The stars of Queer Eye showered Hoda Kotb with both verbal praise and an actual bouquet, leaving her visibly touched and emotional. The Today co-anchor attempted to hold back her tears during an episode last week as the heartfelt gestures unfolded live on-air. This wholesome moment took place as the cast (Jonathan van Ness, Karamo Brown, Antoni Porowski, Tan France and Jeremiah Brent) promoted the ninth season of their popular Netflix reality makeover show.
“We’re giving you your flowers!” the cast members cheered before hairstylist van Ness, 37, said to Kotb, 60: “There’s no one in the industry like you.” The star continued, telling the broadcaster: “You make people feel so safe. and you’re just the most incredible person and we love you so much.”
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Hoda Kotb Fights Back Tears on Today as Queer Eye Cast Honors Her Legacy and Impact in Broadcasting
The Queer Eye beauty mogul continued: “We have to give you your flowers because no one does it like you and we love you.” The rest of the stars on the couch added: “we love you so much,” as Kotb tried to clear away the incoming tears. Kotb is preparing to leave the Today show on January 10, 2025, which will allow her to spend more time with her two children.
Kotb’s fans are still reeling after the television personality announced that she will be departing the show after working for NBC for over 26 years. She revealed on-air on September 26th that her 60th birthday in August inspired her to make a major change in her life and career.
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Inside Hoda Kotb's Plans and Preparation to Leave Today in January 2025
“I realized that it was time for me to turn the page at 60, and to try something new,” she said while sitting beside colleagues Jenna Bush Hager, Savannah Guthrie, Al Roker, Craig Melvin and Sheinelle Jones. “I remembered standing outside looking at these beautiful bunch of people with these gorgeous signs, and I thought, ‘This is what the top of the wave feels like for me.’ And I thought it can’t get better, and I decided that this is the right time for me to kind of move on.”
The mom of two noted that wanting to spend more time with her children was a big motivator for her choice to leave the show. “Obviously I had my kiddos late in life, and I was thinking that they deserve a bigger piece of my time pie that I have,” Kotb said.
She added: “I feel like we only have a finite amount of time. And so, with all that being said, this is the hardest thing in the world.” Kotb shares two daughters: Haley, 7, and Hope, 5, with her ex Joel Schiffman.
Almost two months have passed since Kotb revealed that she’d be departing the Today show. Now, it has been confirmed that her colleague Melvin, 45, will take over her co-anchor role. Beginning in January, Melvin will star alongside Guthrie, 52.
