Photo:NBC
NBC
Cynthia Erivois givingHoda Kotbher flowers.
When Erivo made her appearance during the broadcast to discuss her new hit movie, she arrived with a special gift for Kotb.
Cynthia Erivo holding flowers on the Macy’s Thanksgiving Day Parade on Nov. 28.NBC
Erivo told Kotb, “Before you even begin, yes, these flowers are for you because I know that this is the last Thanksgiving parade you’re doing.”
The actress continued to say to an emotional Kotb: “I wanted to celebrate that and I wanted to say we love you. Thank you for all of the hard work you’ve done all of these years.”
Cynthia Erivo, Al Roker, Savannah Guthrie and Hoda Kotb on the Macy’s Thanksgiving Day Parade on Nov. 28.NBC
Last month, Kotb opened up to PEOPLE about her decision to leaveTodayin early 2025 and, more specifically, the “best seat in television” — a.k.a. her coveted role anchoringalongside Savannah Guthrieand co-hosting the morning showToday With Hoda & JennawithJenna Bush Hager.
“I’ve kind of been contemplating, wondering, thinking about what I wanted this next chunk of my life to look like as I turned 60,” she said. “And I like adventure, I like new beginnings. I’m a sunrise person and not a sunset person, and I was wondering, what does it look like for me?”
(L-R) Cynthia Erivo, Al Roker, Savannah Guthrie and Hoda Kotb on the Macy’s Thanksgiving Day Parade on Nov. 28.NBC
As for a successor, Kotb said, “Whoever’s interested in that seat, and it’s maybe the best seat in television, I think the best advice I have is to be 1000% who you are, because that’s really the key.” (Craig Melvin has since been named her successor.)
“And the other thing, too, is sometimes to me, part of the magic is to be able to delight in the person sitting next to you,” she continued. “It’s such a small thing, but sometimes when you’re with someone, if you just let them shine.”
Added Kotb: “Give everyone a second, because who wants to be the person at the cocktail party who’s talking all the time?”
Hoda Kotb on ‘Today’ in February 2024.Nathan Congleton/NBC via Getty
Nathan Congleton/NBC via Getty
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This year, Hope’s situation stabilized, and Kotb moved both her and her older sister Haley Joy toWestchester, where they can now spend time “being barefoot” in their backyard, she told PEOPLE.
“We’re in a place where Hope is thriving. She is improving, we’re watching her, and I think that as time goes on, we’ll have a better handle on it, but we’re already seeing great differences,” she said. “We have really excellent care, I have people who are helping us out. I feel like she is finding steady footing.”
source: people.com
