Hoda Kotb said an emotional farewell to her 17-year journey with her daughters Hailey, 7, and Hope, 5, on The Today Show on Jan. 10.
The final broadcast was filled with touching moments, including tribute performances from stars like Oprah Winfrey and Jamie Lee Curtis, as well as a special performance of Kermit the Frog’s “The Rainbow Connection,” a song Hoda sings to her daughters every night. .
While Kermit sang, Hoda held Haley and Hope close and wiped their eyes as the co-hosts sang.
The show ended with Hoda driving her new minivan and Haley and Hope buckling up in the back.
“So, guys, are you ready for your next adventure?” she asked her daughters.
Their excited “Yes!” It was the perfect way to start a new chapter.
Hoda spoke candidly when she announced her plans to leave in September, revealing why she’s leaving the Today Show.
“I had a baby late,” she explained to Savannah and Today’s Al Roker, Craig Melvin, Jenna Bush Hager and Sheinelle Jones. “And I was thinking they deserved a bigger piece of the time pie that I had.”
She continued, “It seems like time is finite for us. So in the end, this is the hardest thing in the world.”
Looking ahead, Hoda is excited about creating new routines, including early morning SoulCycle classes and breakfast with her daughters.
“I found out there was a Soul Cycle class starting at 5:30 in my neighborhood,” Hoda told E! This is news from October. “Then I’m going to go back and feed the kids breakfast and make some coffee and take it on the Yeti.”
She added: “I will walk the children to school along the beautiful streets and kiss them goodbye.”
