Hoda Kotb Stays On 'Today' As Kathie Lee Gifford Prepares To Depart

Let me tell you something, folks. We were bracing ourselves for some big changes on Today, but here’s the scoop: despite Kathie Lee Gifford announcing her departure from the fourth hour of the NBC talk show in April, Hoda Kotb isn’t going anywhere. That’s right—Hoda is sticking around, and we couldn’t be happier.

During the Tuesday, December 11 episode of the morning show, Kathie Lee dropped the bombshell about her decision to leave. But here’s the good news: NBC News chief Noah Oppenheim quickly stepped in with a reassuring statement for fans. He confirmed that Hoda will remain a key part of the show after Kathie Lee’s exit. Phew! Let’s all breathe a sigh of relief, shall we?

Kathie Lee's Farewell and What It Means for Hoda

Noah Oppenheim’s message was clear and heartfelt. “Kathie Lee is generously staying with us through the show’s next anniversary, April 7, 2019,” he wrote. “We will have much more to share before then about our plans for that hour, which will, of course, continue to include Hoda.” It’s worth noting that Hoda isn’t just sticking around for the fourth hour. Sources suggest she’ll keep her role as Savannah Guthrie’s co-anchor during the first hour of the show. That’s a lot of screen time, folks, and Hoda’s got it covered.

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Behind the Scenes Drama: Hoda and Kathie Lee's Relationship

Now, let’s talk about what’s really going on behind the scenes. Some sources have told Closer that Hoda and Kathie Lee haven’t exactly been the best of friends lately. At one point, they were so close they lived in the same building. But times have changed. Kathie Lee lost her beloved husband, Frank Gifford, and she needs a best friend more than ever. Unfortunately, Hoda has a baby, a boyfriend, and a top job, leaving little time for their once-close friendship.

Their friendship reportedly started to fade before and after the show. They stopped hanging out, stopped sharing meals, and even stopped going to the theater together. It all started when Hoda moved offices. Now, Kathie Lee finds herself sitting alone in the basement while everyone else is having fun upstairs in the dressing room. Hoda has literally moved out and upstairs, leaving Kathie Lee feeling isolated. One insider even revealed that Kathie Lee used to play Hoda her new music, and Hoda would cry, telling her she “understood her soul.” But now, it seems like those days are long gone.

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