Hoda Kotb, one of America’s most beloved morning show hosts, is opening a new chapter of her life — one centered around motherhood, gratitude, and love. After years of lighting up The Today Show with her signature warmth and humor, Hoda made headlines when she announced she’d be stepping back from the anchor desk to spend more time with her two daughters, Haley and Hope. For Hoda, who adopted both girls later in life, this decision was less about slowing down and more about showing up — fully and completely — for her family.
Haley Joy, born in 2017, was the first to make Hoda’s lifelong dream of motherhood come true. Named after Halley’s Comet, she represents something rare and bright — a miracle that happens once in a lifetime. Two years later, Hoda’s heart expanded again when she adopted Hope Catherine, whose name reflects exactly what she brought into Hoda’s world. “That’s what we’d been doing — hoping,” Hoda once said, recalling the emotional call that made her a mom for the second time.
Despite her split from fiancé Joel Schiffman in 2022, Hoda and Joel have remained dedicated co-parents, building a loving and stable environment for their girls. Their shared moments — from cozy Father’s Day photos to surprise visits on The Kelly Clarkson Show — show a modern family built on compassion and mutual respect.
Motherhood for Hoda hasn’t always been picture-perfect. In 2023, she took time off from The Today Show when Hope was hospitalized with a serious illness. Speaking on-air after her return, Hoda grew emotional as she reflected on the experience: “When your child is ill, the amount of gratitude you can have… it changes you.” That vulnerability, coupled with her trademark optimism, reminded fans why she’s one of television’s most relatable figures — balancing career, motherhood, and life’s unpredictable turns with authenticity and grace.
Today, as Hoda focuses on her daughters, her story continues to inspire. From reading bedtime stories to writing children’s books like I’ve Loved You Since Forever and Hope Is Like a Rainbow, she’s using her voice to celebrate love, resilience, and the beauty of chosen family. Haley and Hope often join their mom behind the scenes, waving to NBC staff or taking snapshots with Al Roker, brightening the halls of Studio 1A with the same joy they bring to her life at home.
For Hoda Kotb, motherhood didn’t come early — but it came exactly when it was meant to. Every laugh, every lesson, every late-night hug has become part of a story that’s still unfolding — one that proves it’s never too late to build the family you’ve always dreamed of, and that sometimes, the greatest anchors in life are the little ones waiting for you at home.
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