Hoda Kotb has no regrets about stepping away from her beloved role at Today to prioritize her family. 

The longtime television personality, who officially retired from the morning show in September 2024, recently opened up about how she knew she had made the right decision.

While attending Super Bowl LIX in New Orleans—where she lived during the 1990s—Kotb shared a heartwarming moment that reassured her she had chosen the right path.

A Morning That Confirmed Everything

Speaking to reporters just before the big game, Kotb, 60, recalled the first Monday after making her life-changing choice.

“I woke up that day at 4:15 in the morning, just like I had for years,” she explained. “But this time, everything felt different. Everything felt right.”

She went on to describe an emotional moment with her 7-year-old daughter, Haley, that further confirmed her decision.

“My little girl ran down the stairs, looked at me, and said, ‘You’re here!’” Kotb shared. “And I just looked at her and said, ‘Yes, I’m here.’ At that moment, I knew I had done the right thing.”

Kotb shares two adopted daughters, Haley, 7, and Hope, 5, with her ex-fiancé Joel Schiffman, 66. Wanting to spend more quality time with them was a driving force behind her decision to leave Today.

No Doubts About Leaving Today in Good Hands

While Kotb has fully embraced her new chapter, she remains incredibly proud of the show she left behind.

“Savannah and Craig are crushing it,” she said, praising her former co-anchor Savannah Guthrie and her replacement, Craig Melvin.

Kotb also expressed admiration for her former Today with Hoda & Jenna co-host, Jenna Bush Hager, who has been leading the show’s third hour with a rotating lineup of guest hosts.

“Jenna and all of her friends—I don’t even know which one I like best!—but I’m really enjoying watching them,” she gushed. “It’s been beautiful.”

Since Kotb’s departure, Today with Jenna & Friends has featured a star-studded guest list, including Scarlett Johansson, Taraji P. Henson, Eva Longoria, Keke Palmer, Michelle Buteau, Kelsea Ballerini, Kimberly Schlapman, Ciara, and Wynonna Judd.

Why Kotb Chose to Step Away

Kotb’s departure from Today was a bittersweet moment for both her and the show’s loyal viewers. When she made her announcement in September 2024, she explained that turning 60 felt like the right time to begin a new chapter.

“I realized it was time for me to turn the page at 60 and try something new,” she revealed during her live farewell. “I remember standing outside looking at these beautiful people with their gorgeous signs, and I thought, ‘This is what the top of the wave feels like for me.’ And I knew—it can’t get better than this. That’s when I decided this was the right time to move on.”

However, the biggest factor in her choice was her two daughters.

“I had my kiddos later in life, and I realized they deserve a bigger piece of my time pie,” she explained. “We only have a finite amount of time, and I want to make sure I spend as much of it with them as possible. With all that being said, this was the hardest thing in the world.”

A Future Focused on Family

While she’s stepped away from morning television, Kotb remains as vibrant as ever. She continues to embrace new opportunities and cherish the moments she now has with her daughters.

Her presence at the Super Bowl was a reminder that while she may have left Today, she is still living life to the fullest—on her own terms.

And as she made clear, she wouldn’t have it any other way.

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