Who will NBC choose as Hoda Kotb's successor as she announces she's stepping down from TODAY?

Dear Gossips,

Big news in broadcast television today. And this time it’s not a scandal. Breaking news on TODAY – Hoda Kotb has announced that she’s stepped down from her co-anchor position on the show to focus more on her children. As Stephanie wrote a couple months ago, Hoda recently celebrated her 60th birthday and her career could not be in a better place so this was a surprise. Because Hoda is really, really popular.

On most days, my makeup slot at work is during the 10am hour of TODAY with Hoda and Jenna Bush. It’s a GREAT show, their chemistry is wonderful, Hoda’s chemistry with everyone is wonderful. I love her. And you can tell everyone who works with her loves her – this isn’t TV bullsh-t, you can’t fake that affection. Not on morning TV. As Brian Stelter said in his book, Top of the Morning, which was part of the inspiration for Reese Witherspoon and Jennifer Aniston’s The Morning Show, morning television has to feel like a hug. And no one has been giving better hugs through the TV than Hoda Kotb.

There aren’t many television personalities who could have achieved what Hoda did for NBC after the Matt Lauer scandal. It was Hoda they relied on to retain viewers after that mess – and the audience responded right away. Within weeks Hoda was confirmed as the permanent co-anchor of TODAY and now, after 26 years, while she’ll still be a contributor on NBC, Hoda is setting new goals away from morning television.

She is leaving while she’s on top. Not necessarily because she feels like she’s maxed out but because there are other mountains to climb. This is just about the most gracious and loving resignation that you’ll see in the business. And they’re giving her a long, long sendoff. She’ll for sure be on TODAY through the end of this year, and no doubt they’ll plan her final episode for sweeps. That’ll give them time to figure out Hoda’s replacements, because there are two seats that have to be filled – her role from 7-10am and whoever’s going to be Jenna’s new cohost at 10am. Hoda did both, and beautifully, but it’s a big ask so I’ll be interesting to see how they choose her successor(s).

Until then, savour the last few months of Hoda Kotb’s joy.