Savannah Guthrie Is 'Eating and Drinking Her Feelings' After Hoda Kotb's "Today" Exit News
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09/26/2024 12:35 PM
Hoda Kotb announced on Sept. 26 that she will be leaving 'Today' after 17 years
Today/X
Savannah Guthrie on 'Today'Savannah Guthrie is finding coping strategies for Hoda Kotb's impending departure from the Today.
The veteran journalist, 60, announced on Thursday, Sept. 26, that she is leaving the show after 17 years to spend more time with her family. Kotb will stay in her current roles alongside Guthrie as co-anchor of NBC News' Today and co-host of Today's fourth hour with Jenna Bush Hager, until the beginning of 2025.
Her Today colleagues reflected on the news live on air on Thursday.
At the beginning of a segment, Al Roker clarified that Hotb "is not going anywhere. She won't be on our show but she is staying with our NBC family."
Hoda Kotb announced that she is leaving TODAY early next year and Al Roker, @sheinellejones and @craigmelvin are joined by @SavannahGuthrie to give Hoda some more love. ❤️
— TODAY (@TODAYshow) September 26, 2024
"No one is taking the news worse than Savannah Guthrie." 😭 pic.twitter.com/aXOogzkzGM
"No one is taking the news worse than Savannah Guthrie," joked Craig Melvin. Sheinelle Jones added: "We should just show everyone the reality of what we are dealing with."
Roker, Melvin and Jones broke out in laughter as the camera swiveled to show Kotb's co-anchor in a somber state on the side of the stage. Guthrie was sitting with two plates of food in front of her and a big glass of rosé with an unamused look on her face, chewing on a bite and throwing her hand up in a sign of defeat.
Today/X
Savannah Guthrie and Al Roker on 'Today'"She is eating and drinking her feelings," said Roker.
"You gonna eat that, Sheinelle?" Guthrie asked, poking her fork into food from the plate next to hers before waiting on Jones' response.
Roker joked that a half-empty bottle of wine was once full and then got out of his seat to "top off" her glass.
Despite her clear sadness, Guthrie explained that the Today team's response comes from a good place.
Today/X
Savannah Guthrie on 'Today'"We love her so much. And, as you said Sheinelle, we're going to hold our sorrow of missing her and loving her so much with our gratitude that it happened," she said. "You know, I always tell my kids, 'Don't be sorry that it's over, be glad that it happened.'"
"Dr. Seuss coined that, I think," Jones said. "Oh, well okay. I thought it was my quote," she joked in a sassy tone but added, "No I'm just kidding!"
After talking about Kotb's "admiration of her bravery," Guthrie gestured to her food and drink and asked the other hosts, "Where's your— I thought we were all doing this!"
Melvin and Jones promised that they would and Roker quipped, "We still have a show to do."
Kotb's announcement came in the form of a letter to staff of the NBC morning show. "I know I'm making the right decision, but it's a painful one. And you all are the reason why. They say two things can be right at the same time, and I'm feeling that so deeply right now. I love you and it's time for me to leave the show."
Kotb added in part, "My broadcast career has been beyond meaningful, a new decade of my life lies ahead, and now my daughters and my mom need and deserve a bigger slice of my time pie. I will miss you all desperately, but I'm ready and excited."
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