Hoda Kotb facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Hoda Kotb
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| هدى قطب | |
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Kotb in 2022
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| Born | August 9, 1964 Norman, Oklahoma, U.S.
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| Citizenship |
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| Education | Virginia Tech (BA) |
| Years active | 1986–present |
| Employer | NBC News |
| Known for | Co-anchor of the Today show (2018–2025) Co-anchor of the fourth hour of the Today show (2007–2025) Dateline NBC correspondent (1998–present) |
| Spouse(s) |
Burzis Kanga
(m. 2005; div. 2008) |
| Partner(s) | Joel Schiffman (2013–2022) |
| Children | 2 |
Hoda Kotb (born August 9, 1964) is a well-known American journalist, television host, and author. Many people know her from the popular morning show Today on NBC News. She was a main co-anchor of the show from 2018 until early 2025. Hoda also co-hosted the fun "fourth hour" of Today from 2007 to 2025. Before that, she was a correspondent for the news program Dateline NBC.
Contents
Early Life and Education
Hoda Kotb was born in Norman, Oklahoma. Her parents were from Egypt. She grew up in different places like Morgantown, West Virginia, and Alexandria, Virginia. For a year, Hoda and her family even lived in Egypt and also in Nigeria. She has a brother named Adel and a sister named Hala. Her mother, Sameha, worked at the Library of Congress. Her father, Abdel Kader Kotb, was a specialist in energy.
High School and College Years
Hoda graduated from Fort Hunt High School in 1982. She was chosen as the homecoming queen and gave a speech at her graduation ceremony. When she went to Virginia Tech for college, Hoda joined a sorority called Delta Delta Delta. In 1986, she earned her Bachelor of Arts degree in broadcast journalism. This means she studied how to report news on TV and radio.
Hoda returned to Virginia Tech in 2008 to give a speech at their graduation. She even played a song by the band Metallica for the graduates!
Hoda's Broadcasting Career
Hoda Kotb started her career in television right after college. Her first job on TV was in Greenville, Mississippi. She then worked as a reporter in Moline, Illinois, from 1988 to 1989. After that, she became a weekend anchor and reporter in Fort Myers, Florida, from 1989 to 1991. From 1992 to 1998, Hoda was an anchor and reporter in New Orleans, Louisiana.
Joining NBC News
In April 1998, Hoda officially joined NBC News. She became a correspondent for Dateline NBC, a show that tells in-depth news stories.
In September 2007, Hoda became the first host of the "fourth hour" of the Today show. This part of the show is more relaxed and focuses on entertainment. In April 2008, Kathie Lee Gifford joined her as a co-host. They became a very popular duo! After Kathie Lee left in April 2019, Jenna Bush Hager became Hoda's new co-host.
Hoda also hosted a live radio show twice a week on Sirius XM's Today channel, starting in 2015.
Leading the Today Show
On January 2, 2018, Hoda Kotb became a main co-anchor of the Today show alongside Savannah Guthrie. They had been temporary co-anchors since November 2017. This was a big moment because they were the first female duo to lead the main Today show!
Hoda announced in September 2024 that she would be stepping down from her main role on Today in early 2025. Her last day as a main anchor was January 10, 2025. She continues to work with NBC in other ways.
Books by Hoda Kotb
Hoda Kotb is also a successful author. She has written several books, including both autobiographies and children's books.
Memoirs and Inspiring Stories
In October 2010, Hoda released her first book, an autobiography called Hoda: How I Survived War Zones, Bad Hair, Cancer, and Kathie Lee. This book became a New York Times bestseller.
She released her second book, Ten Years Later: Six People Who Faced Adversity and Transformed Their Lives, in 2013. In this book, she shares stories of people who went through tough times and how their lives changed a decade later.
In 2016, Hoda's third book, Where They Belong: The Best Decisions People Almost Never Made, came out. It tells inspiring stories of people who found their true path in unexpected ways.
Hoda also wrote I Really Needed This Today (2019) and This Just Speaks to Me (2020). These books are filled with her personal thoughts, inspiring quotes, and sayings to uplift readers.
Children's Books
Hoda has written lovely books for children too. Her first children's book, I've Loved You Since Forever, was released in 2018. The singer Kelly Clarkson even turned it into a lullaby!
In March 2019, Hoda released her second children's book, You Are My Happy. This book celebrates all the things in life that make us feel grateful and happy.
Awards and Recognition
Hoda Kotb has received many awards for her work in journalism and television.
- In 2002, she won the Edward R. Murrow Award for her reporting.
- She received Gracie Awards in 2003, 2008, 2015, and 2016.
- In 2006, Hoda won a Peabody Award for her Dateline NBC report called "The Education of Ms. Groves."
- The Today show, with Hoda as part of the host team, won a Daytime Emmy Award for Outstanding Morning Program in 2010, 2011, and 2012.
- In 2015, she won a Webby Award for a music video she helped create called "Truly Brave." This video aimed to raise awareness for childhood cancer.
- Time magazine included Hoda in their list of the 100 Most Influential People of 2018.
- In 2019, Hoda and Kathie Lee Gifford won a Daytime Emmy Award for Outstanding Informative Talk Show Host.
- Hoda was also awarded the Matrix Award in October 2021.
Hoda's Personal Life
Family and Relationships
In 2005, Hoda married Burzis Kanga, a tennis coach. They later divorced in 2008.
Hoda started a relationship with Joel Schiffman in 2013. She became a mother through adoption. On February 21, 2017, Hoda announced on Today that she had adopted a baby girl named Haley Joy Kotb. Then, on April 16, 2019, she announced she had adopted a second baby girl, Hope Catherine Kotb.
Hoda and Joel got engaged in November 2019. However, in January 2022, Hoda shared that they had ended their engagement. They decided to focus on raising their daughters together as friends.
Health Journey
In March 2007, Hoda had surgery for breast cancer. Since then, she has become a strong supporter of breast cancer awareness. She even allowed the Today show cameras to follow her journey to help others. Hoda was declared cancer-free and has continued to share her story to encourage and inform people about breast cancer.
Hoda's Career Path
Hoda Kotb has had a long and interesting career in television. Here's a quick look at her journey:
- 1986: News assistant in Cairo, Egypt for CBS News.
- 1986–1989: Morning anchor and reporter for ABC and CBS affiliates in Moline, Illinois, and Greenville, Mississippi.
- 1989–1991: Weekend anchor and reporter for CBS in Fort Myers, Florida.
- 1992–1998: Anchor and reporter for CBS in New Orleans, Louisiana.
- 1998–present: Joined NBC News.
- 1998–present: National correspondent for NBC News.
- 1998–present: Correspondent for Dateline NBC.
- 2007–2025: Co-host of the Today show's 4th hour.
- 2018–2025: Main co-anchor of the Today show.
- 2018–2024: Host of the Macy's Thanksgiving Day Parade.
Guest Appearances
Hoda has also appeared as herself or in small roles in many TV shows and movies:
- 2009: Lipstick Jungle
- 2010: 30 Rock
- 2014: Law & Order: Special Victims Unit
- 2014–2017: Girlfriends' Guide to Divorce
- 2015: Lip Sync Battle
- 2015: Sharknado 3: Oh Hell No!
- 2016: Younger
- 2017: Nashville
- 2017: Sharknado 5: Global Swarming
- 2018: Mickey and the Roadster Racers (voice role)
- 2020: The Not-Too-Late Show with Elmo
- 2022: Marry Me (movie cameo)
- 2022: Girls5eva
- 2024: Curb Your Enthusiasm
