Hoda Kotb ‘Counting Her Blessings’ She’s Getting Out of ‘High School Scene’ at ‘Today’

Beloved Today show anchor Hoda Kotb wiped away tears when she announced on September 26 that she was leaving NBC’s a.m. news juggernaut, but in reality, she is thrilled to be getting away from her backstabbing cohosts.

And while Savannah Guthrie and Jenna Bush Hager acted like they were devastated Hoda was exiting the show, sources say they are happy to see her go!

Hoda, 60, claimed she was quitting so she could spend more time with her daughters, Haley, 7, and Hope, 5. But the truth is “Hoda is deeply relieved to be out of that Mean Girls scene,” a source spills.

Hoda, who’s been the cohost of Today’s fourth hour since 2007, has been Savannah’s coanchor in the 7 a.m. slot since she replaced Matt Lauer in January 2018, when he was fired after a career-ending string of sexual harassment and abuse allegations, which he denies.

“Hoda knew she wasn’t Savannah’s first choice to replace Matt,” a source says. “Savannah wanted Willie Geist — but the viewers didn’t. She got the job DESPITE Savannah.”

Even though Hoda had seniority, she always felt like an outsider thanks to Savannah’s iciness — and some say jealousy — toward her, according to a source.

“Savannah has always been bothered by Hoda’s deep connection with the audience,” an insider reveals. “They love her! When they go into the plaza, there are always more people wanting to take pictures and talk with Hoda. It drives Savannah crazy!”

And while Savannah kept Hoda at arm’s length, she took Jenna under her wing, which only exacerbated the hard feelings.

Although Hoda is glad to get away from the toxic atmosphere at work, insiders say she is being truthful about wanting more family time. “Obviously I had my kids late in life and they deserve a bigger piece of my time pie,” she said.

Meanwhile, desperate network honchos don’t want to lose the fan favorite — who they have reportedly invested a whopping $20 million annual salary in — so they’re falling all over themselves to keep Hoda in the NBC family. They’ve even tempted her with the promise of a Diane Sawyer type of role, doing big celeb interviews and primetime specials, a source says.

Spies say another reason NBC execs are anxious to keep her at the network is that they know CBS is eager to poach her. CBS has been struggling — it just dumped anchors Norah O’Donnell and Jeff Glor in a desperate effort to pull their news programs out of third place.

“CBS would love to pair her with Gayle King on their morning show, which continues to trail badly behind the others,” a source says. “They would make a formidable combination.”

Insiders say all these offers have to be irking Savannah and Jenna!

Although Hoda will continue to cohost Today until January, “she is counting her blessings she’s getting out of the high school scene at the Today show,” a source shares. Plus, “she knows she’s a hot commodity!”