After nearly 15 years with “Today,” and the last year as co-host Ann Curry is exiting the NBC News morning show, she announced at the close of this morning’s broadcast.
“This is not easy to say, but today is going to be my last morning as a regular co-host of ‘Today,'” Curry said through tears. “This is not as I expected to ever leave this couch after 15 years, but I am so grateful. Especially to all of you who watch.”
“After all of these years, I don’t even know if I can sleep in anymore. I don’t even know if I can, but I know that whatever time I wake up, I know I’ll be missing you,” Curry said. “For all of you who saw me as a groundbreaker, I’m sorry I couldn’t carry the ball over the finish line, but I sure did try.”
Curry, who was flanked on the couch by Matt Lauer, Al Roker and Natalie Morales, offered details on her new role at NBC, “Today” anchor-at-large and national/international correspondent.
“They’re giving me some fancy new titles, which essentially means I’m going to get tickets to every big story we want to cover with a terrific team of my choosing,” she said. “We’re going to go all over the world and all over this country in a time when this country and this world needs clarity.”
When “Today” returned after a commercial break at the top of the 9amET hour, Curry’s seat on the couch was occupied by 9am co-host Savannah Guthrie, who is the reported replacement for Curry.
Curry’s announcement comes after a week of public speculation about her future on “Today.” It was first reported last Thursday that NBC executives were readying a plan to replace her before the Olympics, which begin next month.
Curry spent 13 years as “Today’s” news reader before succeeding Meredith Vieira as co-host last June. Since she stepped into that role, ABC’s “Good Morning America” has gained on “Today” in the ratings, snapping NBC’s 16-year winning streak in April and winning several weeks since.
Watch Curry’s announcement here: