Hoda Kotb Breaks Her Silence: Three Months After Leaving the Today Show, She Finally Admits the Shocking Truth That Left Fans Reeling and Colleagues in Tears

Three months after her unexpected departure from the Today Show, beloved host Hoda Kotb has finally revealed the real reason behind her emotional exit—and it’s not what anyone expected. In an exclusive interview, Kotb opened up about a deeply personal decision that led her to step away from the spotlight. Fans who’ve followed her journey for years were stunned by the candid revelation, as speculation had only grown in her absence.

Discover what Hoda finally admitted—and why it’s leaving everyone speechless. Full story inside.

Hoda Kotb took to social media to give fans a glimpse into her life away from the spotlight as she shared a rare family photo with her two daughters, Hope Catherine and Haley Joy

Hoda Kotb left the Today Show three months ago (Image: Nathan Congleton/NBC via Getty Images)

Hoda Kotb has shared a significant personal update on her social media, three months after her departure from the Today Show.

The 60-year-old broadcaster announced she’s enjoying spring break with her loved ones as she uploaded a photograph to Instagram showing a beachside evening moment with her two girls, six-year-old Hope Catherine and nine-year-old Haley Joy, and her sister Hala. As the family grinned beneath the glow of a full moon, Hoda shared the snap with the loving caption, “Full moon… full hearts xo,” during celebrations for Hope’s birthday.

Hoda, who was diagnosed with breast cancer in 2007 leading to infertility, adopted Haley in 2017 and Hope in 2019. In a heart-to-heart on the Me Becoming Mom podcast by People in 2021, she expressed how she discusses adoption with her daughters, “I tell them they were adopted, and I’m not sure if they 100 percent know what that means. I always say, ‘You didn’t come from Mommy’s tummy, you came from my heart.’ And they understand that.”

The legendary TV host shares her daughters with former fiancé, Joel Schiffman. Despite ending their engagement in 2022, Hoda openly expressed her appreciation for Joel’s role in their lives, “I have two incredible children I share with him. And it’s because of Joel that I have Haley and Hope, without question. I think I might have been too afraid to do it alone.”

Season four of ‘Hacks’ makes a grand comeback amidst scheduling challenges despite glowing reviews

Hoda with her daughters (Image: Instagram/@hodakotb)

Hoda’s latest Instagram update stirred an outpouring of joy in the comments section, with her followers openly expressing their happiness at seeing the esteemed journalist cherish moments with family. One comment read, “SO HAPPY FOR THE LIFE YOU ARE NOW SHARING WITH YOUR GIRLS!! You are blessing them and yourself so very much! (Of course many of us still miss seeing you) You are making many so proud!”

Another chimed in, “So happy to see you enjoying time with family.” A third shared their support saying, “I’m glad you’ve adjusted to spending time with the girls you so deserve it. Enjoy.” Another fan gushed, “You all look great!!! So happy for you and your family!!!”

Hoda shares her daughters with her ex-fiancé, Joel Schiffman (Image: @hodakotb/Instagram)
Having left her position as co-anchor of the Today Show, Hoda is now prioritizing family over career, a transition she announced back in September 2024. In a heartfelt note to her NBC family, she conveyed, “My daughters and my mom need and deserve a bigger slice of my time pie.”

Despite stepping away from the daily television routine, Hoda assured her colleagues, “I’ll be around. How could I not? Family is family and you all will always be a part of mine.” Although she bade farewell in January, Hoda hasn’t disappeared from screens completely, occasionally dropping by on the show, not least when she popped in last month to announce her forthcoming book, Jump and Find Joy, set to hit shelves on September 23.

The journalist left the Today Show in January (Image: AP)
She disclosed that her decision to pen a book came after a heart-to-heart with her pal, journalist and former First Lady of California, Maria Shriver. She recounted, “She was like, ‘You’ve jumped your whole life. You were in small markets in television [and] you jumped from city to city. You jumped into relationships and out of them. You jumped into motherhood. You have a history of jumping, so don’t tell me that you can’t jump.’”

Hoda noted that the tome features “different people” she holds dear who have taken leaps they once thought “too afraid” to attempt. She elaborated, “Viola Davis, this woman went from on her knees to this incredible spot, and it was an image that caused her to jump. Sarah Jakes, who’s also in the book, T.D. Jakes’ daughter, she’s a pastor, and she said, ‘When you jump, you have to imagine yourself on the other side.’”

“Here’s my thing. You get one life. That’s all. That’s it. It’s ready for the taking. It only takes a jump.” Besides the book, Hoda is also developing a wellness app – though its launch date is still up in the air, earlier this year she expressed hopes it might be ready by spring.