Savannah Guthrie 'eats her feelings' after Hoda Kotb leaves 'Today'

Savannah Guthrie finds coping strategies for Hoda Kotb's impending departure from the Today.

The veteran journalist, 60, announced on Thursday, Sept. 26, that she is leaving the show after 17 years to spend more time with her family. Kotb will remain in her current role alongside Guthrie as co-anchor of NBC News. Today and co-moderator of Today's fourth hour with Jenna Bush Hager, until early 2025.

Her Today Colleagues reflected on the news live on air on Thursday.

At the beginning of a segment, Al Roker clarified that Hotb “isn't going anywhere. She won't be on our show, but she's staying with our NBC family.”

“Nobody is taking the news worse than Savannah Guthrie,” joked Craig Melvin. Sheinelle Jones added: “We should just show everyone the reality of what we're dealing with.”

Roker, Melvin and Jones burst into laughter as the camera panned to show Kotb's co-host in a somber state at the side of the stage. Guthrie sat with two plates of food in front of her and a large glass of rosé, a gleeful look on her face, chewing on a bite and raising her hand in defeat.

“She eats and drinks her feelings,” Roker said.

“Are you going to eat that, Sheinelle?” Guthrie asked, poking at the food on the plate next to her with her fork before waiting for Jones' answer.

Roker joked that a half-empty bottle of wine had once been full, and then got up from his seat to “refill” her glass.

Despite her obvious sadness, Guthrie explained that the Today The team's response comes from a good direction.

“We love her so much. And like you said, Sheinelle, we will bear our grief of missing her and loving her so much with our gratitude that it happened,” she said. “You know, I always tell my children, 'Don't be sad that it's over, be glad that it happened.'”

“I think that's Dr. Seuss's word,” Jones said. “Oh, well, I thought that was my quote,” she joked cheekily, but added, “No, I'm just kidding!”

After speaking of Kotb's “admiration for her courage,” Guthrie pointed to her food and drink and asked the other hosts, “Where is yours – I thought we were all doing this!”

Melvin and Jones promised they would, and Roker joked, “We still have one show to go.”

Kotb's announcement came in the form of a letter to the NBC morning show staff. “I know I'm making the right decision, but it's a painful one. And all of you are the reason for it. They say two things can be right at the same time, and I feel that so much right now. I love you And it's time for me to leave the show.”

Kotb added, among other things, “My career as a presenter has been beyond meaningful, a new decade of my life is ahead of me and now my daughters and my mother need and deserve a bigger piece of my time pie. I will miss you all terribly, but I am ready and excited.”