Beloved former TODAY show co-anchor Hoda Kotb is opening up about her quiet departure from morning TV, and the deeply personal reason behind it.
In her first TV appearance since stepping away in January, the 60-year-old broadcaster revealed that she left the show to focus on her family, particularly her 6-year-old daughter Hope Catherine, who was recently diagnosed with type 1 diabetes.
But as she made clear, this was no easy decision, and the journey has been emotional, life-changing, and at times, terrifying.
Choosing Motherhood Over the Morning Show
Hoda explained that while Hope’s diagnosis wasn’t the only reason for her exit, it was a major part of her decision to step away from the demanding pace of live television.
“You just get a priority check in your life,” she shared. “I can be here and sweating what’s happening to Hope in the morning and in the night, or I can be there and feel relief that I can see.”
As any parent of a child with type 1 diabetes knows, vigilance is constant. Hoda detailed how the routine demands add up: blood sugar checks at breakfast, lunch, dinner, and sometimes overnight.
“That’s a half-hour a day. But for 23 and a half hours, she’s every other kid,” she said. “I try to remember that.”
Hoda also shared that for a full year, Hope received 4–5 insulin shots daily, and while newer methods have reduced that frequency, the care remains hands-on around the clock.
The Scare That Changed Everything
Hope’s health battle began in February 2023, when what looked like the flu turned into something far more serious. Hoda and her ex-fiancé Joel Schiffman rushed Hope to the hospital, where she spent two weeks before doctors identified the cause: type 1 diabetes, a lifelong autoimmune condition.
“We literally had to race to the hospital,” Hoda recalled. “And you get there and you realize it’s not that at all.”
The ordeal led to Hoda taking a leave of absence from TODAY at the time — and planted the seed for a bigger life change months later.
Life After TODAY — And Learning to Let Go
On January 10, 2025, Hoda officially signed off from TODAY for the last time, months after announcing her decision in September 2024. Since then, she’s been working from home, a shift that comes with both blessings and adjustments.
“Some days they love it, and other days I think I might be cramping their style,” she joked about daughters Hope and Haley Joy, whom she adopted with Schiffman in 2017 and 2019, respectively.
She’s also learning to be a calmer, more present mother, something her fast-paced media career rarely allowed.
“I really wanted to and needed to be here to watch over her,” she admitted. “So whenever she needs anything, and it can happen at night, multiple times, I’m up. I’m up up up.”
A New Chapter: Joy With Hoda
While fans were heartbroken to see her leave TODAY, Hoda isn’t disappearing. She’s pouring her passion into a new wellness venture, Joy With Hoda, which will include an app, live events, courses, and health-focused digital content.
Launched in 2024, the brand reflects what Hoda says is her new life mission: helping others live with purpose, balance, and connection.
“I want to help people live better,” she shared. “This new path aligns with everything I’ve learned from being a mom, a journalist, and a human being figuring it out like everyone else.”
Grace, Strength, and Family First
Despite the challenges, Hoda is focusing on what matters: family, gratitude, and the small wins that come with each day. And when it comes to Hope?
“She’s a happy, healthy, rambunctious, amazing kid,” Hoda beamed. “This is a part of her — but not all of her. I hope it shapes her, but never defines her.”
From morning news anchor to full-time mom, Hoda Kotb is showing that sometimes, walking away isn’t quitting, it’s stepping into what truly matters.
