Hoda Kotb to Step Down as TODAY Co-Anchor in January 2025

Hoda Kotb, the beloved co-anchor of NBC‘s TODAY show, will officially step down from her role on Jan. 10, 2025. Kotb, who has been a staple of the morning show for over a decade, announced her departure in September 2024, citing a desire to spend more time with her family and explore new opportunities. Her final week on the show will be celebrated with a series of special events, including a live audience taping on her last day.

Kotb’s co-host, Jenna Bush Hager, revealed on Dec. 18 that the show will host a ‘Hoda-bration’ during the week leading up to her departure. The celebration will culminate in a live episode from Studio 8G at 30 Rockefeller Plaza in New York City, the same studio where ‘Late Night with Seth Meyers‘ is filmed. Tickets for the live event sold out within six minutes, but fans can still watch the special episode from home.

In an emotional announcement in September, Kotb explained that her decision to leave was influenced by her desire to prioritize her family. ‘I realized that it was time for me to turn the page at 60 and try something new,’ she said. Kotb, who became a mother later in life, emphasized the importance of spending more time with her two daughters. ‘I feel like we only have a finite amount of time,’ she added.

While Kotb has not disclosed specific plans for her next chapter, she has expressed interest in the wellness space. ‘I want to live in wellness,’ she said during an interview. ‘I want to start things. I’ve got things that are percolating inside that I’m going to hopefully have fully formed soon.’ She also hinted at continuing her work with NBC in some capacity.

Craig Melvin, a longtime TODAY contributor, will succeed Kotb as co-anchor alongside Savannah Guthrie starting Jan. 13, 2025. Melvin expressed his excitement about the new role, calling it ‘the latest in a long line of blessings.’ Kotb praised Melvin, saying he was ‘literally made for this job.’

As Kotb prepares to leave TODAY, she reflected on her journey during a recent interview with mental wellness advocate Yasmine Cheyenne. ‘I think it’s scary to restart,’ Kotb said. ‘But somebody gave me some good advice once: They said when you are taking a leap or a jump, you have to imagine yourself on the other side.’

Kotb’s departure marks the end of an era for TODAY, but her legacy as a warm, relatable, and inspiring presence on morning television will undoubtedly endure. Fans can tune in to her final episode on Jan. 10 to celebrate her remarkable contributions to the show.