Hoda Kotb shocked millions of viewers when she announced her departure Todaybut her departure came as no surprise to some in the industry.

“It’s such a tough job in your life,” an NBC insider exclusively told We weekly“I think the average person understands that morning television is not glamorous.”

Just like Jennifer AnsitonAlex Levy and More Characters on AppleTV+’s The morning showKotb, 60, wakes up at 3 a.m. every weekday for work — all while balancing her responsibilities as a single mother of two. “This industry is not for the faint of heart,” the insider added.

Making that wake-up call even harder? Kotb also recently moved with her daughters Haley, 7, and Hope, 4, from Manhattan to the New York City suburb of Westchester, which she previously revealed on Today. (Hoda shares her children with her ex-fiancé Joel Schiffman.)

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The news of Hoda Kotb’s Today show exit is doubly heartbreaking for her cohosts. “I just turned 60, and it was such a monumental moment for me when I turned 60, because I started thinking about that decade, what does that decade mean? What does it hold? What is it going to mean to me?” Kotb, (…)

“She’s not going to be a mom until later,” the insider added. “She wants to focus on her kids.”

The source noted that colleague Today NBC’s hosts and executives knew about Kotb’s decision to leave the show, but people outside the inner circle were kept in the dark.

“She’s the person that everyone loves,” the insider said of Kotb. “She’s the same off-camera as she is on-camera and I think that’s the hardest part because that can’t be said for everyone.”

The source cited Kotb’s decision to leave Today “It’s great for her,” noting that she is a “warm” person. “But it’s a huge blow,” the insider added.

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Hoda Kotb has often swooned over how much her loved ones have defined her life — particularly her daughters, Haley and Hope. The Today host became a mother when she adopted her little ones in 2017 and 2019, respectively, with her then-partner, Joel Schiffman. The former couple got engaged in 2019 after six years of dating (…)

Kotb revealed her departure from Today during the morning show’s Thursday, September 26 episode. “I realized it was time to turn the page at 60 and try something new. This is the right time to move on,” she explained, noting that her daughters were the motivation for her departure.

Kotb has been with NBC for more than thirty years and has joined Today in 2007. In 2018 she became the presenter of the morning show, together with Savannah Guthriewho is still in that position.

As for Kotb’s future, the source said she is “very focused” on wellness and preparing for a Today wellness retreat coming soon. Organized by TodayKotb is kicking off its first-ever Making Space Wellness event on Oct. 25 at the Miraval Austin Resort and Spa in Austin, Texas. The three-day event will “explore Kotb’s four pillars of personal growth: Mind, Body, Emotion & Spirit” and will feature “workshops, mindful practices, and wellness exploration,” according to a press release.

“Maria (Shriver) “He’s guiding her through all of this,” the insider said of fellow NBC News personality Shriver, adding that the two are “best friends.”

But Kotb may not be saying goodbye to NBC for good. The insider added that Kotb could take a cue from Shriver and Today alum Katie Couric‘s book and come back to read some of the pieces as a contributor.

Despite Kotb possibly being in her post-Today According to the source, one thing is for sure: she will be spending a lot of time with her children.

Kotb continues to exist Today until January 1, 2025.