Hoda Kotb's biggest regret exposed year after leaving 'Today'

It is being reported that Hoda Kotb is missing her time on Today more than a year after leaving the show.

In September 2024, Kotb told her fans about her departure from the NBC daytime show and did her final show in January 2025, marking the end of her 17-year journey as a host. The reason behind her decision was her family, as she wanted to be with her daughters Haley Joy (born in 2017) and Hope Catherine (born in 2019), as her second daughter was diagnosed with type 1 diabetes in 2023.

The 61-year-old American broadcaster and journalist has returned to the show but as a substitute for Craig Melvin, who was on vacation with his family from April 13 to 17, 2026.

Since she completed her temporary return to Today, she is reconsidering her decision to leave the show last year, as an insider told Straight Shuter.

Per the source, “Being back on set hit her hard. She realized how much she misses it. She’d absolutely go back if the door opened.”

In May 2025, the mother of two also stepped into the world of business and launched a digital wellness platform and community, Joy 101, to “provide daily inspiration, curated wellness practices, and expert-led resources.”

However, her venture “didn’t connect the way she expected, and that’s been tough,” the insider shared.

“On TV, she knows exactly who she is. That’s her zone,” but “the show has moved forward without her” and returning to it will be full of challenges, stated the source.

It is pertinent to mention that Hoda Kotb welcomed her daughters with her ex-fiancé Joel Schiffman.