Hoda Kotb has always been known for making an early exit—so much so that she has earned the nickname Hodini among friends and colleagues. 

“They call me Hodini because I always leave the party early,” she shared. “Look, sometimes you miss a lot! People will be like, 

‘Guess who showed up and sang?’ And I’m like, ‘Wait, what? I left before that.’”

That same instinct for knowing when to move on has led Kotb, 60, to make one of the biggest decisions of her career. 

On September 26, she announced that she would be leaving Today after 17 years as co-anchor and 25 years with NBC. 

It was a shocking revelation for viewers, but for Kotb, it was a choice she had been contemplating for some time.

“I’ve kind of been contemplating, wondering, thinking about what I wanted this next chunk of my life to look like as I turned 60,” she explained. 

“And I like adventure, I like new beginnings. I’m a sunrise person and not a sunset person, and I was wondering, what does it look like for me?”

A Difficult Year and a Turning Point

Kotb’s decision to step away from her high-profile role didn’t come lightly. It followed a particularly challenging year, one marked by personal struggles that reshaped her priorities.

In February 2023, her youngest daughter, Hope Catherine, just five years old, faced a sudden and serious medical crisis. The situation was terrifying for Kotb and her family, forcing them to navigate an uncertain medical journey and find long-term care solutions. Out of respect for her daughter’s privacy, Kotb has not disclosed specific details about Hope’s condition, but she has been candid about the emotional toll it took.

Now, a year later, things are looking much brighter. Hope’s condition has stabilized, and Kotb has found comfort in the improvements she has seen in her daughter. “We’re in a place where Hope is thriving. She is improving, we’re watching her, and I think that as time goes on, we’ll have a better handle on it, but we’re already seeing great differences,” Kotb said.

Recognizing the need for a fresh start, she moved with Hope and her eldest daughter, Haley Joy, 7, from their Upper West Side apartment in New York City to a home in Westchester. The transition has provided her daughters with more space to play, explore, and simply be kids. “We wanted them to experience being barefoot and on grass, to have a yard and a swingset,” she explained. The change has brought a sense of peace, and Kotb now looks visibly more at ease when discussing her family’s future.

Choosing Family Over Career

Although Hope’s health was a significant factor in Kotb’s decision to leave Today, she had already been struggling with the balance between work and motherhood for years. She became a mother at 54 when she adopted Haley, and two years later, she welcomed Hope into her life. The pull of being a present parent had always been strong, and she admitted that she agonized over the demands on her time.

“When I adopted my second child, I ended up extending my maternity leave because I was so angst-ridden about returning to work,” she shared.

Even as her children grew, she felt a persistent yearning for something different. “You know when something’s pulling you? It’s like you either go toward it or you shove it down and say, ‘Nope, this is the way. I’m going to stay here because it’s safe,’” she explained.

The logical choice was to stay at NBC. “It does make more sense to stay at NBC. I’m financially secure, and I would have job security. I mean, why would you ever not do that?” she admitted.

But she couldn’t shake the feeling that she was missing precious moments with her children. With Haley now in second grade and Hope starting kindergarten, Kotb knew time was moving quickly.

“I was thinking to myself, I wonder what I’m missing?” she said.

A New Decade, A New Focus

As she embarks on this next phase of her life, Kotb is intentional about how she spends her time. She describes her life as a “time pie,” carefully considering how she carves up each slice.

“I knew that I wanted this decade to be different. I looked at my time like a pie. I was like, This is how much time I get, and now what am I going to do with it? And I wanted it to be filled with more of them,” she said, referring to her daughters.

Although she is stepping away from Today, Kotb has hinted at exciting new projects on the horizon, including ventures in wellness and personal growth. For now, however, she is embracing the opportunity to slow down and be present for her family.

Her decision to leave Today is a bold one, but true to her Hodini nature, Kotb knows when it’s time to make an exit. And this time, she’s stepping away not to miss out—but to finally be exactly where she wants to be.

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