Hoda Kotb dismissed the rumors with a single sharp line, but what she revealed next unveiled a powerful, deeply personal journey that fans won’t forget. .QN

Hoda Kotb is shutting down the rumors — and doing it with her signature grace and humor. After months of speculation that she might be stepping into Kelly Clarkson’s shoes as host of The Kelly Clarkson Show, the beloved former Today anchor made her stance crystal clear during a surprise return to Studio 1A.

Kotb, 60, appeared on the May 28 episode of Today to discuss her new wellness venture, Joy 101, when co-host Craig Melvin playfully confronted her about the swirling headlines. “Do y’all think if I ever came back to TV, do you know where the only place I would ever come back to is?” she said with a smile, gesturing to her old seat. “Right here. This is the spot.”

Laughing off the speculation, Hoda added firmly, “Delete. Not true.” Savannah Guthrie teased her, joking that she thought Kotb might be preparing for “Hodaoke,” a cheeky nod to Clarkson’s viral “Kellyoke” segment. Kotb laughed, clarifying she will appear on Clarkson’s show next week — but only “for fun.”

While fans may be disappointed she’s not returning full-time to television, Kotb has a new mission that feels deeply personal. Her latest project, Joy 101, centers on mindfulness, positivity, and the kind of emotional well-being she’s long been known for fostering on Today. It includes a digital platform, live events, and a subscription newsletter — all designed to help people “feel lighter and lift each other up.”

“I’m starting a new business,” Kotb shared. “I’m putting all my time and effort into what I hope will make people feel better — which was my favorite part of the show anyway. How can we lighten the load? How can we lift people up?”

Her shift toward wellness comes after a deeply personal turning point. In an earlier interview with PEOPLE, Kotb revealed that she decided to step away from Today in January following her daughter Hope’s diagnosis with type 1 diabetes. The health scare, she said, changed everything.

“I really wanted to and needed to be here to watch over her,” Kotb explained. “Whenever she needs anything — and it can happen at night, multiple times — I’m up. I’m up, up, up.”

Now, Hoda says her life revolves around her daughters, Hope, 6, and Haley, 8. She’s rediscovered the joy in small, everyday moments — the kind she once missed during early morning news shifts. “I used to think life was about the big things,” she reflected. “But it’s really about the stuff that happens in between.”

For fans who’ve watched her radiate warmth through a camera for decades, this new chapter feels like the most authentic yet. Hoda Kotb isn’t chasing the next TV spotlight — she’s choosing peace, presence, and purpose. And in doing so, she may just be redefining what happiness looks like after the headlines fade.