Savannah Guthrie Explains Why She Was ‘Shocked And Not Shocked’ By Hoda Kotb’s Exit From Today

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After Hoda Kotb’s last morning appearance on Today last Friday, this cherished host will not appear in the 2025 TV schedule as the main co-anchor for the first time since joining in 2018. It must be quite unusual for her longtime co-host Savannah Guthrie, but according to Hoda herself, she wasn’t entirely surprised by this decision.

With Guthrie bringing on a new collaborator in the newsroom, replacing Hoda Kotb by Craig Melvin, she’s lately reminisced about the instant when Hoda shared her retirement plans with her. Speaking to Parade, she put it this way:

I was both stunned and unsurprised. For years, Hoda and I have shared our aspirations and the second phase of our lives, discussing what it means to be brave and transition. I knew her decision was something she had been carrying in her heart. She remains as beloved as ever, exceptional in every way. Yet, she’s expressing a desire to venture into the unknown. This astounds me. In that very moment, though, my emotions took over, and I couldn’t help but acknowledge that the thought of losing you is unbearably painful.

Beyond their lengthy professional bond, it’s evident they share a close friendship outside of work. Considering this, Guthrie disclosed that they frequently discuss their future plans. In these intimate conversations, Guthrie felt Kotb’s time on Today might come to an end, given her new role as a mother over the past decade and her recent milestone of turning 60.

It appears that Guthrie is expressing a sense of pride towards her former co-anchor for venturing into uncharted territories and pursuing something fresh in life. However, upon being informed by Kotb about this decision, which came as a surprise to many viewers, Guthrie also expressed her own feelings of sadness over no longer getting to work alongside her every day.

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Last week, Hoda Kotb was given a heartfelt farewell on Today, which featured notable guests like Oprah Winfrey, Jimmy Fallon, Gayle King, Maria Shriver, Simone Biles, and Kermit the Frog. In recognition of her inspiring work, Al Roker gifted Kotb pom poms to signify that it’s now her turn to be cheered on after she has cheered for so many others. Following her departure, numerous colleagues such as Jenna Bush Hager honored Kotb with touching tributes about their years of working together.

What remains to be seen about Hoda Kotb’s future plans? The host has joked about sleeping in later, but she also discussed developing an affordable and accessible wellness app, as mentioned in Good Housekeeping. Additionally, it appears that the former Today anchor might conduct exclusive interviews for the 2026 Winter Olympics and 2028 Summer Olympics while continuing her Making Space podcast.

Although it may feel strange for a while without seeing Kotb and Guthrie together on Today in the mornings, it seems that Guthrie and Craig Melvin are hitting it off quite well, and Kotb’s impact on Today remains simply extraordinary.

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2025-01-18 23:37