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Hoda Kotb Shares the Truth About Why She Left the Today Show (Exclusive)

Hoda Kotb reveals the truth about why she left 'Today' — and opens up about the "constant care" required after daughter Hope, 6, was diagnosed with type 1 diabetes.

When the cameras stopped rolling at 11 a.m. and the cast and crew and Kotb’s friends from all facets of her life descended onto the stage to send her off with a glass of champagne, her co-host Jenna Bush Hagerburst into tears. In February 2023, a sudden onset of mysterious symptoms landed Hope in the hospital for two weeks and forced Kotb to take a leave of absence from the Today show. Being able to be totally available for her daughter became a non-negotiable, Kotb says, something which was not possible when she was locked into a long-term contract for a job that had hard deadlines and call times on the Today set and a daily wake-up at 3:15 a.m.

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