Hoda Kotb to return to Today show nine months after stepping away

Hoda Kotb is returning to NBC’s Today show, nearly nine months after stepping away from the anchor desk to spend more time with her two adopted daughters. The announcement came during Monday’s edition of the morning program, when co-host Craig Melvin said Kotb would be back on screen soon to discuss a special project. Melvin noted that Kotb would appear as part of a one-off return rather than a permanent comeback, and he teased a moment of reunion with viewers.

Kotb is scheduled to appear Sept. 23 to promote Jump and Find Joy, her new book about embracing change in life’s many seasons. The book, described as blending strategies from change experts with personal stories, including those from celebrities and community members, is set for release the following day. The project marks Kotb’s first major on-air return since she left the Today show in January after 17 years with the program.

The official synopsis for Jump and Find Joy emphasizes a practical approach to change, combining insights from resilience research with intimate accounts from people in ordinary life and in the public eye. It frames change not as a threat but as a continuum that can be navigated with intention, small daily shifts, and meaningful leaps of faith. Kotb describes the work as an invitation to readers to lean into transitions rather than resist them and to find joy amid uncertainty.

Kotb’s departure from Today in January followed conversations with the show’s leadership about prioritizing time with her family. She has said in interviews that becoming a mother to Haley and Hope—whom she and her former fiancé adopted—has reshaped how she views work, sleep, and daily routines. In a recent talk with Kristen Welker for Meet the Moment, Kotb recalled waking early for decades of morning hours and realizing she wanted to be more present for her daughters, even if it required stepping back from a longtime on-air role.

In March, Kotb revealed the book to viewers in a video message on the Today show, describing the moment she felt compelled to jump rather than stand still. She spoke about standing on the edge of change and choosing to embrace it, a sentiment she carries into her return to television with Jump and Find Joy as the focal point of this next chapter. The Today show, now led by Savannah Guthrie along with other anchors, will host Kotb’s appearance as a guest and project partner, allowing audiences to reconnect with her storytelling after her exit.

Overall, the return marks a publicly celebrated moment of family, career, and the evolving relationship between a longtime morning staple and its audience. Kotb’s book tour and media appearances are expected to broaden the conversation about balancing demanding careers with personal transformations, a theme underscored by her own experiences since leaving the program.