Hoda Kotb has made a name for herself at NBC, gaining a wealth of experience conducting interviews with numerous high-profile celebrities.
She kicked off her career as a correspondent for Dateline in 1998. By 2007, she was co-hosting the fourth hour of Today, titled Today with Hoda & Jenna. Kotb’s big break came in 2018 when she joined Savannah Guthrie as the show’s co-anchor.
In a heartfelt announcement this past September, Kotb revealed her plan to step away from Today in 2025, mainly to spend more quality time with her young daughters, Haley, 7, and Hope, 5, whom she shares with her former fiancé, Joel Schiffman. “I had my kiddos late in life, and they deserve a bigger piece of my time pie,” she expressed to her audience. “We only have a finite amount of time.”
October found Kotb in a role reversal, taking the hot seat on The Tonight Show Starring Jimmy Fallon. She shared that her decision to depart Today hit her on her 60th birthday. “When I turned 60, something weird happened,” she reflected. “Looking out at all the love and support, I felt like, ‘This is it, man.’ It was a feeling like no other.”
Although Kotb will be stepping away from daytime television, her legacy of captivating interviews is sure to endure.
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Taylor Swift
Back in 2009, Kotb featured a young Taylor Swift on Dateline, who was just 19 and promoting her debut album, Fearless. In this insightful interview, Swift mentioned her dedication to songwriting without worrying about audience demographics.
“I just write the song for the person I’m writing the song to,” Swift explained.
Jennifer Lopez
In November 2014, just after her divorce from Marc Anthony, Lopez chatted with Kotb about her book True Love. Kotb admired Lopez’s honesty, noting how relatable her experiences were to many. “I found myself nodding, saying ‘that’s me on that page,'” Kotb remarked.
Lopez opened up about her patterns in relationships, explaining, “I never let myself heal… I realize now that I was seeking something that made me whole.”
Blake Shelton
Kotb visited Blake Shelton in Nashville during the CMT Awards in June 2017, where he happily shared details about his relationship with Gwen Stefani, saying it felt “incredible.”
Oprah Winfrey
In a touching moment in 2020, Kotb interviewed her idol, Oprah Winfrey, during her 2020 Vision: Your Life in Focus tour. Kotb couldn’t hold back tears, expressing her gratitude for the moment. Oprah inspired her audience by emphasizing the importance of wellness and unity.
Prince Harry
Kotb traveled to the Netherlands in 2022 to chat with Prince Harry during the Invictus Games. During the interview, he spoke fondly about fatherhood, saying, “I love every part of it.”
Jada Pinkett Smith
In 2023, Kotb sat down with Jada Pinkett Smith to discuss her memoir, Worthy. Jada revealed that she and Will Smith decided to live separate lives in 2016. Kotb was taken aback by this revelation and expressed her astonishment.
Jada shared insight into their relationship challenges, saying, “By 2016, we were just exhausted with trying.”
Céline Dion
In June 2024, Kotb interviewed Céline Dion, who discussed her struggles with stiff person syndrome. When Kotb asked about the impact of the illness, Dion boldly stated, “It didn’t take anything away from me; I’ll be back on stage no matter what.”
Simone Biles
Following her triumphant performance at the 2024 Paris Olympics, Kotb interviewed Simone Biles, praising her exceptional sportsmanship. Biles highlighted the importance of supporting fellow competitors, stating, “We don’t care whether we win or lose; we’ll always keep a good face and support those who’ve worked just as hard.”