Everything celebs have said about Hoda Kotb’s departure from ‘Today’

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On September 26, 2024, beloved Today host Hoda Kotb revealed that she would be departing the show after 26 years with NBC.

Kotb, 60, cited a wide variety of reasons on why she felt that 2025 was the right time to step aside, from wanting to “turn the page” and “try something new” after turning 60 to wanting to spend more time with her daughters. (Kotb is mom to Haley, 7, and Hope, 5.)

Following her announcement, the beloved TV personality’s fellow celebrities have shared their thoughts on her departure.

TV Hosts

In addition to her own Today co-stars, many hosts of other shows have congratulated Kotb on her decision andhave given her advice on how to move forward.

Former Daily Show host Trevor Noah advised, “Don’t jump into everything else on the other side,” when he appeared on Today on October 9. “I made that mistake initially, and then now, I found a nice cadence and a different rhythm where I go, like, ‘I don’t have the same push anymore, but it’s nice. It’s a different type of feeling.'”

Jimmy Fallon, a fellow NBC family member, apparently sent Kotb a card that simply said, “What the hell?” after she made her announcement, but when she appeared on his show on October 7, he wished her only the best and gushed about the future that lies ahead for her.

“Your life is going to completely change,” the comedian told her. “You’re gonna go to concerts. You’re gonna go out on dates. You’re gonna go to restaurants. You’re gonna watch bad TV. You’re gonna whatever the heck you want because you don’t have to wake up at three in the morning.”

Maria Shriver, another NBC host and journalist, shared how proud she was of Kotb, to whom she’s been a friend and mentor over the years.

“You followed your gut and you went with what you wanted, even though you were afraid. And I think that’s so heroic. I think that’s brave,” Shriver told her on October 25 on Today. “And I think we often think of people [who are] brave [as] people who ski down a mountain or climb a mountain. But it’s really brave to leave something that you love and walk into the unknown. It’s really brave to think, ‘There’s something more for me out there. I don’t know what it is, but I’m gonna walk towards this,’ and that’s what you’re doing.”

Food Network mogul Bobby Flay enthusiastically invited Kotb to consider a cooking show after she took “some time off.” He described a vision for a show starring the two of them, saying, “You and I, Kotb and Flay, we’re gonna travel the world, we’re gonna eat, you’re gonna cook for me, I’m gonna cook for you.”

Actors

Actors who have been interviewed by Kotb over the years have been enthusiastic in their praise of the anchor. Her extensive list of fans includes Mariska Hargitay, Molly Shannon, Billy Crystal, and more, including the below:

Jason Segel called his interviews with Kotb “some of the best of [his] whole career,” when he appeared on Today on October 16. “I’m gonna miss you when you’re gone,” he told the journalist.

Keke Palmer saw an opportunity when she learned of Kotb’s departure during a November 20 interview, offering herself up as a new co-host for Jenna Bush-Hager. “Let’s switch real quick,” said the Nope actress, taking over Kotb’s spot on the couch.

Actor and comedian Ken Jeong thanked the host for “loving and supporting [him] over the years.” The Hangover star continued, “If it wasn’t for people like you, I would not have a career like this.”

Musicians

Like Bobby Flay, Coldplay frontman Chris Martin immediately pitched a cooking venture to the NBC legend. On October 8, the singer jokingly accused her of forgetting that they’d already planned a business together for after her retirement. “Hoda, I thought we had a deal that we were going to go into business together making cookies?” he joked.

Cynthia Erivo, the powerhouse singer and actor behind Wicked, gave Kotb a bouquet of flowers at the Macy’s Thanksgiving Day Parade, alongside Kotb’s Today co-hosts Al Roker and Savannah Guthrie.

“These flowers are for you because I know that this is the last Thanksgiving parade you’re doing,” Erivo told Kotb. “And I wanted to celebrate that and I wanted to say we love you and thank you for all of the hard work you’ve done all of these years.”

Kotb has assured all her well-wishers that she will not be gone from the public eye, as she hopes to make waves in the wellness industry and plans to still be a part of the NBC family. Kotb told People that she is “still early on in the stages,” but is creating a smartphone app focused on wellness and wellbeing.”