Hoda Kotb surprised viewers by announcing her upcoming departure from the series Today show after 17 years on Thursday, September 26, and the talk behind the scenes about her replacement has already begun.

“The big contender that everyone at the network is talking about is Laura Jarrett – she has a very good chance,” an NBC insider tells us exclusively We weekly. ‘She is the anchor of Weekend today; she’s a lawyer like (Kotb’s co-anchor) Savannah (Guthrie). She is a treasure at the Today show who got up very quickly. “

Laura, 40, whose mother, Valerie Jarrettserved as Barak Obama‘s senior advisor during his administration, has worked for NBC News since 2022. She became co-anchor of the Today Saturday coverage of the show in September 2023, replacing it Kristen Welker. One of her most memorable TV moments came in May, when she broke the news that she was a former president Donald Trump found guilty of 34 offenses of falsifying company records. Laura read all 34 counts live on air.

While Laura seems a likely candidate to succeed the 60-year-old Kotb, there are other possible scenarios. Craig Melvin or Carson Dalythat are currently Today cohosts, can be moved to the co-anchor spot.

Related: Presenters of ‘Today’ respond to Hoda Kotb’s surprising exit

The news of Hoda Kotb’s departure from her Today show is bittersweet for her cohosts. “I just turned 60, and it was such a monumental moment for me when I turned 60 years old, because I started thinking about that decade: What does that decade mean? What does it mean? What will it mean for me?’ Kotb, (…)

“The other option is they can move around anchors,” the NBC insider said. ‘They can put Craig with Savannah, or they can (3rd hour today cohost) Sheneille (Jones) with Savannah.”

Other newer NBC stars who could be tapped for the position may be out of the running as they recently took over other gigs. For example, Welker, 48, started hosting Meet the press in 2023 while Halle Jackson was called anchor of NBC Nightly News‘Sunday broadcasts in May.

All eyes are on the younger NBC personalities: political and national correspondent Jacob Soboroff and NBC News Now anchor Tom Llamas are also rising stars – as many of the seasoned veterans are nearing retirement themselves. Al Roker, Lester Holt And Dateline‘S Keith Morrisonall of whom have been with the network for decades, are probably not far behind Kotb.

With Kotb’s replacement still uncertain, one thing is certain; That’s what the NBC insider says Us that if Laura takes over the place, the “big demand for Weekend today‘ then becomes ‘Who are they moving to the weekend spot?’

Whatever the outcome, Kotb’s absence will be acutely felt by her colleagues and viewers alike.

Related: Hoda Kotb’s most memorable and emotional “Today” show moments

Nathan Congleton/NBC Hoda Kotb’s nearly two decades on the Today show were filled with many memorable moments. The TV personality announced in September 2024 that she was leaving the iconic morning show after 26 years at NBC, 16 years as cohost of Today and seven years as co-anchor of Savannah Guthrie. “I just (…)

“She is the person everyone loves. She is the same off camera as she is on camera,” says the insider. “”She’s just such a warm person. It’s a huge blow.”

After nearly three decades working for NBC, Kotb’s departure is no surprise to anyone who understands morning news programs.

‘It’s such a heavy burden on your life. She has to get up at 3 in the morning. She has two kids and is 60 years old, and she just wants room to live,” the insider notes, referring to Kotb’s daughters: Haley, 7, and Hope 5. “She just moved to Westchester in the past six years. to soften. And I think she wants to focus on her children.