Hoda Kotb Raising Her Daughters
After years as a staple in America’s morning routine, Hoda Kotb made the unexpected yet heartfelt decision to step away from her role on the Today show. For nearly three decades, Kotb was the familiar face viewers woke up to — a beacon of positivity, grace, and journalistic integrity. But now, she’s stepping into a different kind of spotlight: the warm, quiet glow of motherhood, self-discovery, and personal transformation.
In a recent, deeply personal reflection, Kotb opened up about the emotional journey of leaving behind her high-profile role and embracing a life filled with PTA meetings, school pickups, and long-overdue moments with her daughters Haley, 9, and Hope, 5. “What’s my life gonna be like right now? Who am I minus NBC?” she wonders aloud — not out of fear, but with a sense of curiosity and renewal. It’s the beginning of a new chapter, one that prioritizes presence over prestige, and love over legacy.
A Life Beyond the Anchor Desk
Leaving Today wasn’t an easy decision. For years, Hoda Kotb was synonymous with the show. Her chemistry with co-hosts like Savannah Guthrie and Kathie Lee Gifford made mornings feel personal and authentic for millions of viewers. But as time went on, a quiet shift was happening in her heart. The long hours, the relentless pace, and the emotional toll of balancing work and motherhood began to weigh more heavily.
On her first morning off from the show, Kotb did something she hadn’t done in years: she slept in. Not extravagantly late, but until 4:00 a.m. — a full 45 minutes beyond her usual wake-up time. It was a small act, but deeply symbolic. That same morning, her daughter Haley climbed into her lap and looked at her with wide, loving eyes. “You really are here. You’re here,” she said, wrapping her arms around her mother in a moment that brought Kotb to tears. “That was it for me,” Hoda recalls. “It was the confirmation that I made the right decision.”
Motherhood at the Center
For Kotb, life now revolves around the things that never made it into show segments or headlines — the messy, mundane, miraculous parts of raising children. From helping with homework and attending school events to simply being present at breakfast, she’s soaking in what she calls “the in-between moments.”
Perhaps the most challenging part of this new season has been navigating her youngest daughter Hope’s recent diagnosis with type 1 diabetes. Kotb speaks about it candidly and with admiration. “What a trooper,” she says of her five-year-old. Managing a chronic condition is never easy, especially for a child, but Kotb has embraced the experience as another way to grow closer with her daughters. “We’re learning together,” she says. “Every finger prick, every doctor’s visit — we face it as a team.”
And then there’s the PTA. “Look at me, at the PTA!” she says with a laugh, still marveling at how her schedule has opened up in such a way that she can now be part of the everyday school activities she used to hear about in passing. For someone who once juggled breaking news and celebrity interviews, sitting in a cafeteria listening to updates on class fundraisers feels oddly grounding — and genuinely joyful.
Rediscovering Self & Purpose
Leaving Today didn’t mean slowing down completely. Kotb has always been someone who thrives on connection and storytelling, and that desire hasn’t changed. In fact, it’s evolved.
Currently, she’s developing a wellness app, inspired by her own transformative journey into breathwork and mindfulness. After decades of operating in overdrive, Kotb discovered the power of stillness and conscious breathing. “Breathwork changed everything for me,” she explains. “It helped me process emotions I’d tucked away for years, and it brought me back to my body, to the present moment.”
The app, still in its early stages, will aim to help users build healthy habits, navigate stress, and find inner calm in a noisy world — something Kotb believes everyone deserves, especially women who often carry the weight of both professional and family life.
And what about romance? After her split from Joel Schiffman in 2022, Kotb has largely kept her personal life out of the spotlight. But now, she says she’s open to the possibility of dating again — though it’s not a priority. “Right now, my heart is full with my girls,” she says. “If love comes, it comes. But I’m not chasing it.”
The Beauty in the Small Things
For much of her life, Hoda Kotb believed that success meant doing big things — interviewing presidents, covering major world events, climbing the ladder. But as she settles into this next season, she’s realizing that the true beauty of life lies in the small, quiet moments.
“I used to think life was the big things,” she reflects. “But it really is all the stuff that happens in between.” Whether it’s folding laundry while her daughters sing Taylor Swift songs in the background, making pancakes on a Sunday morning, or tucking her girls into bed with a bedtime story, Kotb has found a deeper purpose — one that doesn’t require an audience.
A Chapter Filled With Grace
As Hoda Kotb turns the page on her broadcasting career — at least for now — she does so with grace, gratitude, and an open heart. She’s not running away from something. She’s running toward something better: authenticity, presence, and the people who matter most.
This chapter of Hoda’s life might not come with applause or headlines, but it’s full of meaning. And for her, that’s more than enough.
In a world that often celebrates hustle and high achievement, Hoda Kotb’s story is a reminder that sometimes, the greatest success is simply being where your heart feels most at home.
