Hoda Kotb Just Returned to 'Today'—and She Addressed Those 'Kelly Clarkson Show' Rumors

It’s only been a few months since Hoda Kotb bid farewell to the Today show and she’s already back—well, sort of. On Wednesday, May 28, the beloved former co-host returned to the show, not as an anchor this time, but as a guest. She stopped by to talk about her brand-new wellness venture, Joy 101, and to clear the air on some very buzzy rumors. Yes, I'm talking about those whispers that she’s replacing Kelly Clarkson on The Kelly Clarkson Show.

“I want to ask you all a real question,” Hoda said during her visit. “If I ever came back to TV… do you know the only place I’d come back to? Right here. This is the spot. There’s no place like home.”

“Delete, delete. Not true,” she added. So there you have it. No, Hoda is not taking over The Kelly Clarkson Show.

However, she did confirm that she’ll be popping in as a guest on Kelly’s show next week—just for fun, not as a new host-in-training.

If you missed it, Hoda officially left Today in January 2025 after announcing her departure in September 2024. After 26 years with NBC—starting at Dateline and eventually becoming a morning show staple—she decided it was time for something new.

Turning 60 was a major milestone for her and it sparked a lot of reflection. “I realized it was time for me to turn the page at 60 and try something new,” she explained.

Hoda also opened up about how her daughters—Haley, 7, and Hope, 5, whom she shares with ex-fiancé Joel Schiffman—played a major role in her decision to step back.

“Honestly, I had my kiddos later in life, and I just felt like they deserve a bigger slice of my time pie,” she shared.