Why is Hoda Kotb leaving the Today Show and when is her last day?
- The long-time anchor, 60, is just days away from her final taping of Today show
- Hoda has been part of NBC News for nearly three decades
- READ MORE: Hoda sparks speculation that she is BACK with her ex-fiancé
After nearly 17 years working at the Today Show, Hoda Kotb is just days away from her final taping.
The long-time anchor has been a friendly face for 17 years on the flagship show, as well as being a part of NBC News for nearly three decades.
However, the TV legend has made the decision to close this chapter of her career after turning 60 last summer.
Opening up about her decision in September - when she officially announced her plans to depart - the mother-of-two explained that she has been thinking long and hard about the decision.
She wrote in a letter to her colleagues: 'I've been weighing this decision for quite a while – Am I truly ready? But, my 60th birthday celebration on the Plaza felt like a shift.
'Like a massive, joyful YES, you are! I saw it all so clearly: my broadcast career has been beyond meaningful, a new decade of my life lies ahead, and now my daughters and my mom need and deserve a bigger slice of my time pie.
'I will miss you all desperately, but I'm ready and excited.'
Now, as her last day on the network approaches, here's all we know about Hoda last day and the true reason why she chose to say goodbye to Today.
Hoda Kotb is just days away from her final taping after nearly 17 years working at the Today Show
When is Hoda Kotb's last day?
Hoda will make her last appearance on Today on Friday, January 10.
On November 14, it was revealed live on air that Craig Melvin, 45, would officially replace Hoda with Savannah Guthrie, 52, announcing the news.
'I just want to say that we will spend a week celebrating you. As you mentioned, we have a lot to celebrate,' Savannah said to Hoda.
'Though you are irreplaceable, we are so excited about the news in our Today family and that is the person sitting right next to me, our dear friend and talented, wonderful, hard-working, most worthy of this, Craig Melvin is the new anchor of the Today show,' she continued.
'And let me just say that the staff, the larger staff found out this morning, and people broke into applause. This is the one of the most popular decisions NBC news has ever made.'
Looking emotional, Craig then gave a speech and said: 'I am beyond excited and grateful, and I just, you know, I've had a lot of conversations yesterday with a lot of people who mean a lot to me, and I want to obviously thank NBC and the folks here who have deemed me worthy...
'People see us on TV every morning, what they don't see are the folks behind these cameras and downstairs, we have the best team in television news and I'm honored to be a part of that.'
Hoda will make her last appearance on Today on Friday, January 10 (pictured with Jenna Bush Hager)
Why is Hoda leaving the Today Show?
The TV icon - who reportedly earns around $8 million a year - wrote a letter explaining her 'painful' decision to her colleagues, explaining that marking her 60th birthday sparked a seismic 'shift' in her life.
'As I write this, my heart is all over the map,' Hoda said. 'I know I'm making the right decision, but it's a painful one. And you all are the reason why. They say two things can be right at the same time, and I'm feeling that so deeply right now. I love you and it's time for me to leave the show.
'My time at NBC has been the longest professional love affair of my life. But only because you've been beside me on this twenty-six-year adventure. Looking back, the math is nuts. 26 years at NBC News - Ten years at Dateline, seven on the seven o'clock hour, sixteen on the ten o'clock hour.'
She continued: 'I'm picturing your faces and your families and all the ways you've lifted me up and inspired me. That's my heart singing. So many of my professional relationships have become some of my most cherished friendships.'
The host went on to pay a heart breaking tribute to her 'ride-or-die' Jenna Bush Hager and claimed she will 'desperately' miss everyone she has worked with on the popular morning show.
'Savannah: my rock,' she continued. 'Jenna: my ride-or-die. Al: my longest friend at 30 Rock. Craig, Carson, Sheinelle and Dylan: my family. Libby, Mazz and Talia: my fearless leaders. I will miss each and every one of you at TODAY desperately.'
The TV star added that she has been thinking long and hard about the decision as she continued: 'I've been weighing this decision for quite a while – Am I truly ready? But, my 60th birthday celebration on the Plaza felt like a shift.
On November 14, it was revealed live on air that Craig Melvin (left), 45, would officially replace Hoda with Savannah Guthrie (centre left), 52, announcing the news
'Like a massive, joyful YES, you are! I saw it all so clearly: my broadcast career has been beyond meaningful, a new decade of my life lies ahead, and now my daughters and my mom need and deserve a bigger slice of my time pie. I will miss you all desperately, but I'm ready and excited.
'Because I'll be working through the beginning of 2025, there's plenty of time to talk about what's ahead for all of us. But one thing I know for sure right now is this: everything's going to be just fine. The Peacock's feathers are never ruffled… no matter who comes or goes. TODAY and its amazing people — all of you — never waver. You always weather change with grace and guts.'
She concluded: 'Happily and gratefully, I plan to remain a part of the NBC family, the longest work relationship I've been lucky enough to hold close to my heart. I'll be around. How could I not? Family is family and you all will always be a part of mine.'
Hoda joined NBC in 1998 as a Dateline correspondent, and in September 2007 became the co-host for the fourth hour of Today alongside Ann Curry and Natalie Morales.
She was joined by Kathie Lee Gifford at the news and booze desk the following March until April 2019, when Kathie was replaced by Jenna Bush Hager.
Who is Hoda Kotb's replacement?
Craig Melvin was named as Hoda's replacement soon after she announced her departure.
Craig, 45, had a knack for journalism from a young age, and landed his first job as a reporter at NBC affiliate WIS-TV when he was in high school.
After graduating from Wofford College in South Carolina, he officially joined the network's morning news team, and for years, he slowly worked his way up before eventually switching to Washington, D.C.-based network WRC-TV.
In 2011, he joined MSNBC as a daytime anchor, and within his first year there, he covered a slew of massive events including the Republican and Democratic national conventions and election night.
He began cohosting Today's Third Hour in 2018.
