Sipping champagne is the only way for Hoda Kotb to spend her last day as a “Today” anchor. After all, it was she and Kathie Lee Gifford who made daytime drinking popular on morning television.
Kotb bid adeau to her “Today” show crew with a toast and dancing in Seth Meyers’ studio after she wrapped her final show with Jenna Bush Hager on Friday, Page Six has learned. Insiders told us they filmed the fourth hour of “Today,” in Meyers’ space because they needed room for a live studio audience. They popped bottles after they cameras stopped rolling.
“There was music playing, lots of tears, and people dancing and hugging. Hoda went around and took a picture with everyone,” an insider told Page Six.
Several people gave speeches including Kotb, Bush Hager, executive producer Talia Parkinson Jones and NBC News EVP Libby Leist.
The celebratory send off came after Kotb’s emotional farewell on the morning flagship show she co-anchored with Savannah Guthrie.
“Can I just say thank you? I haven’t been able to articulate it, because I’m a mess most times, but I just want to say thanks,” she said through tears.
Kotb received a gift from Jamie Lee Curtis, a surprise visit from Simone Biles and a video message from Oprah Winfrey. Kotb’s family including her daughters, Haley, 7, and Hope, 5, were also there for her last day.
Kotb, 60, reflected on her 26-year career at NBC and journey to the anchor desk at “Today” in a goodbye memo to the staff.
The famed broadcaster described the network as her “ride or die partner,” writing, “NBC has guided me and championed me since the day I walked into 30 Rock nearly three decades ago…. I’ll always be grateful that ‘Dateline’ gave me time to learn the ropes… When cancer snuck up on me, the Peacock stepped in… wrapping me in soft feathers, hugging and helping me every step of the way,” she continued, reflecting on the network’s support after her 2007 breast cancer diagnosis.
Kotb even credited Gifford, writing, “That fourth hour would prove career and life changing for me – and this network – as we all got thoroughly and happily KLG-ed.”
She wrote about how the networked “granted me time to enjoy my dream of becoming a mother” a year before she and Guthrie made history as “the first all-female anchor team.”
“But that wasn’t even the best of it – SG and I became sisters… boy am I going to miss sitting next to my friend,” she wrote.
She then welcomed her second daughter, “Baby Hope… I almost felt unworthy of so many blessings… And yet God surprised me with one more – Jenna Bush Hager (I am doing the arm movements). I fell in love. I really can’t imagine saying goodbye o her even as I type this,”
“Today with Hoda & Jenna” has been renamed as “Today with Jenna & Friends” as they search for a permanent co-host to replace Kotb. Craig Melvin will be taking over as co-host with Guthrie, starting Monday.
“I leave with the most precious memories of my life, excited and energized to make many more… Savannah and Craig – You’ve got this!!!!! Oh and Let’s go Mets!!!” she concluded.
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