Hoda Kotb’s Journey After ‘Today’ Show: A Mother’s Sacrifice, a New Wellness Venture, and Finding Joy in the Everyday

May 28, 2025

For nearly two decades, Hoda Kotb was a familiar face on morning television, co-anchoring NBC’s Today show with warmth, authenticity, and an infectious laugh that resonated with millions. But on January 10, 2025, Kotb bid a tearful goodbye to the show, leaving behind a 17-year legacy to focus on what matters most to her: her family. In an exclusive interview with People magazine, the 60-year-old broadcaster opened up about the deeply personal reasons behind her departure, revealing how her daughter Hope’s type 1 diabetes diagnosis in 2023 became a turning point that reshaped her priorities. Now, five months after her emotional exit, Kotb is settling into a new life in Bronxville, NY, where she’s embracing motherhood, launching a wellness company called Joy 101, and finding happiness in the small, everyday moments she once missed.

A Heartbreaking Yet Beautiful Farewell

Kotb’s final day on the Today show was nothing short of a celebration, though it came with its share of heartache. As she walked into 30 Rockefeller Plaza on January 10, she was greeted by a “beautiful parade” of friends and colleagues who came to honor her tenure. Stars like Maria Shriver, Simone Biles, Andy Cohen, Kathie Lee Gifford, and Jimmy Fallon joined the cast and crew to send her off with champagne and heartfelt tributes. But for Kotb, the moment was bittersweet. “I remember my heart breaking,” she told People. “When you say goodbye to something you love, even though it’s right, it’s like your heart’s broken and on display.”

The emotional weight of the day was palpable, especially for her co-host Jenna Bush Hager, who broke down in tears as the cameras stopped rolling at 11 a.m. Kotb’s daughters, Haley, 8, and Hope, 6, were also on set, witnessing their mother’s farewell. In a tender moment, Haley expressed concern for Hager, who was visibly emotional while holding and rocking her. “She goes, ‘I’m worried about Jenna,’” Kotb recalled. “Some things can be super sad and super beautiful, and that’s what that was.”

The Catalyst: Hope’s Health Crisis

Kotb’s decision to leave Today wasn’t made lightly. It was the culmination of years of reflection, but the tipping point came in 2023 when her younger daughter, Hope, was diagnosed with type 1 diabetes, an autoimmune condition affecting 1.6 million Americans, according to the American Diabetes Association. The diagnosis followed a harrowing health scare that landed Hope in the hospital for two weeks in February 2023, forcing Kotb to take a leave of absence from the show to be by her daughter’s side.

In the People interview, Kotb revealed the extent of Hope’s condition for the first time publicly. Type 1 diabetes requires constant care, including 24/7 blood sugar monitoring and insulin injections. “She was getting shots—four or five a day—every day for a year,” Kotb shared. “Now she is getting them less frequently because we have some other means to get her what she needs, but there’s a lot to it.” The condition also means Hope has dietary restrictions, like avoiding sweets, and Kotb often stays up at night to monitor her daughter’s blood sugar levels. “If she’s up in the night, we have to take care of her at night,” she said.

Despite the challenges, Kotb describes Hope as a “trooper” and a “happy, healthy, rambunctious, amazing kid.” She’s determined not to let the disease define her daughter. “Diabetes is a part of her, but not all of her,” Kotb said thoughtfully. “I hope it shapes her but never defines her.”

The demands of Hope’s care made Kotb realize she needed to be more present. Her Today show schedule, which required waking up at 3:15 a.m. and adhering to hard deadlines, left little room for the flexibility her family needed. “I really wanted to and needed to be here to watch over her,” Kotb explained. “Whenever she needs anything, and it can happen at night, multiple times, I’m up—I’m up up up.” While Hope’s condition wasn’t the sole reason for her departure, it was a significant factor. “If you look at it cumulatively, it was a part of that decision,” she added, careful to ensure Hope never feels responsible. “I would never, ever want Hope to one day grow up and say, ‘Oh, my mom left her job because of me.’”

A New Rhythm in Bronxville

Since leaving Today, Kotb has relocated to a $2.89M home in Bronxville, NY, a quaint suburb known for its tree-lined streets and strong sense of community. The move has allowed her to slow down and immerse herself in the daily lives of her daughters, something her broadcasting career often prevented. “I wasn’t able to bear witness to my kids’ daily lives because of what I was doing,” she admitted. Now, she’s making up for lost time.

Her new routine is a far cry from the frenetic pace of morning television. Kotb now wakes up at 4:30 a.m.—a time she jokingly calls “sleeping in” after years of 3:15 a.m. alarms—meditates, and writes in her journal before her girls get up. She walks Haley and Hope to school with a group of neighborhood kids, a simple act that brings her immense joy. “I got to see Haley sing ‘What a Wonderful World’ at 9:15 a.m.—I would have missed that,” she said. “I used to think life was the big things, but it really is all the stuff that happens in between.”

Afternoons are filled with after-school activities like bracelet-making, field hockey for Haley, and lacrosse for Hope. Kotb has also picked up new hobbies, such as tennis lessons, and spends more time playing her guitar. She’s even joined other moms in the neighborhood for post-dinner walks, a ritual she couldn’t indulge in before because of exhaustion. “Things I didn’t do before because I was too tired,” she noted.

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