Why Savannah Guthrie Wasn’t Surprised by Hoda Kotb’s ‘Today’ Show Exit

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In the whirlwind world of morning television, changes in the anchor chair are always headline-worthy, but Hoda Kotb’s recent decision to leave the Today show didn’t come as a shock to her co-anchor, Savannah Guthrie.

Just days before the 60-year-old NBC star’s announcement, Guthrie, 52, got the call that marked the end of an era for the dynamic duo.

“It was the Monday before the world found out, and she called me because I had had the day off and I was traveling,” Guthrie explained to US Weekly at a New York City gala on Thursday, October 10. “She called me and the first thing I said to her is, ‘I’m proud of you. I love you, you’re amazing. And it doesn’t matter where we sit, we’ll always be by each other’s side.'”

While the Australian native is bummed to see her pal go, she isn’t surprised, noting that she and Kotb have “had this discussion for years.” Guthrie added, “I was so sad for myself and for the show because — to me — she’s irreplaceable. I was happy for her as her friend. I just think she’s being so creative and so bold and stepping out into this amazing new future that she doesn’t exactly know what it will look like. She believes in herself and she knows and she hears that call. I find that to be incredible.”

Kotb announced the news on-air Thursday, September 26, that she was permanently exiting the morning show, citing her kids — Haley, 7, and Hope, 4 — as the main reason behind her choice. “I realized that it was time for me to turn the page at 60, and to try something new,” the mom of two shared with her longtime co-stars — Guthrie, Jenna Bush Hager, Al Roker, Craig Melvin, and Sheinelle Jones.

On Monday, October 7, the beloved anchor opened up further on The Tonight Show Starring Jimmy Fallon about her decision to call it quits. “When I turned 60, something weird happened, man,” she told host Jimmy Fallon. “I turned 60 and we had this beautiful party at the Today show, and I looked out at the sea of all the people who came and beautiful signs and so many well-wishes and I knew in my heart, like, ‘This is it, man. This is what the mountaintop must feel like.’ Like, I’d never had that feeling before.”

After nearly three decades at NBC, Kotb will step away from her Today duties at some point in 2025.