See Hoda Kotb's Life and Career in Photos as the Beloved Host Says Goodbye toToday

Mar. 15, 2025

Hoda Kotb on the ‘Today’ show in February 2024.Photo:Nathan Congleton/NBC via Getty

Nathan Congleton/NBC via Getty

Kotb began a career in broadcast journalism after graduating from college in the late ‘80s. After stints at local news channels in Mississippi, Illinois, Florida and Louisiana, the anchor landed a position as a correspondent forDateline NBCin 1998.

When the first fourth-hour segment of theTodayshow launched in 2007, Kotb was tapped to host alongsideKathie Lee Gifford. In addition to being a mainstay of the morning news program, Kotb is aNew York Timesbestselling author.

As Kotb bids farewell toToday, see her journey in photos, from bouncing around local news stations to becoming a nationally adored morning staple.

01of 11Proud College GraduateHoda Kotb graduated from Virginia Tech in 1986 with a degree in broadcast journalism. During her college career, she was a member and pledge trainer of the Delta Delta Delta women’s sorority.Reflecting on her decision to attend the university, Kotbsaid in 2023that felt like she was “supposed” to attend Virginia Tech, drawn to the large student population. She called the decision one of the “best” in her life, crediting the school with teaching her “how to learn” and the importance of curiousity.“It taught me skills that still serve me to this day, things that are far beyond the books and the pulling the all-nighters,” Kotb told Virginia Tech’s Dawn Jefferies.

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Proud College Graduate

Hoda Kotb graduated from Virginia Tech in 1986 with a degree in broadcast journalism. During her college career, she was a member and pledge trainer of the Delta Delta Delta women’s sorority.

Reflecting on her decision to attend the university, Kotbsaid in 2023that felt like she was “supposed” to attend Virginia Tech, drawn to the large student population. She called the decision one of the “best” in her life, crediting the school with teaching her “how to learn” and the importance of curiousity.

“It taught me skills that still serve me to this day, things that are far beyond the books and the pulling the all-nighters,” Kotb told Virginia Tech’s Dawn Jefferies.

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On the Local News

After graduation, Hoda Kotb landed her first on-air gig at WXVT in Greenville, Mississippi. She recounted toHotty Toddyin 2014 how she searched far and wide for a job to little success, until the Greenville station’s news and sports director Stan Sandroni gave her a chance.

The journalist then moved to Moline, Illinois, for a reporter position at WQAD from 1988 to 1989 before becoming a weekend anchor and reporter at WINK in Fort Myers, Florida. Her last local news job prior to her big break was at WWL in New Orleans, where she stayed for six years as an anchor and reporter.

“A lot of it was just timing and luck along with hard work,” she toldMedia Bistroof her early career. “A lot of people work hard, but I think I got lucky with timing. While I was working in a place, I fell in love with that place. I wasn’t about, ‘What’s the next place?’ "

03of 11Moving to NBC NewsHoda Kotb on ‘Dateline NBC’ in 2013.NBCWhile working in New Orleans, a vice president of NBC called Hoda Kotb up for an interview. In April 1998, Kotb officially joined the NBC News team as a correspondent forDateline NBCand all the network’s platforms.OnaToday with Hoda & Jennaepisode in 2022, looking back at her first days atDateline, she recalled feeling inferior to her peers.“I show up atDatelineand suddenly I’m in first grade and everybody else is a senior in high school,” the anchor said. “And I realized that when I thought I was top of my game, I had a whole new thing to learn.”

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Moving to NBC News

Hoda Kotb on ‘Dateline NBC’ in 2013.NBC

NBC

While working in New Orleans, a vice president of NBC called Hoda Kotb up for an interview. In April 1998, Kotb officially joined the NBC News team as a correspondent forDateline NBCand all the network’s platforms.

OnaToday with Hoda & Jennaepisode in 2022, looking back at her first days atDateline, she recalled feeling inferior to her peers.

“I show up atDatelineand suddenly I’m in first grade and everybody else is a senior in high school,” the anchor said. “And I realized that when I thought I was top of my game, I had a whole new thing to learn.”

04of 11Her Breast Cancer DiagnosisHoda Kotb speaks at the Breast Cancer Research Foundation Symposium and Awards in 2017.Jason Kempin/GettyIn March 2007, Hoda Kotb’s gynecologist found a lump under her breast during a routine checkup, requiring her to undergo a mastectomy and reconstructive surgery to treat breast cancer. She went public with her experience in an October 2007 interview on theTodayshow withAnn Curry, and shetold theTodayshow in 2008that some responses made her “heart burst.““This is an incredible platform to be able to help people. Now I walk down Broadway, and women hug me — and many have been through far worse,” the journalist said. “My god, no matter what you’ve been through, someone has been through worse, and it’s our responsibility as human beings to help people.”

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Her Breast Cancer Diagnosis

Hoda Kotb speaks at the Breast Cancer Research Foundation Symposium and Awards in 2017.Jason Kempin/Getty

Jason Kempin/Getty

In March 2007, Hoda Kotb’s gynecologist found a lump under her breast during a routine checkup, requiring her to undergo a mastectomy and reconstructive surgery to treat breast cancer. She went public with her experience in an October 2007 interview on theTodayshow withAnn Curry, and shetold theTodayshow in 2008that some responses made her “heart burst.”

“This is an incredible platform to be able to help people. Now I walk down Broadway, and women hug me — and many have been through far worse,” the journalist said. “My god, no matter what you’ve been through, someone has been through worse, and it’s our responsibility as human beings to help people.”

05of 11

Joining ‘Today’ Fourth Hour

Hoda Kotb, Ann Curry and Natalie Morales on the ‘Today’ show’s fourth hour in 2007.AP Photo/Richard Drew

AP Photo/Richard Drew

Her breast cancer diagnosis and recovery did not hinder Hoda Kotb from continuing her ascension. In fact, it motivated her to make big moves in her career. After her mastectomy, she told NBC that she wanted to host the fourth hour ofToday, and in September 2007, she sat alongside Ann Curry andNatalie Moralesfor its first edition.

06of 11Her AutobiographyCover of ‘Hoda: How I Survived War Zones, Bad Hair, Cancer and Kathie Lee’ in 2010.In 2010, Hoda Kotb published her first memoir through Simon and Schuster,Hoda: How I Survived War Zones, Bad Hair, Cancer, and Kathie Lee, which launched into theNew York Timesbestseller list. According to the synopsis, the autobiography chronicles her journey from breast cancer survivor toTodayshow anchor, as well as her adventures traveling for network television. She has since published seven books in total, three of which are children’s books.

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Her Autobiography

Cover of ‘Hoda: How I Survived War Zones, Bad Hair, Cancer and Kathie Lee’ in 2010.

In 2010, Hoda Kotb published her first memoir through Simon and Schuster,Hoda: How I Survived War Zones, Bad Hair, Cancer, and Kathie Lee, which launched into theNew York Timesbestseller list. According to the synopsis, the autobiography chronicles her journey from breast cancer survivor toTodayshow anchor, as well as her adventures traveling for network television. She has since published seven books in total, three of which are children’s books.

07of 11Becoming ‘Today’ Co-AnchorSavannah Guthrie and Hoda Kotb host ‘Today’.Nathan Congleton/NBCU Photo Bank/NBCUniversal via GettyHoda Kotb officially became one of the co-anchors ofTodaywithSavannah Guthriein 2018 afterMatt Lauerwasfiredin November of the previous year.“We were just trying to make it through those days together,” Kotb explained to PEOPLE after news broke of her appointment. “Sometimes when you go through something with someone, you see something special. I think that’s what happened. I didn’t think about whether it would be me.”

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Becoming ‘Today’ Co-Anchor

Savannah Guthrie and Hoda Kotb host ‘Today’.Nathan Congleton/NBCU Photo Bank/NBCUniversal via Getty

Hoda Kotb officially became one of the co-anchors ofTodaywithSavannah Guthriein 2018 afterMatt Lauerwasfiredin November of the previous year.

“We were just trying to make it through those days together,” Kotb explained to PEOPLE after news broke of her appointment. “Sometimes when you go through something with someone, you see something special. I think that’s what happened. I didn’t think about whether it would be me.”

08of 11Winning a Daytime EmmyHoda Kotb and Kathie Lee Gifford host the fourth hour of ‘Today’ on April 2, 2019.Tyler Essary/NBCU Photo Bank/NBCUniversal via GettyIn May 2019, Hoda Kotb and Kathie Lee Gifford won the Daytime Emmy for outstanding informative talk show host as the presenters ofToday’s fourth hour. Gifford, who departed the morning show after 11 years the month prior to accepting the award, called into theTodayshow to celebrate with her former co-host.“This was kind of the last Emmy Award ceremony for our show,” Kotb said to Gifford on-air. “The fact that there you were on that stage holding that hardware was so amazing. That’s how you put a period on the end of a sentence.”

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Winning a Daytime Emmy

Hoda Kotb and Kathie Lee Gifford host the fourth hour of ‘Today’ on April 2, 2019.Tyler Essary/NBCU Photo Bank/NBCUniversal via Getty

Tyler Essary/NBCU Photo Bank/NBCUniversal via Getty

In May 2019, Hoda Kotb and Kathie Lee Gifford won the Daytime Emmy for outstanding informative talk show host as the presenters ofToday’s fourth hour. Gifford, who departed the morning show after 11 years the month prior to accepting the award, called into theTodayshow to celebrate with her former co-host.

“This was kind of the last Emmy Award ceremony for our show,” Kotb said to Gifford on-air. “The fact that there you were on that stage holding that hardware was so amazing. That’s how you put a period on the end of a sentence.”

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Motherhood and ‘Hope Is a Rainbow’

Hoda Kotb and her daughters in 2023.Hoda Kotb/Instagram

Hoda Kotb/Instagram

“A rainbow to me represents something that you can’t quite touch, but it’s magical and amazing. So when I thought about how I carry Hope in my heart, I realized, ‘She IS a rainbow,' " the anchor explained of the title toToday.comin August 2023.

She continued, referencing her daughter’s health scare earlier that year, “She’s taught me that resilience comes in all kinds of packages and that kids are incredibly strong. She’s also taught me to find wonder in the smallest things.”

In March 2024,the mother of twotold PEOPLE, “The book was written initially because of who [Hope] is. I thought her goodness should be spread around.”

10of 11’Today with Hoda & Jenna’Today with Hoda Kotb and Jenna Bush Hager in 2023.TODAY with Hoda & Jenna/ TwitterFrom 2019 to January 2025, Hoda Kotb shared the fourth hour ofTodayslot with NBC’sJenna Bush Hager, with the two bringing their signature brands of humor and approachability to the anchor desk. The stars' off-screen friendship often came into play on the show —like when Hager offered to try setting Kotb upwithLenny Kravitz.

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‘Today with Hoda & Jenna’

Today with Hoda Kotb and Jenna Bush Hager in 2023.TODAY with Hoda & Jenna/ Twitter

TODAY with Hoda & Jenna/ Twitter

From 2019 to January 2025, Hoda Kotb shared the fourth hour ofTodayslot with NBC’sJenna Bush Hager, with the two bringing their signature brands of humor and approachability to the anchor desk. The stars' off-screen friendship often came into play on the show —like when Hager offered to try setting Kotb upwithLenny Kravitz.

11of 11Leaving ‘Today’Hoda Kotb.Nathan Congleton/NBC via GettyAfter 18 years withToday, Kotbannounced her departurefrom the daytime news program in September 2024 and will co-anchor her last show on Jan. 10, 2025.In a moving letter to theTodaystaff, she wrote, “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.“She explained that although her broadcast career has been “beyond meaningful,” she was “ready and excited” to spend more time with her daughters and her mother. However, Kotb clarified that she’ll stick around as part of the NBC family.“How could I not? Family is family and you all will always be a part of mine,” Kotb concluded.

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Leaving ‘Today’

Hoda Kotb.Nathan Congleton/NBC via Getty

After 18 years withToday, Kotbannounced her departurefrom the daytime news program in September 2024 and will co-anchor her last show on Jan. 10, 2025.

In a moving letter to theTodaystaff, she wrote, “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.”

She explained that although her broadcast career has been “beyond meaningful,” she was “ready and excited” to spend more time with her daughters and her mother. However, Kotb clarified that she’ll stick around as part of the NBC family.

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

source: people.com