Hoda Kotb

Hoda Kotb (/ˈhoʊdə ˈkɒtbiː/ HOH-də KOT-bee;[1] Egyptian Arabic: هدى قطب‎, Hudā Quṭb; Egyptian Arabic pronunciation: [ˈhodæ ˈʔotˤb]; born August 9, 1964)[2] is an Egyptian American broadcast journalist, television personality, and author. She is a main co-anchor of the NBC News morning show Today and co-host of its entertainment-focused fourth hour. Kotb formerly served as a correspondent for the television news magazine program Dateline NBC.

"Hoda" redirects here. For other uses, see Hoda (disambiguation).

Hoda Kotb
هدى قطب (Hudā Quṭb)
Kotb in 2010
Born (1964-08-09) August 9, 1964
Norman, Oklahoma, United States
NationalityAmerican
EducationVirginia Tech (B.A.)
Years active1986–present
EmployerNBC News
Known forCo-anchor of the Today show (2018–present)
Co-anchor of the fourth hour of the Today show (2008–present)
Dateline NBC correspondent (1998–present)
Spouse(s)
Burzis Kanga
​
​
(m. 2005; div. 2008)​
Partner(s)Joel Schiffman (2013–present; engaged)
Children2

Early life

Kotb was born in Norman, Oklahoma[2] and grew up in Morgantown, West Virginia[3] and Alexandria, Virginia. She lived in New Orleans throughout the 1990s.[4] Kotb's parents are from Egypt. Kotb and her family lived in Egypt for a year, as well as in Nigeria. She has a brother, Adel and a sister, Hala. Her mother, Sameha ("Sami"), worked at the Library of Congress.[5][6] Her father Abdel Kader Kotb was a fossil energy specialist and was listed in the Who's Who of Technology.[7][8] He died at the age of 51 in 1986.[9]

During a 92nd Street Y interview, Kotb hinted at her Muslim roots when she recounted her memories of annual summer vacations in Egypt and her veiled cousins and how her parents' migration to the United States had spared her from having to do the same:

We met our cousins who looked just like us. Some of them had the head cover on. I still remember going, 'Oh, my God. Like that could have been me.' You don't realize the gift your parents give you when you leave.[10]

Kotb similarly indirectly spoke about her family's Muslim background in her autobiography when she described attempts at match-making by her relatives in Egypt:

During my visit, I'd be sitting on the couch and there'd come a knock-knock at the door. 'Hoda, someone's at the door for yooooouuuu ... ' Oh, Lord. 'This is Mohamed. He's from Cairo. He's studying engineering ... and he has a Mercedes.' Really? He also has on a long white man dress. Okay, call it a dishdash.[11]

Kotb makes no mention of any Coptic ancestry in her autobiography as some online articles have incorrectly claimed.[12][13]

She graduated from Fort Hunt High School in 1982. She was elected homecoming queen[14] and selected to speak at her graduating class's baccalaureate service.[15] In her college years at Virginia Tech, Kotb was a member of Delta Delta Delta women's sorority, Beta Nu Chapter.[16] In 1986, Kotb graduated with a Bachelor of Arts degree in broadcast journalism.[3] Kotb was the keynote speaker at her alma mater for the 2008 Virginia Tech graduation[17] and in her speech, played Metallica's "Enter Sandman" over her iPod.[18] In 2010, Kotb was elected to a three-year term to the Virginia Tech Alumni Association Board of Directors.[19]

Career
Hoda Kotb, Monica Groves and Shayla Harris accepting the award for "Dateline NBC: The Education of Ms. Groves" at the 66th Annual Peabody Awards Luncheon

Kotb's first on-air job after college was at then-CBS affiliate WXVT in Greenville, Mississippi.[20] Kotb then moved to ABC affiliate WQAD in Moline, Illinois as a reporter from 1988 to 1989.[21] She became a weekend anchor and reporter at CBS affiliate WINK in Fort Myers, Florida from 1989 to 1991.[22] From 1992 to 1998, Kotb was an anchor and reporter for CBS affiliate WWL in New Orleans, Louisiana.[22]

In 2011, Martina McBride asked Kotb to be featured in her music video for "I'm Gonna Love You Through It," a ballad dedicated to cancer survivors.[23]

NBC News

Kotb officially joined NBC News in April 1998[24] as a correspondent for Dateline NBC and all NBC News platforms.[22]

She was the first host of Today's first fourth-hour weekday morning broadcast at 10:00 a.m. in September 2007[24] and was joined by Kathie Lee Gifford as a co-host in April 2008.[25] Gifford was later succeeded by Jenna Bush Hager in April 2019, following Gifford's departure from the show.[26]

On February 23, 2015, Kotb began hosting a live, one-hour show twice a week on Sirius XM's Today channel, discussing casual, water cooler topics.[27]

On January 2, 2018, Kotb was named co-anchor of Today with Savannah Guthrie after former Today show anchor, Matt Lauer, was terminated from NBC News following accusations of sexual misconduct.[28] Prior to the announcement, she had been interim co-anchor with Guthrie immediately following Lauer's termination on November 29 2017.[28] Together, Kotb and Guthrie make up the show's first female anchor duo to lead the show.

Books

In October 2010, Kotb released a New York Times bestselling autobiography, Hoda: How I Survived War Zones, Bad Hair, Cancer, and Kathie Lee.[29]

On January 15, 2013, she released her second book, Ten Years Later: Six People Who Faced Adversity and Transformed Their Lives, in which she chronicles six stories by identifying a life-changing event in each subject's life and then revisiting each of those six people a decade later.[30]

In 2016, Kotb released her third book, Where They Belong: The Best Decisions People Almost Never Made, which features a selection of various stories of inspiring people who "found themselves" in completely unexpected moments or unforeseen circumstances.[31]

In October 2019, Kotb released her sixth book, I Really Needed This Today, which includes personal notes about her experiences and relationships, an assortment of quotes, and 365 sayings that she hopes inspires and uplifts readers.[32] She released a follow-up in October 2020 titled This Just Speaks to Me, which expands on her daily reflections and includes additional personal anecdotes and quotes.[33]

Kotb has also released her own children's books. The first one, her fourth book overall, I've Loved You Since Forever, was released in 2018, and was adapted into a lullaby by Kelly Clarkson.[34] Her second children's book, her fifth book overall, You Are My Happy, which celebrates the things in life that bring gratitude, was released in March 2019.[35]

Awards

In 2002, Kotb was awarded the Edward R. Murrow Award for her reporting.[22]

Kotb received her first Gracie Awards in 2003 and 2008.[22]

Kotb was awarded a Headliner Award in 2004 for Dateline NBC's "Saving Dane - Adoptees Rage."[36]

In 2006, Kotb was awarded a Peabody Award for Dateline NBC's "The Education of Ms. Groves,"[37] which earned her an additional Headliner Award in 2007,[38] as well as the Alfred I. duPont–Columbia University Award in 2008.[39]

In 2010, 2011, and 2012, during which Kotb was a part of the Today morning host lineup, Today won a Daytime Emmy Award for Outstanding Morning Program.[24]

In 2015, she won a Webby Award for Online Film & Video - Public Service & Activism for her music video, "Truly Brave,"[22][40] which she created in collaboration with Sara Bareilles and Cyndi Lauper to raise awareness for pediatric cancer.[41] That same year, she received an additional Gracie Award for Outstanding Host in News/Non-fiction in 2015.[22]

In 2016, Kotb was awarded with a Gracie Award for Outstanding Host in Entertainment/Information for her SiriusXM show.[22]

Kolb was included in Time magazine's 100 Most Influential People of 2018. [42]

In 2019, Kotb and Gifford were awarded a Daytime Emmy Award for Outstanding Informative Talk Show Host during their time as co-hosts.[43]

Personal life

In 2005, Kotb married former University of New Orleans tennis coach, Burzis Kanga.[44] The marriage ended in divorce in 2008.[45]

In March 2007, Kotb underwent a mastectomy and reconstructive surgery for breast cancer and has since become an advocate for breast cancer awareness.[46] Kotb allowed Today cameras to follow her throughout her cancer battle.[47] After she was declared cancer free, she has continued to document and use the story on the show to raise awareness for breast cancer.[48]

Since 2013, Kotb has been in a relationship with New York financier Joel Schiffman.[49] On November 25, 2019, Kotb announced live on Today that she was engaged to Schiffman.[50]

On February 21, 2017, Kotb announced on Today that she had adopted a baby girl named Haley Joy Kotb.[51] On April 16, 2019, Kotb came on Today via phone to announce she had adopted a second baby girl named Hope Catherine Kotb.[52]

Career timeline

Other appearances

See also

References
  1. "Hoda Kotb tried 'Kotbe' ... to get ahead?". Today.com. February 20, 2012. Archived from the original on August 1, 2018. Retrieved December 26, 2013.
  2. "Hoda Kotb". TVGuide.com. Archived from the original on May 29, 2016. Retrieved August 10, 2015.
  3. "'Today' show anchor to inspire young journalists at WVU May Commencement" (Press release). West Virginia University. May 1, 2009. Archived from the original on September 6, 2017. Retrieved May 1, 2009.
  4. Clehane, Diane (2009). "Hoda Kotb interview". Archived from the original on December 7, 2014. Retrieved August 7, 2014.
  5. "Hoda Kotb on her mom hero". April 25, 2012.
  6. "Thank you to the talented @hodakotb for hosting tonight's #NatBookFest special. Her mom worked and retired from the @librarycongress after more than 30 years of service. We still miss her. Both of you will always be part of the LOC family". Twitter. September 27, 2020.
  7. Who's Who in Technology, Volume 2. 1982. NJ: Technology Recognition Corporation. 1982.
  8. Who's Who in Technology, Volume 4. 1986. NJ: Research Publications. 1986. ISBN 0892351101.
  9. Kotb, Hoda (October 2010). Hoda: How I Survived War Zones, Bad Hair, Cancer, and Kathie Lee. Simon & Schuster. p. 23. ISBN 978-1-4391-8948-1.
  10. "Hoda Kotb on Ten Years Later". March 17, 2014.
  11. Kotb, Hoda (October 2010). Hoda: How I Survived War Zones, Bad Hair, Cancer, and Kathie Lee. Simon & Schuster. p. 17. ISBN 978-1-4391-8948-1.
  12. "Arab American Hoda Kotb to Replace Matt Lauer as 'Today' Co-Anchor". Arab America. January 2, 2018. Retrieved May 25, 2018.
  13. "Hoda Kotb: 7 Things to Know About Matt Lauer's Replacement". Retrieved May 25, 2018.
  14. "Hoda Kotb Biography – Starpulse.com". starpulse.com. Retrieved September 2, 2015.
  15. "Image: 1982baccprogram.jpg, (1471 × 1600 px)". 2.bp.blogspot.com. Retrieved September 2, 2015.
  16. "Tri Delta – Mythbusters". Tri Delta. Archived from the original on October 18, 2013. Retrieved April 29, 2012.
  17. "Virginia Tech 2008 Commencement Address by Hoda Kotb". Retrieved May 20, 2013.
  18. Esposito, Greg (2008). "At Tech graduation, laughs to leave by". The Roanoke Times. Archived from the original on September 8, 2012. Retrieved May 1, 2009.
  19. "Virginia Tech Alumni Association Board of Directors". Archived from the original on July 20, 2011.
  20. Brown, Adam (September 16, 2014). "Hoda Kotb Says Only Takes One Person to Change Your Life — Stan Sandroni - HottyToddy.com". HottyToddy.com. Retrieved May 25, 2018.
  21. Burke, David (September 10, 2007). "New Today co-host Hoda Kotb says she loved Q-C stint". Quad-City Times.
  22. "Hoda Kotb | NBCUniversal Media Village". www.nbcumv.com. Retrieved November 26, 2019.
  23. "Hoda makes her music-video debut -- for a cause". TODAY.com. August 19, 2011.
  24. "Hoda Kotb". TODAY.com. February 6, 2008.
  25. "Kathie Lee Gifford joins fourth hour of TODAY". TODAY.com. March 31, 2008.
  26. Steinberg, Brian (February 26, 2019). "Jenna Bush Hager to Join Hoda Kotb in 'Today' Fourth Hour". Variety.
  27. "Hoda Kotb to Host Live Call-In Show Exclusively on SiriusXM's TODAY Show Radio Channel". www.prnewswire.com. February 19, 2015.
  28. "Hoda Kotb named new co-anchor of NBC's 'Today'". NBC News. January 2, 2018.
  29. How I Survived War Zones, Bad Hair, Cancer, and Kathie Lee. Simon and Schuster. July 19, 2011. ISBN 9781439189498.
  30. Grose, Jessica (January 18, 2013). "Today's Hoda Kotb On Overcoming Adversity". Fast Company.
  31. Secker, Abigail (January 12, 2016). "Hoda Kotb's new book helps millennials find their way". The Lantern.
  32. Melle, Megan O'Neill (October 11, 2019). "Thank You, Hoda! 10 Inspirational Quotes from Her New Book—and What They Mean to Her". Parade.
  33. Quill, Kara (October 13, 2020). "Hoda Kotb shares new book 'This Just Speaks to Me' — and it's out now". Today. Archived from the original on October 13, 2020.
  34. Braca, Nina (March 8, 2018). "Kelly Clarkson Turns Children's Book 'I've Loved You Since Forever' Into a Heartwarming Lullaby Watch Kelly Clarkson Turn a Children's Book Into a Heartwarming Lullaby". Billboard. Retrieved March 9, 2018.
  35. Finn, Heather (March 5, 2019). "Here's the Emotional True Story Behind Hoda Kotb's New Book". Good Housekeeping.
  36. "2004 – TV/Radio | National Headliner Awards". www.headlinerawards.org. 2004.
  37. "Dateline NBC: The Education of Ms. Groves". www.peabodyawards.com. 2006.
  38. "2007 – TV/Radio | National Headliner Awards". www.headlinerawards.org. 2007.
  39. "Congrats to @hodakotb on her new role @TODAYshow! #TBT to her 2008 @duPontAwards win for "The Education of Ms. Groves" (with @DatelineNBC)". Twitter. January 5, 2018.
  40. "Hoda Kotb's 'Truly Brave' music video -- The Webby Awards". The Webby Awards. 2015.
  41. Zap, Claudine (September 25, 2014). "Hoda Kotb, Sara Bareilles, Cyndi Lauper Fight Pediatric Cancer with 'Truly Brave' Music Video". yahoo.com.
  42. "Savannah Guthrie and Hoda Kotb: TIME's 100 Most Influential People". Time. Retrieved September 22, 2020.
  43. Alund, Natalie Neysa (May 6, 2019). "Kathie Lee Gifford wins Daytime Emmy Award". The Tennessean.
  44. "Hope From Hoda". Livingneworleans.com. June 2, 2006. Retrieved January 28, 2014.
  45. Kotb, Hoda (2010). Hoda: How I Survived War Zones, Bad Hair, Cancer, and Kathie Lee. Simon & Schuster. ISBN 978-1-4391-8948-1.
  46. Kotb, Hoda (2008). "Your life after cancer is better than the one before". MSNBC. Retrieved December 11, 2008.
  47. Price, Diana (June 20, 2008). "Hoda Kotb: Why I went public with cancer battle". TODAY.com.
  48. Roberts, Embry (October 21, 2017). "'Cancer shaped me, but it did not define me': Hoda Kotb on overcoming breast cancer". TODAY.com.
  49. "Sign her up: Find out how Hoda Kotb met her 'gentleman' boyfriend". TODAY.com. Retrieved April 16, 2019.
  50. Stump, Scott (November 25, 2019). "Congrats! Hoda Kotb and Joel Schiffman are engaged". TODAY.com. Retrieved November 26, 2019.
  51. Melas, Chloe. "'Today' anchor Hoda Kotb adopts baby girl". CNN. Retrieved March 14, 2017.
  52. Lisa Respers France. "Hoda Kotb welcomes another daughter". CNN. Retrieved April 16, 2019.
Media offices
Preceded by
Matt Lauer		 Today Co-Anchor
2017–present
Served alongside: Savannah Guthrie		 Succeeded by
Incumbent
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