Hoda Kotb Says Her Daughter's Reaction Proved Leaving 'Today' Was Right Maggie EkbergSeptember 1, 2025 at 2:22 AM Photo by: Weiss Eubanks/NBCUniversal via Getty Images Hoda Kotb spent nearly two decades as one of the most recognizable faces on morning television.
- - Hoda Kotb Says Her Daughter's Reaction Proved Leaving 'Today' Was Right
Maggie EkbergSeptember 1, 2025 at 2:22 AM
Photo by: Weiss Eubanks/NBCUniversal via Getty Images
Hoda Kotb spent nearly two decades as one of the most recognizable faces on morning television. She joined NBC News in 1998, became a correspondent for Dateline, and eventually co-anchored Today—a role that made her part of millions of Americans' mornings. So when she announced in September 2024 that she would be stepping away from the show after 26 years at the network, fans were both surprised and saddened.
But for Kotb, 61, one tiny moment with her oldest daughter confirmed she'd made exactly the right choice.
On Sunday, August 31, the mom of two sat down with Kristen Welker for a Meet the Moment conversation, where she revealed the touching exchange that validated her life-changing decision.
"For 26 years I did similar things every single day. And one day, Kristen, in January I woke up and my alarm didn't go off at 3:30," Kotb recalled. "I went downstairs to my office and Haley ran down and she looked at me and said at 5 a.m., 'You really are here.' And I think in that tiny moment I was like this decision was right on so many levels."
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Kotb adopted her daughter Haley in 2017 when she was 52, and welcomed Hope in April 2019 at age 54. Both adoptions came after her breast cancer diagnosis in 2007 left her unable to conceive.
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Becoming a mother later in life has been transformative for Kotb, who told Welker: "The best decade—the best part of my life started at 50. Everyone's gonna talk about their 30s and their 20s... 50s and beyond to me is where it's all happening and it's amazing."
She credits the timing as perfect, despite what others might think. "Everything is right on time and I try to remind myself of that. Like I became a mom right on time, you know, this was the moment for me."
While Kotb admits she misses her NBC family deeply—remembering "walking out on the Plaza" and "holding Savannah's hand in good times and in bad"—she's found peace in her decision.
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"I think both things you can hold in your hands, right? You can miss and love something and also be excited for the next thing," she said.
That "next thing" includes her wellness company Joy 101, which offers breathwork, meditation, and retreats. The venture grew from her own transformation after trying breathwork for the first time at 58. "After 10 minutes of doing it, I exploded in tears and I literally freaked out," she recalled of her first breathwork session. "I felt like someone had squeegeed my brain. I felt like I had clarity and energy."
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In a video posted on the brand's official Instagram page in May, Kotb explained, "Joy 101 is for anybody who kind of wants a little bit of a change. Your life's going along fine. It's good enough. I mean that's what I felt for many years—good enough. This is for people who are tired of good enough. You want something more. Something better. So Joy 101 is kind of for everybody."
As for Today, Kotb's role didn't stay vacant for long. Craig Melvin stepped in as co-anchor alongside Savannah Guthrie on January 13. Meanwhile, Jenna Bush Hager continues to lead the fourth hour, which has since been rebranded as Today with Jenna & Friends and now features a rotating lineup of guest co-hosts.
This story was originally reported by Parade on Sep 1, 2025, where it first appeared in the News section. Add Parade as a Preferred Source by clicking here.
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