Hoda Kotb's turbulent love life revealed as she leaves the Today show to focus on her kids
Share:
For 17 years, millions of Americans have woken up in the morning with Hoda Kotb on their screens - but today she bids farewell to her loyal viewers. After 26 years at NBC, the TV legend is stepping away to spend more time with her young daughters, Haley Joy, eight, and Hope Catherine, five.
![[Hoda got married to former University of New Orleans tennis coach Burzis Kanga in 2005]](https://i.dailymail.co.uk/1s/2025/01/09/20/93930859-14268291-image-a-25_1736456110383.jpg)
Having celebrated her 60th birthday last year, the journalist realized she wanted to spend more time with her kids as she explained: 'Obviously I had my kiddos late in life, and I was thinking that they deserve a bigger piece of my time pie that I have. I feel like we only have a finite amount of time.'.
![[Hoda was then in an eight-year relationship with New York financier Joel]](https://i.dailymail.co.uk/1s/2025/01/09/20/82169619-14268291-The_59_year_old_TV_host_pictured_in_2018_with_her_former_fianc_a-a-27_1736456213207.jpg)
From her headline-making antics with Kathie Lee Gifford at the 'news and booze desk,' to her heartfelt moments with Jenna Bush Hager, Hoda has been staple in many people's morning routine for almost two decades. During her time on Today, the broadcast TV legend won the hearts of fans as she shared her many personal high and lows with the world, including her breast cancer battle - which saw her undergo a mastectomy and reconstructive surgery - to her advocacy for adoption.
![[Hoda and Joel got engaged in November 2019 but sadly they had decided to part ways by the beginning of 2022]](https://i.dailymail.co.uk/1s/2025/01/09/20/82169995-14268291-Hoda_and_Joel_got_engaged_in_November_2019_but_sadly_they_had_de-a-28_1736456217126.jpg)
She has also bravely shared her relationship highs and lows with Today show viewers - including her painful decision to call off her engagement in 2022, which she announced live on air. Recently, a single Hoda revealed she's dating again - and is even open to using dating apps - despite admitting she prefers to be set up by friends.
![[The pair remain amicable co-parents and even spent Christmas together with their girls and the rest of Hoda's family at her new home in Bronxville, New York]](https://i.dailymail.co.uk/1s/2025/01/10/14/93710857-14268291-Hoda_and_Joel_reunited_to_celebrate_Christmas_together_with_thei-a-4_1736517797317.jpg)
