Hoda Kotb is opening up about the emotional moments leading up to her decision to step away from Today after more than two decades with NBC.
In her new memoir, Jump and Find Joy: Embracing Change in Every Season of Life, Kotb reflects on how she shared the news of her departure with her colleagues — and specifically how Al Roker gave her one of the most surprising reactions of all.
Kotb, 61, explained that when she finally called Roker, a close friend and longtime cohost, he didn’t exactly respond with words of comfort. “No surprise, Roker did something funny when I told him my news. He said, ‘OK, bye,’ and hung up. He hung up on me!” she wrote, per Us Weekly. “I thought, well, he sure got over that fast. But about five minutes later, he called back. ‘I was just so shocked,’ he explained, ‘and I couldn’t process what you were saying.’”
🎬 SIGN UP for Parade’s Daily newsletter to get the latest pop culture news & celebrity interviews delivered right to your inbox 🎬
The anchor also recalled that the day she revealed her plans started like any other: waking up at 3:30 a.m., showering, meditating, and journaling before heading into the office. But she carried a “crazy mix of emotions” knowing she was about to deliver life-changing news.
Her first stop was executive vice president Libby Leist’s office, where Kotb lit candles and played Emilia Jones’ version of “Both Sides Now” as she braced for the conversation. Leist immediately sensed what was coming. “When Libby walked in, she took one look at me and said, ‘Oh no.’ And I just started talking,” Kotb recalled.
She explained that after 26 years at NBC, she felt it was time for something new. “I knew I’d have more financial security if I stayed at NBC but that I had to think about my kids. When you wait so long for children – like I did – you don’t want to miss your time with them.” Kotb was referring to her two adopted daughters, Haley, 8, and Hope, 6, who she cites as the main reason for her departure.
Kotb ultimately left the show earlier this year after 16 years on the Today desk, closing a career chapter that began in 1998 when she joined NBC as a Dateline correspondent.
