Hoda Kotb's Today Show Exit Was 'a Complete Surprise to Most People at the Show' (Exclusive)

Mar. 15, 2025

Hoda Kotb’sTodayshow exithas sparked various reactions from her colleagues.On Thursday, Sept. 26, Kotb announced she would be leaving her hosting gig of 17 years. Sources close to theTodayshow tell PEOPLE that this news was just as shocking to them as the public.“This was a complete surprise to most people at the show,” the source says. “However, Hoda has put a lot of thought into it. She also talked a lot about it with bothSavannah [Guthrie]andJenna [Bush Hager].”They add: “Ultimately, she made the final decision in the interest of her girls. The show is focused on Hoda right now, not on filling the roles just yet.“Hoda Kotb.Nathan Congleton/NBC via GettyAnother insider expressed the love those who work with Hoda have for her.“Hoda’s news of course surprised some staffers, but she’s so beloved and everybody atTodayis just wishing her well,” they tell PEOPLE.Kotb shared the news in a letter to staff of the NBC show.“As I write this, my heart is all over the map,” the journalistwrote in a letterto staff of the NBC morning show, shared Thursday, Sept. 26. “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 youandit’s time for me to leave the show.““My broadcast career has been beyond meaningful, a new decade of my life lies ahead, and now my daughters and my momneed and deserve a bigger slice of my time pie,” she continued. “I will miss you all desperately, but I’m ready and excited.“Hoda Kotb.Andrew Eccles/NBCU Photo Bank/NBCUniversal via GettyKotb also shared she would be staying in her current role until early 2025 and assured that she wouldn’t be leaving completely.“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,” Kotb wrote. “I’ll be around. How could I not? Family is family and you all will always be a part of mine.”Savannah Guthrie (left) and Hoda Kotb (right).Nathan Congleton/NBCU Photo Bank/NBCUniversal via GettyNever miss a story — sign up forPEOPLE’s free daily newsletterto stay up-to-date on the best of what PEOPLE has to offer​​, from celebrity news to compelling human interest stories.Kotb currently hostsToday, where she and fellow host Guthrie made history being the first pair of female co-hosts of the beloved show, andToday’s fourth hour with Bush Hager.In September 2007, Kotb was the first host ofToday’s fourth-hour at 10 a.m. beforeKathie Lee Giffordjoined in April 2008. When Gifford departed in 2019, Bush Hager became Kotb’s co-host.

Hoda Kotb’sTodayshow exithas sparked various reactions from her colleagues.

On Thursday, Sept. 26, Kotb announced she would be leaving her hosting gig of 17 years. Sources close to theTodayshow tell PEOPLE that this news was just as shocking to them as the public.

“This was a complete surprise to most people at the show,” the source says. “However, Hoda has put a lot of thought into it. She also talked a lot about it with bothSavannah [Guthrie]andJenna [Bush Hager].”

They add: “Ultimately, she made the final decision in the interest of her girls. The show is focused on Hoda right now, not on filling the roles just yet.”

Hoda Kotb.Nathan Congleton/NBC via Getty

Nathan Congleton/NBC via Getty

Another insider expressed the love those who work with Hoda have for her.

“Hoda’s news of course surprised some staffers, but she’s so beloved and everybody atTodayis just wishing her well,” they tell PEOPLE.

Kotb shared the news in a letter to staff of the NBC show.

“As I write this, my heart is all over the map,” the journalistwrote in a letterto staff of the NBC morning show, shared Thursday, Sept. 26. “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 youandit’s time for me to leave the show.”

“My broadcast career has been beyond meaningful, a new decade of my life lies ahead, and now my daughters and my momneed and deserve a bigger slice of my time pie,” she continued. “I will miss you all desperately, but I’m ready and excited.”

Hoda Kotb.Andrew Eccles/NBCU Photo Bank/NBCUniversal via Getty

Andrew Eccles/NBCU Photo Bank/NBCUniversal via Getty

Kotb also shared she would be staying in her current role until early 2025 and assured that she wouldn’t be leaving completely.

“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,” Kotb wrote. “I’ll be around. How could I not? Family is family and you all will always be a part of mine.”

Savannah Guthrie (left) and Hoda Kotb (right).Nathan Congleton/NBCU Photo Bank/NBCUniversal via Getty

Never miss a story — sign up forPEOPLE’s free daily newsletterto stay up-to-date on the best of what PEOPLE has to offer​​, from celebrity news to compelling human interest stories.

Kotb currently hostsToday, where she and fellow host Guthrie made history being the first pair of female co-hosts of the beloved show, andToday’s fourth hour with Bush Hager.

In September 2007, Kotb was the first host ofToday’s fourth-hour at 10 a.m. beforeKathie Lee Giffordjoined in April 2008. When Gifford departed in 2019, Bush Hager became Kotb’s co-host.

source: people.com