The Most Shocking Today Show Departures Through the Years
Noam Galai/WireImage; Nathan Congleton/NBC; George Lange
Over the years, numerous Today show hosts have departed from the NBC morning program—some on amicable terms while others not so much.
Hoda Kotb stunned fans in September 2024 when she announced her exit from Today after an impressive nearly 30 years with NBC. “Turning 60 was a pivotal moment for me as I contemplated what this next decade might hold for my life,” she disclosed during her heartfelt announcement. “I understood that it was time for me to embark on new adventures as I step into this new chapter.”
Reflecting on the celebration of her 60th birthday on the show the previous month opened her eyes to the next steps. “I stood outside, surrounded by remarkable people holding beautiful signs, and I realized, ‘This is the pinnacle for me,’ so I thought to myself, ‘It can’t get any better than this,’” she explained. “That’s when I decided it was appropriate to move on.”
Moreover, Kotb expressed that her desire to spend more time with her daughters, Haley and Hope, from her former engagement with Joel Schiffman, significantly influenced her decision. “I’ve been considering how they deserve a larger part of my time. Our time is limited,” she admitted. “This has been the most challenging choice of my life.”
Kotb officially took her leave from Today on January 10, 2025.
Continue reading to discover more about the most dramatic host departures from the Today show:
Deborah Norville
In 1990, Norville succeeded long-time host Jane Pauley on Today. However, after just a year, she exited the show during her maternity leave due to backlash and declining viewership.
“Being forced out while on maternity leave after giving birth to my first child was heartbreaking. Within two years, I went from being dubbed ‘NBC’s fastest-rising star’ to a pariah in the industry. It was awful,” she recounted in a June 2012 column for The Hollywood Reporter. “However, experiencing such a career setback compelled me to reassess everything.”
Norville added: “The depression I faced drove me to explore the influence of the mind, leading me to write several books rooted in positive psychology. I eventually rebuilt my career at ABC Radio, followed by CBS News and Inside Edition.”
Since 1995, Norville has been the anchor of Inside Edition.
Katie Couric
Couric took over Norville’s hosting position in 1991 and continued with Today until 2006. In her 2021 memoir, Going There, she reflected on her choice to leave the show, stating, “By 2005, I found myself at a crossroads. Though I cherished Today, after 15 years, I started feeling restless. I yearned for acknowledgment of my journalistic abilities, and although I engaged in many serious interviews, the fun elements of the show overshadowed my contributions.”
Couric went on to anchor CBS Evening News, breaking ground as the first solo woman to helm a nightly news broadcast. She left that role after five years, mentioning to Today in October 2021 that she didn’t believe “the country was ready for a female anchor.” She added, “Perhaps they weren’t ready for me as a female anchor due to their perceptions. My aim was to prove that a woman can succeed in this role with confidence and expertise, and that motivated my decision.”
Ann Curry
Curry, who co-anchored with Matt Lauer for a year, unexpectedly announced her exit on-air in 2012. At the time, rumors suggested the network was dissatisfied with her perceived lack of chemistry with Lauer, leading to disappointing ratings.
“I still struggle to comprehend,” Curry shared in a September 2020 interview with Elle. “I know I did nothing wrong and I performed my job well. They say where there’s smoke, there’s fire. You can interpret the signs, but as a fact-based reporter, I find it challenging to navigate something so ambiguous.”
She continued, “Ultimately, it still hurts. It genuinely resonates deeply with me because I feel I did nothing wrong. Nevertheless, despite the lingering pain, I recognize I contributed to alleviating some people’s suffering.”
Billy Bush
Us Weekly reported in October 2016 that Bush was suspended from his position as a cohost on the third hour of Today after a leaked video surfaced showcasing him making inappropriate remarks during a conversation with Donald Trump. Subsequently, he exited the show later that month following a settlement with NBC.
“I am profoundly thankful for the discussions I’ve had with my daughters and for all the support from family, friends, and colleagues,” Bush stated to Us. “I look forward to the future.” He has been hosting Extra since 2019.
Tamron Hall
In February 2017, it was revealed that Hall would be departing NBC News and MSNBC. This news came shortly after it was announced that Megyn Kelly would replace Hall on the third hour of Today, which Hall co-hosted with Al Roker.
“Tamron is a remarkable journalist; we valued and appreciated her work on Today and MSNBC, and we hoped she would choose to remain. We’re disappointed by her decision to leave, but we wish her the very best,” NBCUniversal remarked at the time.
According to an exclusive source for Us, the network wasn’t strongly advocating to retain Hall before Kelly’s arrival on Today, suggesting that Kelly was regarded as “more valuable.” An additional insider noted that Hall felt blindsided by the changes and only learned minutes before going on-air that Kelly would take over her and Roker’s slot.
Following her departure from Today, Hall launched her own talk show in 2019.
Matt Lauer
In November 2017, Savannah Guthrie and Kotb shocked Today viewers by announcing Lauer’s firing from NBC due to sexual misconduct allegations. At that time, Variety disclosed numerous accusations against the veteran anchor, alleging inappropriate behavior towards multiple women.
Lauer later addressed the allegations following his dismissal. “I lack the words to convey my sorrow and remorse for the distress I’ve caused by my words and actions. I am sincerely sorry to those I’ve hurt,” Guthrie read from a prepared statement.
His statement further expressed, “Repairing the harm will require significant time and introspection, and I’m committed to initiating that journey. This is now my full-time responsibility.”
In 2018, Kotb was named as Lauer’s replacement. NBCUniversal released findings from an extensive investigation into Lauer’s abusive conduct that May, indicating no prior complaints had been registered against him until November 2017, when a complaint from Brooke Nevils was filed. Lauer acknowledged engaging in sexual activity with her the following day.
In Ronan Farrow’s 2019 book, Catch and Kill, Nevils accused Lauer of raping her during the 2014 Winter Olympics held in Sochi, Russia. She claimed to have confided in former Today host Meredith Vieira about the event, who encouraged her to report the incident to HR.
Lauer vehemently denied the rape allegations in a statement to Us in October 2019, branding Nevils’ assertions as “categorically false” and claiming that their encounter was consensual. “Yet within a year she was allegedly trying to sell a book. It seems she also sought monetary compensation from NBC,” he contested. “Now she’s making unfounded and malicious claims to help promote another book while stepping into the limelight to inflict as much harm as possible.”
Hoda Kotb
During her departure announcement in September 2024, Kotb made it clear she would stay on the show until early 2025 and that she wouldn’t completely sever ties with NBC. “She is a beloved figure,” an NBC insider exclusively disclosed to Us at that moment. “She is as genuine off-camera as she is on, which makes this departure especially difficult.”
Describing Kotb’s exit as a “considerable loss” for the show, the insider emphasized that the TV personality was “deeply committed” to focusing on her health for the next phase of her career.
“I am in the process of launching a wellness app and company, featuring retreats and a podcast, among other endeavors that excite me,” she shared on a January 2025 episode of The Kelly Clarkson Show. “This isn’t just a fun getaway with friends; it’s an experience that will leave you feeling transformed.”
At that time, she mentioned that the app was still “under development” but anticipated a launch in the spring.
Kotb celebrated her last week on Today with a “Hoda-bration” featuring surprise guests, emotional reunions, and heartfelt tributes. “I have grown into who I am during this hour on this show, and you have been right there with me,” she read from a “love letter” to her fans on her final episode of Hoda & Jenna. “Now, as I sit here for the last moments of this chapter of my career, I want to express my deepest gratitude for this incredible journey. I love you all.”