Hoda Kotb sobs in pain as she bids final goodbye to her NBC morning news franchise, the . “Can I just say thank you? I haven’t been able to articulate it, because I’m a mess most times, but I just want to say thanks,” an emotional Kotb told her co-workers on-air. As usual, the day began at 7 a.m. with Guthrie providing a sobering summary of the news, which this morning focused on the sentencing of President-elect Donald Trump in a criminal case in New York City and wildfires in Los Angeles. After then, a farewell video package was shown before the "Hoda-bration" started with Kotb, co-anchor Savannah Guthrie, Al Roker, Carson Daly, and Craig Melvin on the couch in Studio 1A at Rockefeller Centre. “If I don’t do this interview, does that mean she won’t leave?” Guthrie questioned into the camera at one point, before adding: “Hoda. I love you. I love you deeply. Like I always tell you, whether sitting next to me or not, whether we get up at 4 o’clock in the morning together or not, I will always be by your side. And you will always be by mine.” In his own homage, Weatherman Roker talked about his terrifying health concern in 2022. “She’s probably one of the most selfless people I know. I was gravely ill. I never had any idea how sick I was. I was in the hospital and I think Hoda was there, if not every day, almost every day … It got to the point where I think people thought she was actually a doctor.” As the film came to a close, Kotb, holding hands with a sobbing Guthrie, paid homage to her co-hosts. “Savannah, oh my God. you’re my person, my person. You know who shows up for everybody? This girl. When your brother died, this girl. When I was going through stuff with Hope it was this girl. She’s in the room. She’s always in the room. And I love you.” She also showered praise on Roker: “You’re my first friend here, the first person I met. When I got sick, you were the first person who walked into the room and said I was going to be OK.” And Kotb wished Melvin, who will succeed her as co-anchor alongside Guthrie, good luck. “I’m so happy for you. You’ve earned this. You own this. And come Monday, at 7 o’clock a.m., I’m going to be dead asleep,” she added, causing Melvin and others on the set’s couch to break out in laughter. Following 17 years with the NBC morning news brand, Kotb first announced her departure in September 2024. Hope and Haley, Kotb's two children, appeared on their mother's last day as a Today co-anchor in the 9 a.m. hour, and Kotb stated that she wanted to spend more time with them. At the time, she stated, "I had my kids late in life, and I was thinking that they deserve a bigger piece of the time pie that I have."