“Today” show favorite Hoda Kotb announced Thursday she is quitting the morning program.
Just weeks after celebrating her 60th birthday, Kotb broke down in tears as she revealed she is leaving ‘Today’ in the New Year.
A source said Kotb, who has just moved to the suburbs with her daughters, Haley, 7, and Hope, 4.
“It’s heartbreaking for everyone, but Hoda wants to be able to walk her kids to school.”
Even though Kotb is leaving, producers hope she will stay on the show in “some capacity”, whether returning for interviews or continuing with her ‘Today’ related podcast.i
The source added, “We have time to work it out.”
Kotb spent the summer in Paris for the Olympics with co-hosts Savannah Guthrie, Al Roker and Craig Melvin and was feted with a big birthday concert when she returned to NYC.
She has talked of wanting to spend more time with her kids after her youngest was hospitalized for an unknown condition that they are still managing daily, she recently told Page Six.
Kotb joined Guthrie as co-host officially in 2017 after Matt Lauer’s exit for alleged sexual offenses.
