EGN NEWS DESK
We’ve had a pair days now to let the information sink in:
Hoda Kotb is leaving The Today Show.
After 17 years, the co-host surprised viewers on September 26 by stating the next:
“I spotted that it was time for me to show the web page at 60, and to attempt one thing new.”
Kotb additionally referenced her younger kids whereas making her announcement, making it clear she wanted to spend extra time along with her 5 and seven-year previous.
Perfectly comprehensible, in fact.
The reported will stay behind the Today Show desk till January 1 and can then stay inside the “NBC household” in some capability.
But now we’re pressured to ask an apparent query: Who will exchange Hota Kotb?
“The large contender who everybody on the community is speaking about is Laura Jarrett — she has a extremely sturdy probability,” an NBC insider has instructed Us Weekly.
“She’s the anchor of Weekend Today; she is a lawyer like [Kotb’s coanchor] Savannah [Guthrie]. She’s a darling on the Today present who has risen up in a short time.“
Laura is 40 years previous and her mom, Valerie Jarrett, served as Barack Obama’s senior advisor throughout his administration.
She changed Kristen Welker as co-anchor of Today Show’s Saturday protection in September 2023.
Other choices additionally work for NBC nowadays.
There’s Craig Melvin and there’s Carson Daly, in accordance with this similar supply.
“The different choice is they may transfer round anchors,” the insider explains. “They might put Craig with Savannah, or they may put [3rd Hour Today cohost] Sheneille [Jones] with Savannah.
We’ve additionally heard buzz round these elements about Political and National correspondent Jacob Soboroff, together with NBC News Now anchor Tom Llamas.
Both of those personalities are thought of rising stars — and executives are conscious that Al Roker, Lester Holt and Dateline’s Keith Morrison all might retire within the close to future.
For her half, Meteorologist Dylan Dreyer spoke to E! News and was requested to forecast who would possibly fill Today’s soon-to-be empty anchor chair.
“I don’t assume in the event that they named anybody in our core group of individuals it might be shocking,” she instructed to Keltie Knight on the 2024 People’s Choice Country Awards, protecting issues diplomatic and including:
“We’ve all crammed in alongside the way in which when any individual’s out. I don’t know if anyone’s made any selections but, but when it’s one of many core group, I actually don’t assume it’s that shocking.”
Said Kotb upon revealing her future plans:
“Obviously I had my kiddos late in life, and I used to be pondering that they deserve an even bigger piece of my time pie that I’ve.
“I really feel like we solely have a finite period of time. And so, with all that being stated, that is the toughest factor on the planet.”
