In an emotional announcement made Thursday morning, longtime NBC “Today” show anchor Hoda Kotb revealed that she will leave the show early next year after 17 impactful years. Surrounded her fellow anchors Savannah Guthrie, Jenna Bush Hager, and Al Roker, a tearful Kotb shared that turning 60 last month prompted her decision to move on.

“I realized that it was time for me to turn the page at 60 and to try something new,” Kotb expressed during the broadcast.

The beloved anchor emphasized her desire to spend more time with her two young children. Earlier this year, she took a two-week hiatus from the show due to concerns over her then-4-year-old daughter’s health. “Obviously, I had my kiddos late in life, and I was thinking that they deserve a bigger piece of my time pie,” she added.

Kotb assured viewers that she will continue to appear on NBC in some capacity following her departure from “Today.” Roker praised Kotb, noting that he had never met anyone quite like her, while a visibly emotional Guthrie remarked that Kotb was leaving “at the top of their game.” “You have so much guts,” Guthrie told her.

Having joined NBC in 1998 as a “Dateline” correspondent, Kotb rose to prominence in 2008 as the co-host of the fourth hour of “Today,” where she showcased a lively dynamic alongside co-host Kathie Lee Gifford, often featuring glasses of wine. Their spirited interactions became a hallmark of the show and were even parodied on “Saturday Night Live.”

Following the firing of co-host Matt Lauer in November 2017 due to allegations of inappropriate behavior, Kotb stepped in as his emergency replacement and was officially named the show’s permanent co-anchor alongside Guthrie in January 2018, marking a historic moment as the first time the show was led two women.

Kotb’s announcement has sparked nostalgia on social media, with many reminiscing about her co-anchor days on the early hours of “Today” and the vibrant atmosphere she created with Gifford in the fourth hour. NBC anchor Tom Llamas shared on X that Kotb has “a big career but an even bigger heart.” Jesse Rodriguez, MSNBC’s vice president of editorial and booking, added, “Hoda is an all-star journalist and an incredible person. Every time I see her in the halls at 30 Rock, I get a giant hug.”