Hoda will have her hands full by the time she leaves the show in early 2025
HODA Kotb is already plotting her next career move fresh off her announcement that she is exiting the Today show.
An insider exclusively told The U.S. Sun that life after Today is shaping up to be extremely fulfilling for the daytime TV host and mom of two.
According to the insider, Hoda, 60, has been talking with NBC about her departure for “about a year.”
“She isn’t leaving NBC, she’s going to do special correspondent work.
“She wants to interview celebrities one-on-one in a long format,” the insider said.
The source added she will also continue recording her podcast, Making Space, “which she enjoys doing very much.”
The accomplished children’s author will also continue writing books.
Additionally, the insider said they believe the star’s relationship change with NBC will allow her to begin taking part in lucrative advertisements.
According to the source, Hoda was unable to sign on to brand endorsements or ads, because she was under strict NBC contract rules.
Now, “Hoda could become the face of L’Oreal, and she could potentially make more money now that she’s off the show,” the insider insisted.
NO MORE EARLY MORNINGS
The longtime TV host has grown weary of the difficult hours that come with the morning show grind.
“She has said that she really doesn’t want to get up at three in the morning anymore,” the source explained
“It’s okay in the summer, but in the winter, it’s brutal.”
The savvy single mom will seek to capitalize on her fame after ending her run on morning TV.
The insider also claimed that Hoda recently told a friend: “I’ve been on the show for so long, what does another two years do for me? I don’t need the show anymore to be Hoda.”
“She enjoys being Hoda, but as she said to a friend, she is going to be Hoda till the day she dies.
“After 10 years on morning TV, her fame might decrease – but for example, Katie Couric is still Katie Couric.”
BITTERSWEET END
On Thursday, Hoda announced her departure from Today.
“I just turned 60, and it was such a monumental moment for me when I turned 60 years old…What does that decade mean? And I realize it was time for me to turn the page at 60, and to try something new,” she said as she fought back tears.
Hoda said that celebrating her 60th birthday with her children made her realize “this is what the top of the wave feels like for me.”
She said at that moment, she thought ” it can’t get any better,” and it’s time to move on.
HODA’S NBC LEGACY
Hoda joined the NBC network in 1998 as a correspondent for Dateline.
She became a standout once paired with Kathie Lee Gifford in the 10 am hour of Today in 2008.
During her time on the show, Hoda was open about her battle with breast cancer and her fertility struggles.
Fans of the show then watched as she adopted her two daughters; first in 2017 and then in 2019.
She was also vocal about her daughter, Hope’s, scary medical crisis.
Hoda continued in the fourth hour after Jenna Bush Hager replaced Kathie Lee.
She was then named an interim co-anchor along with Savannah after Matt Lauer’s firing from the network in late 2017.
Hoda and Savannah became the first female-led duo to co-anchor Today since its premiere in 1952.
A recent highlight of her time on Today was the previously mentioned birthday surprise.
Hoda’s co-anchors shocked her with an hour-long celebration in August honoring her 60th birthday.
The mother of two also noted she adopted her daughters Hope and Haley later in life, and said they “deserve a bigger piece of my time pie.”
The host said the decision was “the hardest thing in the world” and promised she would “stay in the NBC family,” but reveled she would be departing Today in early 2025.
After the announcement, Hoda’s co-host Savannah Guthrie said: “We love you so much.”
“When you look around and see these tears, they’re love. You are so loved.
Savannah went on to say that no one can imagine the Today Show without Hoda and went on to applaud her friend’s courage to leave.
“I am so proud of my friend. You have guts. For someone to leave at the top of their game, to leave something that’s wonderful, that you love, where it’s easy and comfortable and beautiful and fun and say, but I dream even bigger for myself.”
Al Roker also grew emotional as he touched on his dear friend’s departure.
“You are the best. I’ve never known anyone like you, and I’ve known you forever,” he said.
Meanwhile co-anchor Craig Melvin called Hoda “the same person” when the cameras turned off.
“You’re exactly like people see you in the morning, just the biggest heart. You’ve been the heart of this show for a long time, there’s no replacing that.”
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