Hoda Kotb tearfully says goodbye to 'Today' — 'We only have a finite amount of time'

It was an early morning shocker: Hoda Kotb announced Thursday, Sept. 26, that she is leaving the "Today" show, where she has been co-host for more than five years.

This may not seem like earth-shattering news, and it's probably not, but it's more important to a lot of people than you may think.

As the cast of the show gathered on a couch at the end of the show , in one of those only on a morning show moments, Kotb made the announcement. "This is the hardest thing in the world," she said. Tears flowed, pleasantries were exchanged and Kotb explained her decision. She recently turned 60, she said, and it gave her a new outlook on things. So, too, did her children, which she said she had later in life.

Kotb will remain on 'Today' through the end of the year

"They deserve a bigger piece of my time pie than I have," Kotb said. "I feel like we only have a finite amount of time."

Co-host Savannah Guthrie wept as she said, "You have guts. For someone to leave at the top of their game, to leave something that's wonderful, that you love, where it's easy and comfortable and beautiful and fun, and say, 'But I dream bigger for myself into the great unknown.' You have so much guts. You inspire me. I love you."

Kotb co-hosts the "Today" show proper as well as the show's fourth hour (kind of the same, but different). She started on the fourth-hour show in 2008. In 2017, NBC shockingly fired Matt Lauer, a longtime "Today" co-host, after accusations of sexual misconduct. She was, at first, a temporary replacement, but eventually, she became permanent.

If evening news shows still draw big audiences (they do), the once-august anchor position has been diminished in stature. But stature isn't what you're looking for in a morning show host. You're looking for stability, a known quantity. Mornings are all about routine, and if that routine gets disrupted, the whole thing gets thrown off.

Who will replace Hoda Kotb?

For millions of people, Kotb was part of that routine. She came up through local TV, so her reporting chops are solid. But there is a kindness about her, a genial demeanor that serves an early-morning audience perfectly. It's not a learned skill. It's just a vibe, and Kotb has it.

Kotb said she will remain on "Today" through the end of the year and will stay on with the network. NBC hasn't named a replacement.

It'll be tough. Mixing chemistry on morning shows is like trying to split the atom. Mess it up, and you've got real trouble.

Craig Melvin was right when he talked to her after the announcement. "You're been the heart of the show for a long time," he said. "There's no replacing that."

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Reach Goodykoontz at bill.goodykoontz@arizonarepublic.com . Facebook: facebook.com/GoodyOnFilm . X: @goodyk . Subscribe to the weekly movies newsletter .

This article originally appeared on Arizona Republic: Hoda Kotb tearfully says goodbye to 'Today' — 'We only have a finite amount of time'