Hoda Kotb breaks down in tears over unexpected reunion on Today show ahead of her departure
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Hoda Kotb was overcome with emotion on The Today Show just days before her farewell to the iconic program.
The 60-year-old host, who announced in September 2024 that she would be leaving NBC, has been reflecting on her time with the show, cherishing unforgettable moments along the way.
On Tuesday, she was surprised with a heartfelt reunion with the family of Erin Ludwig, who tragically passed away from breast cancer in 2017.
It was a deeply moving moment for Hoda, who had grown close to Erin in her final months and, as a big advocate for breast cancer awareness, has shared plenty of inspiring stories through the show’s Pink Power series.
As Erin's husband Jason and their two daughters, Savannah and Aubrey – now 13 and 10 – walked into the set after a segment about Erin’s story, Hoda immediately welled up with emotion.
Hoda hugged the family, crying as she exclaimed, 'Wow, wow, wow. I can't believe this moment happened. I don't know how to say thank you.'
Hoda Kotb was overcome with emotion on The Today Show just days before her farewell to the iconic program .
On Tuesday, she was surprised with a heartfelt reunion with the family of Erin Ludwig, who tragically passed away from breast cancer in 2017
She added of her daughters Haley, seven, and Hope, four, 'I can't wait to tell my girls about you girls — it's going to be pretty cool.'
Meanwhile, Hoda appeared on The Kelly Clarkson Show on Monday and opened up about the next stage of her career.
Kelly, 42, began the chat and told her: 'I'm so excited for you but you're gonna be missed, it's gonna be weird!'
Hoda replied: 'It's gonna be weird for me too. I'm terrible with goodbyes and I like change, but the goodbye part is hard for me.
'I think it's because when you're madly in love with something, but you also know that it's time for something new, that's where it gets hard for me,' she continued.
Talking about her next move, the mother-of-two revealed: 'I kind of got hooked in the wellness space a couple of years ago.
'I started doing stuff that I thought seemed woo-woo and weird, and then all of a sudden as I was doing it I was like, "Wait, I feel calmer, I feel better."'
'Woo woo makes you feel good!' Kelly replied, as Hoda agreed and said: 'Woo woo makes you feel good!
It was a deeply moving moment for Hoda, who had grown close to Erin in her final months and, as a big advocate for breast cancer awareness, has shared plenty of inspiring stories through the show’s Pink Power series
As Erin's husband Jason and their two daughters, Savannah and Aubrey – now 13 and 10 – walked into the set after a segment about Erin’s story, Hoda immediately welled up with emotion
Hoda hugged the family, crying as she exclaimed, 'Wow, wow, wow. I can't believe this moment happened. I don't know how to say thank you'
'So, I am starting a wellness app and company that will involve retreats and a podcast and all kinds of things that we can get together, do things that I love.
'And when you're done, it's not like going to Mexico with your girls - which is fun - but this is something that when you leave, you'll go, "Oh my gosh. I feel transformed, I feel different."
'I'm in the building process of that,' Hoda added, confirming that she thinks it will be launched in the spring.
Back in October, Hoda admitted that it felt 'scary' and 'terrifying' to move on from the Today show - but also said it felt 'exactly right.'
After dedicating 26 years of her career to NBC, Hoda said she wanted to 'fall in love' with the next chapter of life — romanticizing what positive changes it could bring.
'Whenever I made a leap, a move, a jump — it was, like, I'm falling in love. When I moved to this town, I'm falling in love. I'm going to fall in love with a place, a restaurant, a friend, I'm going to meet a boyfriend,' Hoda said.
The TV personality compared her future to the 're-potting' of a plant — 'pulled up by your very roots, your foundation, everything that grounds you and your roots are in the air.'
On September 26 last year, Hoda shocked fans when revealing she should be parting ways with the TODAY show in an emotional live explanation.
'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 it's gonna have for me?"' she said on-air.
The TV star added that she had been thinking long and hard about the decision as she continued: 'I've been weighing this decision for quite a while – Am I truly ready? But, my sixtieth birthday celebration on the Plaza felt like a shift.
'Like a massive, joyful YES, you are! I saw it all so clearly: 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.'
Hoda pictured with her two daughters Hope, four, and Haley, seven, last summer
Hoda previously hosted Today's fourth hour alongside Kathie Lee Gifford. The duo are pictured here in June 2017
Last year, insiders revealed to DailyMail.com exclusively that 'no amount of money' would change Hoda's mind about leaving Today because she's looking forward to spending more time with her two daughters Haley, seven, and Hope, four.
'Yes, it's about her girls and being able to walk them to school but also, she's seen how rich a life Kathie Lee Gifford has lived since quitting – she's had a boyfriend, written a play, books, music, she even wrote and starred in a movie,' the insider said.
Kathie, 71, previously hosted the fourth hour of Today with Hoda from 2008 until 2019, which is when Jenna Bush Hager took over.
'Kathie Lee is happier than ever before,' the insider continued. 'It was never really the same after Kathie Lee left – they had the best chemistry together on the show.'
