In honor of Hoda Kotb’s last day on TODAY, Jamie Lee Curtis and Oprah Winfrey are sharing kind words as she embarks on this next chapter of her life.
Below, we're recapping the biggest moments from her emotional final day on TODAY, Jan. 10 — also known as the "Hoda-bration." Surprise guests have included Oprah Winfrey, Simone Biles, Maria Shriver, Jamie Lee Curtis and Kermit the Frog.
Hoda's closest family and friends were in the audience, including her two daughters, her sister, her brother, her sister-in-law, her nieces and her besties."I made Hoda that playlist because I know music is so important to her and a lot of how she expresses her joy is through music," Farizan tells TODAY.com."Over the years, music has been such an important part of our relationship.", plus songs that remind her of Hoda and tunes that she thinks are representative of where Hoda is in life right now. "She’s always showing us songs in the makeup room. Some of these songs are ones that I introduced to her or ones that are her all-time faves as well," Farizan says. Farizan describes Hoda as"the ultimate hypewoman," and that she hopes her playlist gets Hoda just as hyped. "I told her to crank it and she did. Hoda is so special to all of us," Farizan says."She is exceptional on air, but even more off air, and that’s what makes her such a great role model. To me, she has always made the workplace feel like home." "You know that feeling when the party’s over, the guests have left, you're just with your family, you kick off your shoes, you dig your fork into the cake? That’s the feeling she brings to me in 1A," Farizan adds."I’m so lucky to have shared this space with her and I’m so lucky to have learned from her.", which includes"Bodak Yellow" by Cardi B,"Fancy Like" by Walker Hayes,"Drop Me Off in New Orleans" by Kermit Ruffins and more.Savannah Guthrie and Hoda Kotb re-created some of the photos they took together from their first day co-anchoring the show back on Jan. 2, 2018.Seven years later, the pair smiled for a snap at the anchor desk, and then took another where they pointed to each other with big grins on their face.Standing on the Plaza surrounded by her fellow anchors, TODAY fans and two daughters, Hoda shared a heartfelt thank you."I read your cards. I got your bracelets. I got the scarves you crotched. I got everything. I want to say thank you from the bottom of my heart," she said. Hoda also thanked TODAY executive vice president Libby Leist, who was teary-eyed. She pulled her glam team on camera, too, to let them know they make her feel beautiful inside and out.The TODAY Plaza is filled with signs on her last day, ranging from tear-jerking to funny — and a few pleading, like"Hoda, Don't Go-Day."She said she is collecting each sign and wrapping them up for storage."One day my kids are going to open these up and say, 'Mom, what did you used to do?" she said.As Savannah and Hoda headed into the Plaza arm-in-arm, they were surrounded by TODAY show producers and staff cheering and wearing purple hats and streamers.Toward the end of the 8 a.m., Hoda was joined by her daughters Hope and Haley on the show. When Savannah asked if they were excited to wake up with their mom on Monday, they said yes. All three were in for a surprise. Kermit the Frog was in the studio to serenade Hoda with the song she sings her daughters every night:"Rainbow Connection."Anna Kaplan Former TODAY anchor Maria Shriver reflected on her relationship with Hoda Kotb, explaining how she supported Hoda while she considered leaving her spot on the show. "You got acquainted with a voice that you didn't even know, and you started to allow it space, and it started to make you come alive in a way you had never known before," Shriver said."You were brave enough to say, 'I think I want to follow this voice of mine into the unknown. I want to leave one of the greatest jobs in television and I want to take a leap.'"Hoda then shared what Shriver is like as a friend. Hoda Kotb on Maria Shriver: "She holds up a mirror to you, to show you the best parts of you that you don't see.""She holds up a mirror to you, to show you the best parts of you that you don't see," Hoda said."Maria has that gift. She does it for me, and she sort of opened my world wide open." "And I'm so glad to be in your world," Shriver replied."And we're all in your whole wide world and it's just going to keep getting bigger and better and you're going to change lives, yours and others."“The thing I like about Maria so much is she’s a listener,” Hoda said. In addition to her children, her mother and her sister, Hoda listed Shriver alongside her fourth hour co-host Jenna Bush Hager, her TODAY co-anchor Savannah Guthrie and her “besties” Karen Swensen and Jen Miller as being her"core" group of people. “You want to be with people who are expanding and curious and trying to kind of make the world better and who think beyond their own little world,” Hoda. “And all of my five-plus do that. They make me less afraid. They make me believe I can do anything. They can see me in other spaces. They cheer me on.”"Of course," Simone said."You showed up and supported me." Hoda immediately started crying."I watched you grow up. I watched you go to the mountain top. I watched you fall down and get back up again," reflecting on Biles' Olympics journey — which she called a highlight of her years on the show. Hoda told Biles, before she had kids, she hoped they would be like her. To Hoda, Biles' parents are an emblem of"how to do things right" with kids."Hopefully we’re in LA together, whatever that means," Biles told Hoda. The next summer Olympics is in Los Angeles. Biles has kept mum aboutHoda spent many days with Biles this year, from the Olympic team trials in Minneapolis, Minnesota, to the 2024 Olympics in Paris, France, where Biles won three gold medals and one silver medal in women's gymnastics.Oprah Winfrey, who stepped down from her talk show in 2011 after 25 years, stopped by to tell Hoda something about saying goodbye."Hoda, Hoda, Hoda. Well, I know what making this decision feels like. I know how challenging it is to come to the moment where you say, I have done it, I have done it, and now it’s time to move on to the next thing. And I will tell you that in the future, you’re going to look back and you’re going to say, 'Was that the right decision? Did I do the right thing?' And I will assure you that yes, you have made the right move, although it has been very hard to do, and I know that Haley and Hope are going to benefit so much from this decision, and whatever you decide to do in your next chapter, in the next adventure, it will be the best decision for you and for your family," Winfrey said."I did have something made for you by Moy Thompson, and it’s one of my orbs, and it says, 'Every today with you is a better day' and the dates of your time at TODAY. “So from all of your fans, your friends, me included. Thank you for being such a shining example to all of us of what’s really important, and the reason that you’re stopping is the most important. God bless you and thank you!" Curtis was meant to attend in person, but the"Hodabration" also falls the same week that a fire has devastated Los Angeles. Curtis donated $1 million to L.A. fire relief, she shared in anAfter hearing Hoda was leaving, she mailed Hoda a letter — which never arrived. So, she took to the show to read it. “It says, ‘Hoda, the long and winding road. Where you go, my hand in yours. Bravo,’” Curtis said. “It was “Here’s how we’re going to begin: Say it ain’t so, Hoda,” Curtis continued. “I can’t deal with it. I just can’t deal with it. I just cannot believe this is the last time I’m going to be here with you.”Hoda's colleagues shared a moving series of messages looking back on their relationship with her over the years, a tribute that left Hoda in tears."That was not fair," Hoda said after watching the video. She thanked them all, one-by-one. She called Carson the"secret sauce" to the show. Savannah is her"person." Al, her"first friend" at TODAY. And Craig, her successor, someone who"earned this."She recalled how their emotional conversations while getting their makeup done sometimes led to the artists having to re-do it! "She's so special it's almost beyond description," Savannah said. Her challenges, she said, made her stronger. And she pointed to how Hoda uses a plastic bag as a purse to red carpet affairs:"She's about what matters."Savannah guessed what made her interviews so special."She reaches across with her eyes and her heart. People see someone who cares. She loves people. She's the ultimate people person," Savannah said. "Hoda, I love you deeply. Whether you're sitting next to me or not. Whether we're waking up at 4 o'clock in the morning together or not, I will always be by your side, and you will always be by mine," she said.Craig said that when she thinks of Hoda, he thinks of fans holding signs, and the"connection she has" with them.He credited her"kindness and generosity" after he was announced as Savannah's co-anchor."Thank you for being a cheerleader and champion for years," he said. Hoda agreed to give him pep talks as he moved into his new role as co-anchor — and he said she should expect a call from him."I am going to miss you coming out of the dressing room every single morning," he said."But you know what? You, Hope and Haley get to come out of your rooms and see each other every morning. And so, how can I be sad?" Al also described her character, calling her"selfless." He commended her kindness when he was sick."It did mean the world," he said.When Hoda comes to work, she's singing, Carson said. And dancing, too — with a"star-wattage smile." Celebrities like being interviewed by Hoda because"they feel like they're talking to a friend," he said."I really cherish our friendship and I always will." Carson reached for the Coldplay song"All My Love" describe his feelings, saying,"She has all our love and always will."Before heading into a commercial break, Savannah teased the surprises to come during the tribute to Hoda. Her voice cracked as she turned to her co-anchor. "It's hard to put it into words, everything we love about you. We gave it our best shot," she told Hoda.Hoda Kotb got her start on NBC as a"Dateline" correspondent in 1998. Now, one of her first colleagues Keith Morrison, who has been with"Dateline" since 1995, is calling to wish her well. "The first impression of Hoda, for a person like me, is, 'Wow, this is somebody different," he said in a pre-recorded video. "She asked me a question. Could you help me learn to narrate, to be a storyteller?' As if she needed my help. She was very kind. She listened. Over the years I've seen her be kind to all kinds of people and that makes me feel very happy. We will miss our Hoda," he said. Dateline reports Chris Hansen, Josh Mankiewicz, Hoda Kotb, Keith Morrison and Dennis Murphy attend the "Dateline" 20th Anniversary Mystery Party in 2011.Hoda passed the"morning boost baton" to Jenna Bush Hager, a woman she said exudes"bright, sunshine, light and love." Jenna responded that she"learned it from you."Then, they did the uplifting morning boost segment together. At the end, Hoda said,"By the way, you just crushed your first morning boost."Hoda then shared that Savannah gave her a bracelet that says,"With you" in cursive on it, as well as a ring that says,"Love."Savannah had to have a little humor in the moment.When asked for her one word to describe the morning, Savannah said,"My one word is thank you. Ooh, that's two words."Savannah Guthrie kicked off TODAY at 7 a.m. with a recap of the news to come, with updates about the wildfires in Los Angeles to president-elect Donald Trump's sentencing. She also teased the Hoda-bration."We're going to celebrate everything everyone adores about Hoda with a morning filled with special surprises and a lot of joy," Savannah said.Elena Nicolaou The morning of Jan. 10, Hoda gave a behind-the-scenes glimpse into how she prepares for co-anchoring TODAY ... and a message from the production assistants who help."Hoda! We'll miss prepping your packets," the note began, plus a frownie face."Thank you for everything! Enjoy retirement."On Jan. 10, she posted a graphic of the classic A.A. Milne character, plus Piglet, with the words,"How lucky I am to have something that makes saying goodbye so hard."Photographer Nate Congleton captured Hoda's week in photos leading up to Friday, Jan. 10, with behind-the-scenes commentary from reporter MC Suhocki.Nathan Congleton / TODAYHoda's last day on TODAY will be full of surprises, but the week leading up to her departure was equally jam-packed, as Hoda was visited by long-time guests and people whose lives she touched in her nearly three decades at NBC.: They had been matched with a child for adoption. Christina Wong, Dean Kahn and their baby girl joined Hoda on TODAY to share in the “whirlwind.”with Hoda part of the #PinkPowerTODAY series. Erin died of breast cancer a year later. Hoda, this week, had a teary-eyed catch-up with Erin’s husband and two daughters, who brought bears for Hoda’s daughters Haley and Hope.her at a party in Nashville and she ran away. “I thought it was going to be our moment and she completely ran away from me,” Shelton said, laughing.“I love the term ‘re-potting.’ It’s like you’re pulled up by your very roots, your foundation, everything that grounds you, and your roots are in the air and you’re scared. ‘Where am I going to land?’” she said. She credited her friend Maria Shriver with the term, who joined Hoda and Jenna on the the show and shared her support for Hoda. “I’m so proud of you … you followed your gut and you went with what you wanted, even though you were afraid. It’s really brave to leave something that you love and walk into the unknown,” Shriver said. “It’s really brave to think, ‘There’s something more for me out there. I don’t know what it is, but I’m going to walk towards this."to share what she thinks her routine will look like the first week after she finishes hosting the TODAY show."I have it like a schedule because I wanted to frame a couple of days so I didn’t wake up and go, ‘Oh I’ll do whatever.’ And then you’re like, ‘Huh?’” she explained.Hoda said she plans to start her day with a fitness class just before 6 a.m. — noting that this means she will get to sleep inNext, she plans to have a cup of coffee at home and wake up her kids, Haley and Hope, for school.TODAY With Jenna & Friends. Jenna Bush Hager will remain on the show, and a rotating group of pals will join her to guest host the show until a permanent host is chosen.Henson will appear on the show on Monday, Jan. 13 and Friday, Jan. 17.announced that Scarlett Johansson“I am beyond excited and grateful,” Craig said on air after the announcement of new his position on Nov. 14. “This is the latest in a long line of blessings.”Craig has served as weekend co-anchor and other roles at TODAY, before taking on his current roles as co-host of the 3rd hour of TODAY and news anchor during the earlier hours. Craig will continue to co-host the 3rd hour of TODAY alongside Al Roker and Dylan Dreyer. His new role as co-anchor begins on Jan. 13.Hoda made the announcement in Studio 1A surrounded by Savannah Guthrie, Jenna Bush Hager, Craig Melvin, Al Roker and Sheinelle Jones. Her co-hosts all shared messages of support while sitting next to her on the couch in the TODAY studio. “We love you so much,” Savannah, her co-anchor, said through tears. “And when you look around and see these tears, they’re love. You are so loved. We don’t want to imagine this place without you." “It’s not over,” Jenna, her co-host of TODAY with Hoda & Jenna, said. “I’m going to be showing up at your house like the stalker you are to Zac Brown. I will be there on your doorstep, and we are your friends forever.” “Hoda has a relationship with every single person on this couch in her own way, so I think we’re all just kind of wrestling with it inside,” Sheinelle said. “But we also know what a dynamic mom you are, and presence you are. And your whole movement with wellness, you are going to change the world. And we know it.”Craig, who will be taking over Hoda's co-anchor position on Jan. 13, also paid tribute to his longtime co-worker. “People in this business, when that little red light, it goes off, they’re different people,” Craig said. “We’ve worked with all these people before. You’re the opposite. That little red light goes off, you are exactly like people see you in the morning — just the biggest heart."celebrating her 60th birthdayon Sept. 26 while announcing her decision. “I remembered standing outside looking at these beautiful bunch of people with these gorgeous signs, and I thought, ‘This is what the top of the wave feels like for me.’ And I thought it can’t get better, and I decided that this is the right time for me to kind of move on.” “Obviously I had my kiddos late in life, and I was thinking that they deserve a bigger piece of my time pie that I have,” she said on the air. “I feel like we only have a finite amount of time."A week or so before, my little girl Hope was climbing a tree, and she loves this tree, and she was at the top. And so, I said, ‘Look at you. You’re on top of that tree.’ I go, ‘What are you going to do — what are you going to do now?’” “She goes, ‘I guess I’ll find a different tree,’” Hoda continued. “And I thought, ‘Oh my gosh.’ So sometimes the world starts showing you. So I kind of knew that it was time to try something different, and that means, you know, having my kids ride sidecar next to me more often than they have been.” Hoda added that she wants to start walking her children to school in the mornings once she's no longer in the anchor chair. “All I want to do is walk my kids to school,” she said. “It’s the simplest thing, with a cup of coffee, walking your kids to school. But all the little things, you get to see growth.”Elena Nicolaou is a senior entertainment editor at Today.com, where she covers the latest in TV, pop culture, movies and all things streaming. Previously, she covered culture at Refinery29 and Oprah Daily. Her superpower is matching people up with the perfect book, which she does on her podcast, Blind Date With a Book.
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