Katie Couric has been keeping in touch with Hoda Kotb following her exit from the Today show.
Katie Couric, 68, spoke exclusively to Us Weekly on Thursday, March 6, about reaching out to her former colleague, Hoda Kotb. Couric, who departed from Today in 2006 after a 15-year run, made history as the first solo female anchor of the CBS Evening News.
Reflecting on her own departure from Today, Couric expressed that embracing change and new challenges keeps life vibrant and engaging. She noted that staying in one role for too long can lead to a sense of stagnation, regardless of how thrilling the job may be. Couric shared her enthusiasm for Hoda Kotb’s decision to explore fresh opportunities after anchoring Today for 15 years, encouraging her to seek new experiences and push her boundaries.
Couric revealed that she had messaged Hoda Kotb, extending warm wishes and hoping she was enjoying some rest. She expressed genuine excitement for Kotb’s future endeavors, highlighting the importance of venturing into uncharted territory to keep things stimulating and fulfilling.
Kotb, 60, announced her departure from Today in September 2024 after almost 30 years with NBC.
“I just turned 60, and it was such a monumental moment for me when I turned 60 years old because I started thinking about that decade, like, what does that decade mean? What does it hold? What’s it gonna have for me?” the host tearfully announced at the time. “And I realized that it was time for me to turn the page at 60 and to try something new.”
She cited wanting to spend more time with her daughters, Haley and Hope, whom she shares with ex-fiancé Joel Schiffman, as a major reason for her decision to walk away from the program.
“I had my kiddos late in life, and I was thinking they deserve a bigger piece of my time, the pie that I have,” she explained. “I feel like we only have a finite amount of time. And so, with all that being said, this is the hardest thing in the world.”
An NBC insider exclusively told Us at the time that Kotb’s exit was a “huge blow” for the series. “She’s the person that everybody loves,” the insider told Us. “She’s the same off-camera as she is on-camera, and I think that’s what’s the hardest thing because that can’t be said for everybody.”
Couric also admitted to Us that while she still watches “some” of the Today show, she doesn’t consume nearly as much of the morning show as she used to.
“Honestly, in the morning I’m usually up and out. And to be honest with you, like so many people, I get a lot of my content digitally,” she explained to Us. “So, I do, but not consistently, not like I used to, and not like I did when I was actually on it.”
With reporting by Mandi DeCamp
