Hoda Kotb marks her last day on ‘Today’: 'One last time. Let's do this.'

It’s the end of an era as Hoda Kotb signs off as Today co-anchor.

Friday was Kotb’s last day, and while there was plenty of news to deliver — the Los Angeles County fires, Jimmy Carter’s funeral — it was also very much a “Hoda-bration,” which is what NBC dubbed her week-long send-off. There were montages, colleague tributes, celebrity tributes and lots of tears.

As the show kicked off Friday morning, co-anchor Savannah Guthrie teased that the day would be about celebrating “everything everyone adores about Hoda filled with special surprises and a lot of joy.”

The female anchor team — the first ever on the show — held hands as Kotb, wearing a white pantsuit, said, “One last time. Let's do this.”

Kotb revealed in a behind-the-scenes video that Guthrie — who wore black for the occasion — gifted her a bracelet that says “With you” in cursive as well as a ring that says, “Love.” She said, “I feel loved and held.”

Each member of the Today team paid tribute to Kotb in a video. Guthrie, who said Kotb was “like a sister to me,” said, “I love you deeply. I always tell you: Whether you are sitting next to me or not, whether we get up at 4 o’clock in the morning or not, you will always be by my side.”

Al Roker talked about when he had his near-death health scare in 2022, Kotb visited him nearly every day at the hospital, so often people could have mistaken her for a doctor.

Craig Melvin, Kotb’s replacement, talked about how “Hoda doesn't do interviews. She has conversations [in which] she's peering into your soul.” He talked about how encouraging she has been of him. (Kotb wished him luck on Monday, when he takes over, joking she won’t be watching because she’ll be sleeping in.)

Carson Daly talked about Kotb’s good energy, how she’s always singing and dancing on the set, and he dedicated Coldplay’s “All My Love” to her.

Keith Morrison, who worked with Kotb on Dateline earlier in her 26-year career with NBC News, talked about mentoring her as she learned to narrate stories. He said, “We will miss our Hoda.”

Kotb, a breast cancer survivor, is known for her good energy and sharing inspiring quotes on her Instagram. The team said she added the “morning boost” segment, an uplifting story that airs after a series of tough news stories. Kotb said Jenna Bush Hager would be taking over the “boost,” handing her Hoda & Jenna co-host a metallic baton to commemorate the transition.

The fans in the plaza were ready to say goodbye to Kotb. There was a big crowd of people with posters and glasses that spelled out “Hoda.” Kotb quipped that a security guard outside told her, “The next time you retire, do it in July,” as it’s an especially cold week in New York.

There were a ton of celebrity tributes from Oprah Winfrey to Kristin Chenoweth. Jamie Lee Curtis also had an orb made for Kotb inscribed with, “Every today with you is a better day.”

Kotb has said her decision to leave was made around her two young daughters, Haley and Hope, both of whom made an appearance. They talked about being excited that their mother would be home on Monday morning to walk them to school.

Kotb — with guest Taylor Swift and former anchor Ann Curry — in 2007, the year she joined Today as a correspondent. (Ali Paige Goldstein/NBCU Photo Bank/Getty Images)

The family was serenaded by Kermit the Frog who sang, “Rainbow Connection,” the song Kotb sings to her girls each night. Kotb became emotional listening to it, especially when her colleagues joined in.

We’ll update this story until Kotb officially signs off…