Kathie Lee Gifford Cheers on Hoda Kotb After Emotional Departure Announcement from Today Show: “Here’s to New Adventures!”
Kathie Lee Gifford is celebrating her longtime friend and former co-host, Hoda Kotb, after Kotb made the emotional announcement that she would be stepping away from the Today show. Gifford, who spent a decade alongside Kotb hosting the fourth hour of the iconic NBC morning show, took to social media to express her heartfelt support.
On Sept. 27, Gifford, 71, posted a touching message on X (formerly Twitter), highlighting the special bond she shares with Kotb and acknowledging the impact Kotb has had on millions of viewers. “Bittersweet news as my dear friend @hodakotb steps away from the Today show,” Gifford wrote, sharing two nostalgic photos from their time together on the show. “Her warmth, laughter, and incredible spirit have brightened our mornings and touched countless hearts. Here’s to new adventures!”
The pair became an unforgettable duo when they began co-hosting the fourth hour of Today back in 2008, creating a unique, lighthearted dynamic that won over audiences. Gifford left the show in 2018, and Kotb continued on, but their bond remained strong. Kotb, 60, has frequently credited Gifford for helping her find her true path in television. In a 2023 interview on Busy Philipps’s Busy This Week, Kotb reflected on how working with Gifford changed the trajectory of her career. “It was always like I was putting a circle in a square,” Kotb shared. “But when I sat with Kat that very first time, I felt like I was riding a wave. I go, ‘Oh my God, this is what it feels like when you’re doing something you’re supposed to do.’”
On Sept. 26, Kotb made her official announcement, revealing her decision to leave Today to focus on her family and embark on new personal adventures. In a letter to her Today staff, Kotb expressed her mixed emotions. “As I write this, my heart is all over the map,” she wrote. “I know I’m making the right decision, but it’s a painful one. And you all are the reason why.” Kotb acknowledged the deep connections she’s formed with her colleagues and viewers over the years, but emphasized that it was time for her to dedicate more of her energy to her daughters and her mother.
“My broadcast career has been beyond meaningful, a new decade of my life lies ahead, and now my daughters and my mom need and deserve a bigger slice of my time pie,” Kotb wrote. “I will miss you all desperately, but I’m ready and excited.”
Kotb’s official departure is set for early 2025, though she reassured fans that she will remain in the NBC family. As her departure approaches, the network and Kotb’s colleagues have expressed their gratitude for her contributions to the Today show, noting how she helped redefine the morning television landscape with her warmth and charisma.
As Kotb looks ahead to new chapters in her life, Gifford’s message of encouragement perfectly encapsulates the love and admiration shared by the two beloved TV personalities. For fans of the duo, while this marks the end of an era on Today, it’s clear that both Kotb and Gifford will continue to inspire and uplift in their future endeavors.
