Hoda Kotb bid an emotional farewell 17-year journey on The Today Show on January 10, surrounded by her two daughters, Haley, 7, and Hope, 5.
The final broadcast was full of touching moments, with tributes from stars like Oprah Winfrey and Jamie Lee Curtis, along with a special performance of “The Rainbow Connection” by Kermit the Frog—a song Hoda sings to her girls every night.
As Kermit sang, Hoda held Haley and Hope close, wiping her eyes while her co-hosts joined in on the singing.
The show ended with Hoda behind the wheel of her new minivan, with Haley and Hope buckled up in the back.
“Alright, guys, are you ready for the next adventure?” she asked her girls.
Their excited “Yeah!” was the perfect way to start their new chapter.
Speaking candidly back in September when she announced her plans to leave, Hoda shared why she was leaving the Today show.
She explained, “I had my kiddos late in life,” she told Savannah as well as Today’s Al Roker, Craig Melvin, Jenna Bush Hager, and Sheinelle Jones. “And I was thinking that they deserve a bigger piece of my time pie that I have.”
She continued, “I feel like we only have a finite amount of time. And so, with all that being said, this is the hardest thing in the world.”
Looking ahead, Hoda is excited about creating new routines, including early-morning SoulCycle classes and breakfasts with her girls.
“I’ve found out, in my town, there’s a 5:30 Soul Cycle class which I’m going to start,” Hoda told E! News in October. “Then I’m going to go back and feed my kids breakfast and I am going to make a coffee to go in my Yeti.”
She added, “I’m going to walk my kids down the beautiful streets to their school and I’m going to kiss them goodbye.”
