She continued, “There’s the guilt you carry because you can’t be 100% at work and 100% at home. Something has to give if you want excellence. If you’re going to be excellent at work, something has to give at home. And if you want to be excellent at home, I mean excellent, and do all the things, something has to give at work. It can’t be equal.”

Kotb has two daughters, a 7-year-old and a 5-year-old. In 2023, Kotb took some time off the show to be with her youngest daughter in the ICU, which moved the TV host to continue to prioritize her family.

“I’ve had yearnings, and you know when something’s pulling you? It’s like you either go toward it or you shove it down and say, ‘Nope, this is the way. I’m going to stay here because it’s safe,’” she said. “It does make more sense to stay at NBC. I’m financially secure and I would have job security. I mean, why would you ever not do that? But I’ve been watching my kids and I was thinking to myself, ‘I wonder what I’m missing?’”

Kotb also notes that not having to go to sleep early to wake up early the next day will allow her to have a social life, adding, “I thought, you know what? I’m not going to be playing ‘beat the clock’ all the time anymore.”

→ Swipe to see more articles

Related Posts

The Talk’s Jerry O’Connell breaks down in tears off camera at finale and fumes show ‘didn’t deserve to end so suddenly’

“Patrick Mahomes Responds to Travis Kelce’s Return with an Iconic, Legendary Reference”

“Hoda Kotb Left a Heartfelt Surprise Letter for Craig Melvin—Here’s What She Wrote”

Rebecca Jarvis makes grand return to GMA from maternity leave as co-host Robin Roberts cheers ‘welcome back!’

Hoda Kotb exits ‘Today’: Here’s what she’ll be doing on Monday — and beyond, after her final show

“Andy Reid in ICU Battling for His Life After ‘Critical Unforeseen Medical Crisis’ – Hospital Remains Tight-Lipped on Cause of Illness”

Kotb is due to depart the Today show in early 2025.