Hoda Kotb
Born 1964 · Age 61
American broadcast journalist, television personality, and author; longtime NBC News correspondent and Today show host.
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Life & Career Timeline
Born in Norman, Oklahoma
Hoda Kotb born to Egyptian parents Sameha and Abdel Kader Kotb.
Spent part of childhood abroad
Lived in Egypt for a year and also spent time in Nigeria during childhood; grew up largely in Morgantown, WV and Alexandria, VA.
Graduated Fort Hunt High School
Graduated high school in Alexandria, Virginia; elected homecoming queen and selected to speak at baccalaureate service.
Graduated Virginia Tech (BA, Broadcast Journalism)
Received Bachelor of Arts in broadcast journalism; member of Delta Delta Delta sorority (Beta Nu).
CBS news assistant in Cairo
Worked as a news assistant for CBS News in Cairo, Egypt (early post-college role noted in career timeline).
First on-air job at WXVT (Greenville, MS)
First on-air reporting/anchoring job after college at then‑CBS affiliate WXVT in Greenville, Mississippi.
Reporter at WQAD (Moline, IL)
Worked as a reporter at ABC affiliate WQAD (1988–1989).
Weekend anchor/reporter at WINK (Fort Myers, FL)
Served as weekend anchor and reporter for CBS affiliate WINK (1989–1991).
Anchor/reporter at WWL (New Orleans)
Anchor and reporter for CBS affiliate WWL in New Orleans (1992–1998); lived in New Orleans through the 1990s.
Joined NBC News / Dateline NBC
Officially joined NBC News in April 1998 as a correspondent for Dateline and all NBC News platforms.
Edward R. Murrow Award
Received an Edward R. Murrow Award for reporting.
Reported on Iraq and Afghanistan conflicts
Reported from war zones including the wars in Iraq and Afghanistan while at Dateline/NBC.
Gracie Award (2003)
Received a Gracie Award (first noted win in 2003).
Reported on 2004 Southeast Asia tsunami
Covered the 2004 tsunami in Southeast Asia for NBC/Dateline.
Hosted 'Your Total Health' (syndicated)
Began hosting weekly syndicated series 'Your Total Health' (ran 2004–2008).
Headliner Award (2004)
Awarded a Headliner Award for Dateline NBC reporting.
Married Burzis Kanga
Married University of New Orleans tennis coach Burzis Kanga (marriage later ended in divorce).
Covered Hurricane Katrina aftermath
Reported on the aftermath of Hurricane Katrina (noted as personal given her time living in New Orleans).
Peabody Award (2006)
Part of Dateline NBC team awarded a Peabody for 'The Education of Ms. Groves'.
Headliner Award (2007)
Received an additional Headliner Award (for Dateline work).
Diagnosed with breast cancer; mastectomy
Discovered lumps during routine exam; underwent mastectomy and reconstructive surgery in March 2007 and later went public with her story.
Became host of Today's fourth hour (10:00 a.m.)
Became first host of the newly launched fourth hour of Today in September 2007; original fourth-hour lineup included Ann Curry and Natalie Morales.
Divorce final (Burzis Kanga)
Marriage to Burzis Kanga ended in divorce (circa 2008).
Alfred I. duPont–Columbia University Award (2008)
Received the duPont–Columbia Award for work on 'The Education of Ms. Groves' (Dateline NBC).
Kathie Lee Gifford joins Today's fourth hour
Kathie Lee Gifford became co-host with Hoda on the Today fourth hour (joined April 2008).
Keynote speaker at Virginia Tech commencement
Delivered the commencement address at Virginia Tech (May 2008).
Elected to Virginia Tech Alumni Association Board
Elected to a three-year term on the Virginia Tech Alumni Association Board of Directors.
Published multiple subsequent books (2010–2020)
Between 2010 and 2020 published multiple books including memoir (2010), Ten Years Later (2013), Where They Belong (2016), children's books (2018, 2019), and reflection books (2019, 2020).
Published memoir 'Hoda: How I Survived...' (NYT bestseller)
Released autobiography 'Hoda: How I Survived War Zones, Bad Hair, Cancer, and Kathie Lee' which became a New York Times bestseller.
Appeared in Martina McBride music video
Featured in Martina McBride's 'I'm Gonna Love You Through It' music video (charity/cancer awareness).
Covered 2012 London Olympics for NBC
Served as part of NBC/TODAY coverage of the 2012 Summer Olympic Games in London.
Today wins Daytime Emmy (2010–2012 span)
As part of the Today host lineup, the program won Daytime Emmy for Outstanding Morning Program in 2010, 2011 and 2012 (noted here for 2012 milestone).
Began relationship with Joel Schiffman
Started a relationship with New York financier Joel Schiffman (began 2013).
Released 'Ten Years Later' (book)
Published second book 'Ten Years Later: Six People Who Faced Adversity and Transformed Their Lives' (Jan 15, 2013).
TV cameo appearances (various)
Made multiple TV/movie cameo appearances (Lipstick Jungle 2009, 30 Rock 2010, Law & Order: SVU 2014, Sharknado films, etc.).
Webby Award & Gracie Award (2015)
Won a Webby Award for 'Truly Brave' (public service video) and a Gracie Award for Outstanding Host in News/Non-fiction.
Released 'Truly Brave' music video
Created the 'Truly Brave' music video with Sara Bareilles and Cyndi Lauper to raise pediatric cancer awareness; later won a Webby Award.
Launched live SiriusXM show (The Hoda Show)
Began hosting a live, one‑hour call-in show twice a week on SiriusXM's Today channel (started Feb 23, 2015).
Gracie Award for SiriusXM show; Rio Olympics coverage
Received Gracie Award for Outstanding Host in Entertainment/Information for her SiriusXM show and covered 2016 Rio Olympics for NBC/TODAY.
Adopted first daughter Haley Joy
Announced adoption of baby girl Haley Joy on Today (Feb 21, 2017).
Served as interim Today co-anchor
Became interim co-anchor of Today's main show after Matt Lauer's termination (interim began Nov 29, 2017).
Published children's book 'I've Loved You Since Forever' (2018)
Released first children's book (fourth book overall); later adapted into a lullaby by Kelly Clarkson.
Began hosting Macy's Thanksgiving Day Parade
Served as a host for the Macy's Thanksgiving Day Parade (noted in NBC personnel listing 2018–2024).
Featured coverage: 2018 Winter Olympics (Pyeongchang)
Participated in NBC coverage of the 2018 Winter Olympics in Pyeongchang as part of Today/NBC coverage team.
Named co-anchor of Today (with Savannah Guthrie)
Officially named co-anchor of the Today show's 7–8 a.m. hours alongside Savannah Guthrie (Jan 2, 2018); first all-female anchor duo for the program.
Daytime Emmy Award (2019) with Kathie Lee
Won Daytime Emmy Award for Outstanding Informative Talk Show Host with Kathie Lee Gifford (2019).
Published children's book 'You Are My Happy' (March 2019)
Released second children's book (fifth overall) celebrating gratitude.
Kathie Lee departs; Jenna Bush Hager joins 'Today' fourth hour
Kathie Lee Gifford left the fourth hour in April 2019; Jenna Bush Hager joined Hoda to form 'Today with Hoda & Jenna'.
Adopted second daughter Hope Catherine
Announced adoption of second daughter Hope Catherine Kotb on Today (Apr 16, 2019).
Published 'I Really Needed This Today' (Oct 2019)
Released sixth book 'I Really Needed This Today' with daily reflections and quotes (Oct 2019).
Announced engagement to Joel Schiffman
Went public with engagement to partner Joel Schiffman (Nov 25, 2019).
Published 'This Just Speaks to Me' (Oct 2020)
Released follow-up book expanding on daily reflections and anecdotes (Oct 2020).
Launched 'Making Space with Hoda Kotb' podcast
Started Making Space podcast (Sept 2021) featuring long-form conversations and life advice.
Received Matrix Award (Oct 2021)
Honored with a Matrix Award in recognition of her work in media.
Ended engagement with Joel Schiffman
Announced on Today that she and Joel Schiffman had ended their engagement and would co-parent as friends.
Ended SiriusXM 'The Hoda Show' (Feb 2022)
Concluded her SiriusXM radio program in February 2022 after seven years on air.
Daughter Hope hospitalized (ICU) and recovered
Hope Catherine was hospitalized in intensive care in 2023 for an undisclosed health issue and later recovered; prompted Hoda to take time off and inspire a children's book.
Ordained officiant; officiated wedding on Today Plaza
Officiated the wedding of Today superfans on the Plaza after being ordained (Sept 2023).
Covered 2024 Paris Olympics and cheered Team USA
Reported from and celebrated Team USA at the 2024 Summer Olympic Games in Paris; was close to U.S. women's gymnastics team.
Exclusive interview with Céline Dion
Conducted a high-profile interview with Céline Dion about her diagnosis of stiff person syndrome (June 2024).
60th birthday celebration on Today Plaza
Celebrated her 60th birthday on the Today Plaza with colleagues, family and musical guests (Aug 2024).
Announced stepping down from Today
Announced on-air that she would step down from her Today co-anchor and fourth-hour hosting duties in early 2025 but would remain with NBC in an unspecified role (Sept 26, 2024).
Final day as Today co-anchor
Stepped down from Today with her last broadcast on January 10, 2025 after 26 years with NBC and 17+ years on Today; signaled a transition to a new role at NBC.
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