Hoda Kotb reveals ‘Snoop-ish’ new role at NBC ahead of final ‘Today’ broadcast Friday

Hoda Kotb has signed a new deal with the “Today” show and NBC to contribute exclusive interviews and cover the next two Olympics, Page Six can reveal.

“I think it’ll be kind of a Snoop-ish role,” Kotb told us, referring to how Snoop Dogg served as a fun-loving special correspondent for the 2024 Paris games.

The “Today” anchor is leaving “Today” Friday after 26 years on air — and said she is trying to hydrate before her final show, because she’s been shedding so many tears.

“I literally have a bottle of Gatorade by my bed. And I’m not kidding after this week of tears,” she said.

However, we’ll still see her as she will be appearing on monthly segments on “Today” and will be traveling to Milan for the 2026 Winter Olympics and the 2028 Los Angeles Olympics. 

Kotb broke the news of her “Today” departure alongside her co-anchor Savannah Guthrie (left) and 10 a.m. co-host Jenna Bush Hager (right). Nathan Congleton/NBC via Getty Images

“I want to be a supporting character on a team that is already in place so that I’ll come in and just have a role there. And then I’m going to do my ‘Making Space’ podcast, which I enjoy and love so much,” Kotb said. “And for the ‘Today’ show, I think we talked about doing something every four to six weeks, just a little something.”

She also hinted at making occasional appearances on former fourth-hour co-host Jenna Bush Hager’s new show, “Today With Jenna & Friends.”

Kotb — who will be replaced on “Today,” by Craig Melvin, joining co-anchor Savannah Guthrie — admitted she had loose conversations about possible opportunities at other networks and on other platforms before deciding to stay with NBC.

Kotb said she needs to “hydrate” after crying so much in the past few weeks. Today/NBC Kotb will be replaced by new co-anchor Craig Melvin. Nathan Congleton/NBC via Getty Images

There had been reports Hoda was leaving in a huff about money, but, she told Page Six: “This job is amazing and I don’t do it because I get a paycheck every other Thursday. That’s not why. Because then you’re only happy on every other Thursday.

“I do it because I love it. And I think it never has been a money thing for me … I’ve taken jobs I’ve loved, and then I’ve asked, you know, for whatever I wanted.”

The longtime TV favorite has been open about how turning 60 last August made her reassess her goals and that she wanted to spend more time with her young daughters, Haley and Hope.

Kotb (front let) spent Christmas Day with her mom, Sameha (back left), her sister, Hala, her young daughters Haley and Hope, and their dad, Joel Schiffman. hodakotb/Instagram

She is now in the midst of setting up a wellness app, saying, “I decided like, let’s build something there and let’s build something that’s good for anybody, for like, everybody. Affordable, comfortable, all those things. So we’re going to be doing an app and retreats and newsletter.”

As Page Six reported, Kotb recently moved to the suburbs with her girls and is happily co-parenting with her ex, Joel Schiffman. 

They all spent Christmas together and are planning to be together for Haley’s 8th birthday on Monday.

Kotb and Bush Hager have been wiping away tears on air. Today/NBC

“We love our kids and we get along, I think we figured out a nice rhythm for us and the kids ” Kotb said of Schiffman. “And they look forward to seeing their dad. And he loves hanging out with them.

As for Monday, her first day away from “Today,” Guthrie has given her an alarm clock that was smashed by her son Charley, as well as pom-poms to cheer her on and a diamond bracelet that reads “With You.” Kotb said she will be kicking things off with a 5:45 a.m. SoulCyle class that will “feel like 10am to me.”