Hoda Kotb has been named Today co-anchor, joining Savannah Guthrie, the NBC morning show unveiled Tuesday (Jan. 2). She replaces Today veteran Matt Lauer, who was fired in late November after a complaint about “inappropriate sexual behavior.”
“Matt Lauer has been terminated from NBC News,” the show said at the time. “We received a detailed complaint from a colleague about inappropriate sexual behavior in the workplace by Matt Lauer. As a result, we’ve decided to terminate his employment.”
That news was covered that morning by Guthrie and Kotb, who filled in for Lauer.
The announcement of her appointment as Lauer’s permanent replacement was made early Tuesday by Andy Lack, chairman of NBC News Group. The new anchor team debuted Tuesday morning, with Guthrie asking for a round of applause in the studio and saying, “This must be the most popular decision NBC News has ever made.”
“I’m pinching myself,” Kotb said. “I think that we should send some medics to Alexandria, Virginia, where my mother has likely fainted” after hearing the opening of the show. Guthrie and Kotb will co-anchor the 7-9 a.m. hours of the show, along with weather anchor Al Roker and Orange Room host Carson Daly. Kotb will also continue co-hosting the 10 a.m. hour of Today with Kathie Lee Gifford, which she has been doing since 2008.
Kotb joined NBC News in 1998 as a correspondent for Dateline. She is also the host of The Hoda Show on SiriusXM. Kotb started her broadcast career in local news, anchoring and reporting for stations in New Orleans and Fort Myers.
Guthrie joined NBC News as a correspondent in 2007 and has been the co-anchor of Today since 2012. She also serves as the network’s chief legal correspondent. Prior to joining Today, Guthrie was the NBC News White House correspondent for three years.
Watch the announcement of Kotb’s elevation on Tuesday’s edition of Today below.