna. Her mother, Sameha, who couldn’t attend in person, recorded a video message to congratulate her daughter.
“Whenever I turn on the television and see Hodie, I see her joyful smile. That brings me so much joy. I love hearing her thoughts,” Sameha shared. “I often check what outfit she’s wearing — did she choose the dress I sent, or something new? And how does her hair look?”
Sameha fondly discussed how Kotb discovered her passion for television during her radio show days at Virginia Tech, eventually landing a spot on Dateline before debuting on Today in 2007.
“She video calls me each morning. I get to see the girls and Hodie each day. One day, I told her she didn’t have to do that daily. She insisted, ‘Yes, we do!’ That’s just how she is,” Sameha continued. “Hodie, I’m so proud of you, and I know you’ll achieve great things in the future. I love you dearly.”
Moved, Kotb gave her mother’s video a standing ovation.
Hoda’s Look-Alike
During an announcement about winners from a Kotb look-alike contest on Today, it turned out to be a clever surprise for viewers as Gayle King made a surprise appearance. Noting their physical similarities, King gifted Kotb a T-shirt showcasing their faces, with the back stating “Hoda. Not Hoda.”
“Just this morning, as I arrived at the building, someone said to me, ‘Hey, can I take your picture?’ When I asked why, the response was, ‘You’re Hoda!’ I chuckled and said, ‘No, I’m not!’” King joked, while Kotb admitted she often faces the same misidentification.
An NBC Farewell
Jimmy Fallon surprised Kotb with a heartfelt gesture following her final appearance on Today, presenting her with a framed piece of the NBC logo carpet from the elevators at 30 Rock. “I titled it ‘Onward and Upward’ because you’re getting on the elevator and heading up,” he joked. “But my signature is so bad, it probably reads ‘Osmond and Uptown!’”
Kotb expressed her appreciation for Fallon, who had been a fantastic guest throughout her years. “My daughters refer to you as ‘Uncle Jimmy,’” she shared. Fallon returned the sentiment, thanking Haley and Hope for the thoughtful Christmas gift they had given him. “Haley and Hope, you’re the sweetest and funniest little girls. I always look forward to seeing you every year during the Thanksgiving Day Parade!”
Kathie Lee Returns
After initially announcing via video message her absence from Kotb’s final episode, Gifford surprised everyone by appearing in the studio.
“The one thing I shared with you and Regis [Philbin] — two vastly different personalities — was that I cherished each moment with both of you,” she expressed. “I always anticipated our time together; thinking, ‘Today, I’m with Hoda. This is going to be fantastic!’ Because you, my dear, are sunshine in a bottle.”
In classic Kathie Lee & Hoda style, the two shared a toast to celebrate Kotb’s new adventures, raising their glasses filled with wine. “May your next chapter be filled with joy, prosperity, and purpose as you embrace your beloved daughters. What a gift that has been. I’ll cherish it always,” Gifford stated with a toast. “I knew when those babies came into your life, you wouldn’t be here for long.”
A Tribute to the Fans
In a pre-recorded segment, Kotb read a “love letter” to express gratitude to the show’s audience for their unwavering support over the years. “Sixteen years ago, I sat beside Kathie Lee, who changed my life. She chose me,” she recounted. “Honestly, I was terrified. This was uncharted territory for me. … I ditched that news corset, we poured ourselves some wine, and our journey began.”
She reminisced about how “a new era began” when she cohosted the fourth hour with Bush Hager. “Six unforgettable years filled with joyous laughter and irreplaceable friendship,” she recalled. “I can’t even mention her name without laughing, but what truly captured my heart were her tears, her vulnerable, lovable nature.”
Kotb acknowledged that turning 60 on the show was the pinnacle of her experience, stating that “having a front-row seat” to fans’ stories has truly “shaped who I am.”
She concluded, expressing gratitude: “I’ve become who I am today through this hour of the show, and you have been there with me at every turn. So, as I stand here in the closing moments of this chapter in my career, I want to extend my heartfelt thanks for the ride of a lifetime. I love you.”
Hoda’s Original Song
Walker Hayes, one of Kotb’s favorite country artists, surprised her with a rendition of his song “Wednesdays,” which she co-wrote. The lyrics convey that while some days are full of highs and lows, “most days are just Wednesdays,” reflecting the everyday moments shared with loved ones.
“This resonates with what I love most about our show. Each day has felt like a meaningful Wednesday,” Kotb said tearfully after the song. Bush Hager replied warmly, “It’s been a privilege to experience this journey alongside you.”
With Love, From Jenna
While the farewell episode was abundant with tributes from celebrities and beloved ones, Bush Hager penned her own heartfelt goodbye to her companion and co-host.
“Together, we’ve spent five incredible years, producing over 1,500 shows, amassing 90,000 minutes, and enjoying 9,000 commercial breaks filled with Shaboozey, Beyoncé, non-stop laughter and enriching conversations,” she reminisced. “From our travels in Vegas to three trips to New Orleans, from Austin to Quebec, to our home, this beloved Studio 1A, which will always be ours. We’ve navigated a global pandemic, two maternity leaves, and welcomed five children together,” she continued.
Beyond lauding Kotb for spreading “hope,” Bush Hager also acknowledged how she taught her to “discover joy in the small moments.” She reiterated cherished experiences, from testing social media hacks to crafting their festive song, even taking on a Polar Plunge.
As Bush Hager expressed, Kotb currently demonstrates “how to bid farewell with grace” while asserting, “Thank you, Hoda, for the wisdom you’ve imparted, the love you’ve shared, all the hugs, joy, laughter, and compassion. I will dearly miss you, my friend, but I love you and I’m immensely proud. With love always, Jenna.”
Following the video tribute, Bush Hager invited the rest of their Today crew — including Melvin, Guthrie, Dreyer, Daly, Roker, and Willie Geist — to share hugs and kisses.
Final Goodbye
In her final send-off, Kotb stood alongside Bush Hager and numerous Today cast and crew members. She particularly recognized the show’s executive producer, Talia Parkinson-Jones. “You’ve been a beacon of support for both Jenna and me since day one, and I want to express my heartfelt thanks,” Kotb said, extending her gratitude to the entire crew.
Haley and Hope were present by their mother’s side as Bush Hager offered her final words. “You are loved beyond measure. Imagining this place without you is challenging, but we will continue to connect. Hoda, I love you!” she exclaimed, with Kotb also expressing excitement for the upcoming first episode of Jenna & Friends on January 13.
The episode wrapped up with a clip featuring Kotb driving away from 30 Rock, her children by her side in her minivan, which displayed a “Just Repotted” sign attached to the back.
