Hoda Kotb spent years on the Today Show, starting in 2007, and remained there until her departure in 2025. Yet, that was always her home, and she has been synonymous with NBC and the hit morning show. Now, she is being honored for her legendary career and sparkling personality, which cannot help but bring smiles to people’s faces. Keep reading for more details on what is happening in her life.
Hoda Kotb Lands Huge Honor
Viewers know Hoda Kotb for her nearly two decades on the Today Show. She co-hosted the main show as well as had her own hour alongside Kathie Lee Gifford and then Jenna Bush Hager. When she exited in 2025, the search was on for the perfect replacement. Rotating guests came on to sit next to Jenna, but it took a year to find the right person. Ultimately, Sheinelle Jones landed the position, but many still mourn the loss of Hoda. She recently sat in for Savannah Guthrie as she returned to Tucson, Arizona, when her mother, Nancy, went missing.
For Hoda, the time was right to leave as she has two young daughters whom she adopted later in life. She wanted to focus on that as well as other endeavors. Prior to NBC, she worked at CBS for a decade and then moved to NBC News in 1998. Yet, as aforementioned, she did not begin at Today until 2007. Now, after all of her hard work, she is being honored at Fordham University, where she will be the 2026 commencement speaker. Furthermore, Hoda will receive an honorary degree. The sixty-one-year-old already holds a BA from Virginia Tech, so this is just another phenomenal plaque for her wall. However, it is a great achievement in her very long career.
Hoda Kotb is not just a journalist and reporter, but she is also an advocate for health and wellness. She is a breast cancer survivor as well as an author. So, she has a lot to offer the 2026 graduating class, and they will most definitely benefit from her words of wisdom.
An Exciting Announcement
After Fordham University broke the news that Hoda Kotb would be the speaker, social media went wild. The comments were all about how thrilled they were that she would be joining the class for the big day:
- WE ARE SO EXCITED ❤️❤️❤️
- OH MY GOD SUCH A WINNNNN
- Can’t wait to hear her speak! She’s so inspiring!
- SO ICONIC! ❤️🐏
- Wow! This is huge! My friends at Fordham will be so excited! 🤩
It will be incredible to hear what she has to say and what the class of 2026 takes away with them. This is one incredible moment for Hoda Kotb, and she should be very proud.
Do you think that she is a good choice to celebrate the graduating class? Let us know your thoughts in the comments below.
Amanda has been a professional freelance writer for over a decade, holding both a BA and an MA. Her passions include animals, iced coffee, gnomes, summer, music, and ‘Vanderpump Rules’.
