Hoda Kotb named NBC "Today" anchor, replaces fired Matt Lauer
It's official: Hoda Kotb will replace former NBC anchor Matt Lauer as Savannah Guthrie's co-host on the "Today Show."
Guthrie announced the change just after the show's open on Tuesday morning, saying, "Hoda is officially the co-anchor of Today. This has to be the most popular decision NBC News has ever made and I am so thrilled."
Kotb, 53, has hosted the 10 a.m. hour of "Today" with Kathie Lee Gifford since 2007 and has been a "Dateline NBC" correspondent since 1998.
NBC has been looking to fill the seat since November 29 when the network announced Lauer, a 20-year veteran of the show, was being fired for "inappropriate sexual behavior."
Lauer had been co-host of "Today" since 1997, propelling the show to the top of the morning show ratings with co-host Katie Couric. It fell to second place behind ABC's "Good Morning America" following the departure of longtime news anchor Ann Curry in 2012 after just a year as co-host.
