Hoda Kotb is gearing up to bid farewell to her role on Today after an impressive tenure, setting the stage for a new chapter in her life. As the 60-year-old prepares to leave the morning show, speculation about her future plans has included the possibility of a second walk down the aisle.
On the December 11 episode of Today with Hoda & Jenna, Kotb candidly addressed the idea of remarrying. When co-host Jenna Bush Hager asked if she envisioned a small or large wedding, Kotb didn’t hesitate, stating, “Probably a small [wedding].” The conversation arose during a discussion about the growing trend of “micro weddings,” intimate ceremonies with fewer than 30 guests. Kotb’s preference for simplicity aligns with her earlier remarks about her 2005 destination wedding in Punta Cana, Dominican Republic, to ex-husband Burzis Kanga. That marriage ended in divorce three years later.
Kotb’s personal life since then has been eventful. After beginning a relationship with Joel Schiffman in 2013, they went public in 2015, adopted two daughters—Haley, now 7, and Hope, now 5—and became engaged in 2019. However, the couple split in February 2022 after eight years together. On-air, Kotb shared that the decision was mutual and rooted in the realization that they were better suited as friends and co-parents than as a couple.
While her romance with Schiffman didn’t culminate in a second marriage, Kotb has emphasized that their shared focus remains on their daughters’ happiness. In a 2022 interview, she reiterated their commitment to co-parenting, saying, “Happy girls, that’s all we want.”
As Kotb transitions out of her Today role, with Craig Melvin set to take her place starting January 13, she’s embracing the opportunity to “turn the page” and explore new horizons. Her recent openness about love suggests she hasn’t ruled out the possibility of finding a life partner and walking down the aisle again.
With her departure marking the end of an era on Today, Kotb is stepping into a future filled with promise, personal growth, and perhaps even new love. Fans and colleagues alike will undoubtedly be watching to see where her journey leads.