Today gave departing co-host a sendoff to Hoda Kotb, with tributes and messages that ran throughout the first two hours, and even the appearance of Kermit the Frog to sing “Rainbow Connection.”
Kotb announced last year that she was stepping down as co-host of the show. She has been teamed with Savannah Guthrie since 2018, the first all-female anchor team in network morning TV. Craig Melvin will succeed Kotb.
“I know what this decision feels like,” Oprah Winfrey said in a taped message to Kotb. “You have made the right move even though it is hard to do.”
Kotb’s daughter joined her for the surprise Muppet appearance, with Kermit appearing from behind the couch as Today‘s lineup of anchors and contributors surrounded for the song.
Also appearing on the show were Simone Biles and Maria Shriver, as well as Jamie Lee Curtis. Curtis was to appear in studio, but could not make it because of the California wildfires. She gave Kotb a orb she made that read, “Every today with you is a better day.”
Throughout this morning’s broadcast, Kotb and Guthrie teared up through what was billed as a “Hoda-Bration.” At one moment during the show, she took Kotb outside their Rockefeller Center studio where crew members were lined up to say goodbye.
Kotb thanked staffers repeatedly, but also quipped, “Come Monday at 7 o’clock I am going to be dead asleep.”
Kotb joined NBC News in 1998 as a correspondent for Dateline and joined Today in 2007. When she announced her departure in September, she said that she planned to remain at the network.
Last year, Today overtook ABC News’ Good Morning America in total viewers, while also beating GMA in the key 25-54 demo.
