Hoda Kotb’s latest revelation about her relationship with Joel lays bare the emotional reality behind letting go, proving that love isn’t always about holding on. .QN

Hoda Kotb has never been one to shy away from honesty — and when it came to her relationship with Joel Schiffman, she faced one of the hardest truths of all. After nearly a decade together, the Today show anchor revealed that she and Schiffman had officially ended their engagement, closing a chapter that many thought would lead to marriage.

Hoda and Joel’s love story began in 2013, and together they built a family, adopting daughters Haley and Hope, who remain at the center of their lives. Their 2019 engagement was met with joy, but the pandemic — and life’s many shifts — put their wedding plans on hold. During that time, Hoda often said they already “felt married,” calling Joel her “lifelong partner.”

However, on a January morning in 2022, she spoke directly to her audience about the breakup, confirming that the two had “meaningful and prayerful conversations” before deciding they were “better as friends and parents than as an engaged couple.” There was no scandal or sudden fallout — just two people accepting that love sometimes changes form.

Through tears and courage, Hoda shared that she wanted to focus on gratitude — the laughter, the memories, and the family they built. “Sometimes,” she said, “relationships are meant for a season, and ours was one of those.”

She admitted that saying the words aloud felt like a weight lifting, describing a strange mix of sadness and bravery. Her candor struck a chord with viewers, especially women who recognized that moment of choosing truth over comfort. “You can carry it and pretend,” she said, “but sometimes optimism just doesn’t fit anymore — and that’s okay.”

Now, as Hoda continues to raise her daughters and embrace a new season of life, her story isn’t one of heartbreak, but of strength — the quiet kind that comes when you stop pretending everything’s fine and start living in your truth.

It’s not the fairytale ending fans expected, but perhaps, in Hoda’s eyes, it’s the one that brings her closest to what she’s always believed in most — love, in all its evolving forms.