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20 hours ago
News of Hoda Kotb’s upcoming Today exit came as a surprise to Keke Palmer.
Palmer, 31, learned about Kotb’s departure while talking about her new book, Master of Me, on the Wednesday, November 20, episode of Today With Hoda & Jenna. “The funny thing is I do actually live in New York, but I’m always working everywhere else. So, are you guys gonna give me a job here? Is it time? Just add me to the show,” she joked before Jenna Bush Hager pointed out, “Yeah, we could. There’s an opening.”
Kotb, 60, told Palmer that she’s “about to fly like the wind,” causing the actress to cover her mouth with her hands in shock. “Oh, no! Well, I’ll just — let’s switch real quick,” she said while standing up to take Kotb’s couch spot next to Bush Hager, 42.
Palmer immediately stepped into Kotb’s cohosting shoes by pretending to interview her. “Well, Keke’s sticking around for the next five years,” Bush Hager declared.
Bowen Yang Teases a 'Good Surprise' in Store for Hoda Kotb's 'Today' Exit
In addition to being an actress and author, Palmer has garnered plenty of hosting experience over the years, including cohosting the third hour of Good Morning America from 2019 to 2020.
Her other hosting credits include Password, the 2023 Soul Train Music Awards, Foodtastic, Singled Out, the 2020 MTV Video Music Awards and her 2014 talk show, Just Keke.
Kotb announced she is leaving the NBC morning show on September 26, citing turning 60 and wanting to spend more time with her kids — Haley, 7, and Hope, 5 — as her motivation behind the decision.
“I had my kiddos late in life, and I was thinking they deserve a bigger piece of my time, the pie that I have. I feel like we only have a finite amount of time,” she tearfully announced on air. “And so, with all that being said, this is the hardest thing in the world.”
'Today' Show Hosts React to Hoda Kotb's Surprising Exit
Earlier this month, it was announced that Craig Melvin will take over Kotb’s role as Savannah Guthrie’s Today coanchor following her final episode on January 10, 2025. A replacement for Kotb on Hoda & Jenna, however, has not been selected. The show will continue as Today With Jenna & Friends and feature Bush Hager with rotating guest hosts until a permanent host is hired.
Palmer isn’t the only celebrity who’s offered to take Kotb’s place on Today. “[I’m] happy to step in any time,” Mariska Hargitay quipped during the show’s October 1 episode. Taking her up on the offer, Guthrie, 52, replied, “We might have to call you up.”
Hoda Kotb and Jenna Bush Hager Though Kotb is sad to say goodbye to her Today show family, she is excited to see Melvin, 45, follow in her footsteps. “You were made for this job,” she told her colleague on the show’s November 14 episode. “You are that kind of good. You have all the things that this job needs. You’re the right person for it.”
Melvin returned the kind words by stating: “[Hoda], you’ve been the heart of this place for a long time. You helped save this show. … I’ll try not to screw it up!”
