Hoda Kotb’s decision to step away from Today earlier this year was a significant moment not only for her but for the entire broadcasting world.
After nearly three decades with NBC, Kotb, 60, chose to take a step back to spend more time with her young daughters, Haley and Hope,
whom she shares with her ex-fiancé Joel Schiffman. This move marked a pivotal change in Kotb’s life, but she made it clear that her connection to her NBC family would remain strong.
In the wake of her departure, Kotb has stayed in touch with her colleagues, including Katie Couric, who herself once anchored the Today show.
Couric, who left Today in 2006 after 15 years to take on the role of anchor at CBS Evening News, has continued to offer her support and encouragement to Kotb during this transition.
Couric recently shared her thoughts about Kotb’s departure in an exclusive interview with Us Weekly on March 6.
The former Today anchor revealed that she had reached out to Kotb via text to offer her well wishes. “I’ve texted her a couple of times and told her I hope she was sleeping in,” Couric said, reflecting her understanding of the challenges that come with stepping away from a high-profile role. After all, Couric had made a similar decision years ago when she left Today for a new opportunity.
As someone who has experienced a career change herself, Couric expressed her excitement for Kotb’s next chapter. “If you do something too long, it starts to feel stale no matter how exciting the job may be,” Couric explained. With Kotb having anchored Today for 15 years, Couric is optimistic about her friend’s decision to explore new challenges. “I was excited for Hoda to go and try new things and challenge herself,” she continued. “I’m really excited for her.”
For Kotb, leaving Today was not an easy decision. She admitted that it was the desire to spend more time with her daughters that ultimately led to her decision. “I had my kiddos late in life, and I was thinking they deserve a bigger piece of my time, the pie that I have,” Kotb shared at the time. “I feel like we only have a finite amount of time.” It was clear that her family, not her career, was now her top priority.
Though Kotb’s departure from Today led to some changes on the show, including the assignment of Craig Melvin as her permanent anchor replacement, her presence in the Today family remains. Kotb has continued to participate in the show and maintain a connection with her co-hosts. However, her spot in the fourth hour of the program, which had previously been co-hosted with Jenna Bush Hager, has been left open. In the meantime, a rotating group of guest hosts, including comedians and NBC personalities like Savannah Guthrie and Willie Geist, have filled in alongside Hager.
Couric’s message to Kotb is one of support and encouragement, which reflects the close friendship that the two women share. While Couric is no longer involved with Today, she still closely follows Kotb’s journey, even if from a distance. “Honestly, in the morning, I’m usually up and out,” Couric mentioned, admitting that she doesn’t watch Today as much as she used to. “I get a lot of my content digitally,” she added. However, Couric’s continued support for Kotb, as well as her excitement about her future endeavors, highlights the bond between these two prominent figures in broadcasting.
As Kotb navigates this next chapter in her life and career, she does so with the knowledge that her friends and colleagues, like Couric, are cheering her on. Both women have carved out successful careers, and while their paths have diverged in different directions, they remain supportive of each other’s journeys.
Kotb’s decision to step back from Today has allowed her to focus more on her family, while Couric’s own career shift has led her to embrace new challenges, including hosting her podcast, Next Question with Katie Couric. Both women are a testament to how career changes, though difficult, can open the door to new opportunities and personal growth.
For Kotb, this next phase is all about balance, taking time for her daughters while still maintaining a connection to her NBC roots. And with friends like Couric supporting her, Kotb can be confident that whatever comes next will be just as fulfilling as her decades-long career in television.
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