Today meteorologist Dylan Dreyer was stunned to search out out that colleague Hoda Kotb deliberate to depart the acclaimed morning present.
“I used to be in Nashville ’trigger I had simply coated the Individuals’s Selection Nation Music Awards [in September 2024]. She calls me at 6:55. I’m like, ‘Why is Hoda calling me? I hope every little thing’s OK,’” Dreyer, 43, solely advised Us Weekly on Friday, January 17, forward of her participation within the Hilton Grand Holidays Match of Champions. “She whispers into her cellphone, ‘Simply need you to know the announcement’s popping out right this moment. I’m leaving the At this time Present.’”
Dreyer continued, “And I used to be like, ‘Wait, what?’ It was such a tightly saved secret. I don’t know if anyone knew ’trigger I referred to as Al [Roker] and he stated he discovered that morning earlier than the present, and Craig [Melvin] discovered that morning earlier than the present. It was stunning, however I’d say not shocking as a result of when you discovered why she was doing it, it was like, ‘Oh, yeah, that makes a lot sense.’”
Kotb, 60, confirmed in September 2024 that she planned to leave At this time after three many years on the air. She initially joined the TV community in 2007, later changing into an anchor in 2018 alongside Savannah Guthrie.
Information of Hoda Kotb’s At this time present exit is bittersweet for her cohosts. “I simply turned 60, and it was such a monumental second for me once I turned 60 years outdated as a result of I began occupied with that decade, like, what does that decade imply? What does it maintain? What’s it gonna have for me?” Kotb, […]
Kotb’s final shows aired dwell earlier this month, which had been particularly emotional for the At this time crew and viewers alike.
“Hoda’s like your favourite aunt, who you liked when she confirmed up. … I imply, she was the guts and soul of the At this time present and actually introduced that to the folks,” Dreyer advised Us. “Everyone’s like, ‘What’s Hoda like in individual?’ She’s precisely what you see on TV. I imply, none of that’s phony, however on the identical time, she selected this new path. She desires to get into the wellness area and she or he’s nonetheless gonna do Olympics protection and do particular tales … so she’s still gonna be a part of the show. This was her selection, so you’ll be able to’t assist however root her on and cheer her on for that.”
Dreyer will nonetheless get a frequent “Hoda repair” off-screen too, for the reason that two broadcasters are also neighbors. (Forward of her At this time exit, Kotb moved to the suburbs of New York with daughters Hope and Haley.)
After Kotb’s At this time departure, Melvin, 45, took over Kotb’s place as coanchor.
“We’ve all labored collectively for thus lengthy now that nothing feels completely different,” Dreyer stated on Friday of the new Today lineup. “Everyone’s acquired completely different titles and stuff, however nothing actually feels completely different as a result of it is smart for Craig to take over that function — and he’s like a brother to me.”
She added, “It’s only one huge completely satisfied household and every little thing’s type of getting rearranged slightly bit, however the different morning I did ship Savannah a textual content message. I’m like, ‘Savannah, I simply wanna say kudos to you’ as a result of she’s needed to give a lot recently.”
In accordance with Dreyer, Guthrie, 53, needed to watch “the goodbyes to Hoda” earlier than the crew began to “construct Craig up for this new function.”
“I simply wished to say, ‘Kudos to you for having to step again and provides everybody their flowers for thus lengthy,’” Dreyer famous. “I believe she dealt with it with such grace and it’s good to provide, give, give, but it surely’s additionally good to obtain. So I’m like, ‘I hope you notice how integral you might be relating to the At this time present.’”
Whereas Dreyer can be an integral member of the NBC Information household, she’s briefly buying and selling the broadcasting studio for the green. She’s going to compete within the Hilton Grand Holidays Match of Champions golf sport in Orlando, Florida, later in January in opposition to different celebrities.
Hoda Kotb is celebrating her new chapter after her closing At this time present look. The 60-year-old broadcaster took to social media on Monday, January 13, with a constructive message about beginning over. “And abruptly, you understand… it’s time to begin one thing new and belief the magic of recent beginnings,” learn a quote she shared by way of her […]
“[Golf] opens up so many doorways for you. It’s, like, the truth that, in some unspecified time in the future in my life, I discovered to play golf simply adequate to get invited to those issues has opened up an entire new world,” Dreyer quipped to Us. “There’s a lot enjoyable, the folks you meet and that you just’re hanging out with; it’s like a pinch-me second. It’s all of your favourite sports activities stars [and] the celebrities that you just watch on TV. It’s, like, you’re in a spot the place you’re cool sufficient to be with them. It’s simply a lot enjoyable.”
The Hilton Grand Holidays Match of Champions takes place at Orlando’s Lake Nona Golf & Nation Membership from Thursday, January 30 to Sunday, February 2.
With reporting by Dan Trainor
