Kathie Lee Gifford bids farewell to Hoda Kotb amid 'Today' show exit

Kathie Lee Gifford extended her best wishes to Hoda Kotb as the latter prepares to exit the Today show after 17 years.

On Friday, September 27, Gifford, 71, took to X, formerly Twitter, to express her "bittersweet" feelings about Kotb’s departure, sharing a heartfelt tribute to her friend and former co-host.

"Bittersweet news as my dear friend @hodakotb steps away from the Today show," she wrote, accompanied by a photo of the two posing together while hosting the fourth hour of Today.

"Her warmth, laughter, and incredible spirit have brightened our mornings and touched countless hearts. Here’s to new adventures!" Gifford, who hosted the fourth hour of Today from 2008 to 2018 with Kotb, 60, added.

For the unversed, Kotb’s decision to leave the beloved show stems from her commitment to family.

"My daughters and my mom need and deserve a bigger slice of my time pie," she explained it on the latest episode of Today with Hoda and Jenna.

Kotb, 60, first announced her departure in a letter to the NBC morning show before addressing viewers on Thursday, September 26, while seated on a couch surrounded by her colleagues.

A behind-the-scenes video captured an emotional Kotb receiving a standing ovation from the Today show crew and colleagues.