Hoda Kotb’s Today show exit has sparked numerous reactions from her colleagues.
On Thursday, Sept. 26, Kotb introduced she can be leaving her internet hosting gig of 17 years. Sources near the Immediately present inform PEOPLE that this information was simply as surprising to them as the general public.
“This was a whole shock to most individuals on the present,” the supply says. “Nevertheless, Hoda has put a number of thought into it. She additionally talked quite a bit about it with each Savannah [Guthrie] and Jenna [Bush Hager].”
They add: “In the end, she made the ultimate determination within the curiosity of her women. The present is targeted on Hoda proper now, not on filling the roles simply but.”
One other insider expressed the love those that work with Hoda have for her.
“Hoda’s information after all stunned some staffers, however she’s so beloved and everyone at Immediately is simply wishing her properly,” they inform PEOPLE.
Kotb shared the information in a letter to workers of the NBC present.
“As I write this, my coronary heart is everywhere in the map,” the journalist wrote in a letter to workers of the NBC morning present, shared Thursday, Sept. 26. “I do know I’m making the proper determination, nevertheless it’s a painful one. And also you all are the rationale why. They are saying two issues will be proper on the identical time, and I’m feeling that so deeply proper now. I really like you and it’s time for me to go away the present.”
“My broadcast profession has been past significant, a brand new decade of my life lies forward, and now my daughters and my mother need and deserve a bigger slice of my time pie,” she continued. “I’ll miss you all desperately, however I’m prepared and excited.”
Kotb additionally shared she can be staying in her present function till early 2025 and warranted that she wouldn’t be leaving fully.
“Fortunately and gratefully, I plan to stay part of the NBC household, the longest work relationship I’ve been fortunate sufficient to carry near my coronary heart,” Kotb wrote. “I’ll be round. How may I not? Household is household and also you all will at all times be part of mine.”
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Kotb at present hosts Immediately, the place she and fellow host Guthrie made historical past being the primary pair of feminine co-hosts of the beloved present, and Immediately’s fourth hour with Bush Hager.
In September 2007, Kotb was the primary host of Immediately’s fourth-hour at 10 a.m. earlier than Kathie Lee Gifford joined in April 2008. When Gifford departed in 2019, Bush Hager grew to become Kotb’s co-host.