Hoda Kotb has been named the co-anchor of Today, making her official debut Tuesday just after an announcement by NBC News chairman Andy Lack. (Today)
Savannah 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. She replaces Today veteran Matt Lauer, who was fired in late November after a complaint about “inappropriate sexual behavior.” (THR)
Kotb first joined NBC News in 1998 as a correspondent for Dateline. She also hosts The Hoda Show on SiriusXM. (NBC News)
The question of who would replace Lauer, 59, the biggest star of morning television with a nearly 21-year run anchoring Today, swirled over the last month. However, viewers tuned in, bumping up ratings, and the NBC morning show beat ABC’s Good Morning America in the first week of December for the first time in three months, according to Nielsen. (USA Today)