It’s the end of an era, morning show fans. After nearly three decades on NBC and nearly 20 years as a face on the Today show, Hoda Kotb steps down as co-host.

The newsreader shocked viewers around the world during the taping on September 26, by revealing the emotional news of her departure after 26 years live on the radio. According to VarietyHoda plans to remain with the popular daytime series through early 2025. The outlet also notes that this will open up two roles in the Today show team, as she will also be leaving her regular co-anchor position during the fourth hour of the show with Jenna Bush Hager.

“I realized that at 60, it was time to turn the page and try something new,” she said emotionally in a clip posted to Instagram. “I decided this was the right time to move on… With all that being said, this is the hardest thing in the world.”

Considering that she has been a fixture on television for so long, fans may be curious about the real reason behind her decision. why Hoda Kotb the Today show. It turns out there are a few key insights about her departure, and they all relate to a new era she’s entering in her life.

Why is Hoda Kotb leaving the Today show?

There are several reasons why Hoda plans to Today show. According to her, an important element of it comes from the desire to spend more time with her daughters Haley And Heapwho are both under the age of 10 and were adopted later in Hoda’s life.

“Of course, I had my children late in life, and I thought they deserved a bigger share of my time than I have,” she said. “I feel like we only have a limited amount of time.”

She also explained why she was leaving, another element being that she felt she was ready for a new era after turning 60 in August.

“Celebrating my 60th birthday at the Plaza felt like a change,” she wrote in a letter to the Today staff. “Like a huge, joyful YES you are! I saw it all so clearly: my career in broadcasting has been more than meaningful, a new decade of my life lies ahead of me, and now my daughters and my mother need and deserve a bigger piece of my time. I will miss you all terribly, but I am ready and excited.”

Fortunately, this won’t be the last we hear from Hoda on the Today show. Term confirmed that she will continue to contribute after her departure in early 2025 and will therefore remain part of the TV family in some way.

We wish Hoda all the best!

As an assistant to the editorial team of entertainment and news for Good housekeepingAdrianna (she/her) writes about all things TV, movies, music, and pop culture. She graduated from Yeshiva University with a BA in Journalism and a minor in Business Management. She writes about shows like The Rookie, 9-1-1 And Grey’s Anatomybut when she’s not binge-watching the latest series on Netflix, she’s practicing martial arts or drinking way too much coffee.