Hoda Kotb
A morning television anchor whose warmth and resilience turned personal vulnerability into a source of profound connection with millions.
Born 1964 (age 62)·American journalist and author·Birthday: August 9·Baby Boomers
Biography
Hoda Kotb’s journey to the top of American morning television is a story of grace under pressure. The daughter of Egyptian immigrants, she worked her way up from local news stations, covering hard news as a Dateline NBC correspondent. Her big break came in 2007 when she was paired with Kathie Lee Gifford for the fourth hour of the 'Today' show, where her relatable humor and genuine chemistry created a must-watch segment. Kotb’s public navigation of breast cancer treatment and a mastectomy in 2007, followed by her decision to adopt two daughters as a single mother in her 50s, deepened her bond with viewers. In 2018, she stepped into the historic role of co-anchor of the main 'Today' show, bringing a sense of empathetic calm to the national morning conversation. Her career is a testament to the power of authenticity in an often-polished media landscape.
Baby Boomers
1946–1964
The largest generation in history at the time. Shaped by postwar prosperity, the Vietnam War, the sexual revolution, and Watergate. They questioned every institution their parents built — then ran them.
Hoda was born in 1964, placing them squarely in the Baby Boomers. The events that shaped this generation — postwar prosperity, civil rights, Vietnam, and the counterculture — shaped the world they entered and the choices available to them.
#1 When Hoda Was Born
The biggest hits of 1964
#1 Movie
Mary Poppins
Best Picture
My Fair Lady
#1 TV Show
Bonanza
Hoda's Life & Times
The world at every milestone
1964Born
Civil Rights Act signed; Beatles arrive in America
Gas: $0.30/galHome: $13,450Min wage: $1.25/hrPresident: Lyndon B. Johnson"I Want to Hold Your Hand" — The BeatlesBest Picture: My Fair Lady
1969Started school
Apollo 11: humans walk on the Moon; Woodstock festival
Gas: $0.35/galHome: $15,550Min wage: $1.60/hrPresident: Richard Nixon"Sugar, Sugar" — The ArchiesBest Picture: Midnight Cowboy
1977Became a teenager
Star Wars premieres; Elvis dies
Gas: $0.62/galHome: $31,800Min wage: $2.30/hrPresident: Jimmy Carter"Tonight's the Night" — Rod StewartBest Picture: Annie Hall
1980Could drive
John Lennon shot and killed in New York
Gas: $1.19/galHome: $47,200Min wage: $3.10/hrPresident: Jimmy Carter"Call Me" — BlondieBest Picture: Ordinary People
1982Could vote
Michael Jackson releases Thriller
Gas: $1.22/galHome: $55,200Min wage: $3.35/hrPresident: Ronald Reagan"Physical" — Olivia Newton-JohnBest Picture: Gandhi
1985Turned 21
Live Aid concerts raise money for Ethiopian famine
Gas: $1.12/galHome: $62,900Min wage: $3.35/hrPresident: Ronald Reagan"Careless Whisper" — Wham!Best Picture: Out of Africa
1994Turned 30
Nelson Mandela elected president of South Africa
Gas: $1.11/galHome: $90,400Min wage: $4.25/hrPresident: Bill Clinton"The Sign" — Ace of BaseBest Picture: Forrest Gump
2004Turned 40
Indian Ocean tsunami kills over 230,000
Gas: $1.88/galHome: $157,300Min wage: $5.15/hrPresident: George W. Bush"Yeah!" — UsherBest Picture: Million Dollar Baby
2014Turned 50
Russia annexes Crimea; Ebola outbreak in West Africa
Gas: $3.37/galHome: $160,700Min wage: $7.25/hrPresident: Barack Obama"Happy" — Pharrell WilliamsBest Picture: Birdman
2024Turned 60
AI reshapes industries; Paris Olympics
Gas: $3.31/galHome: $372,000Min wage: $7.25/hrPresident: Joe Biden"Espresso" — Sabrina CarpenterBest Picture: Anora
2026Age 62 today
Gas: $3.91/galPresident: Donald Trump
Key Achievements
- Became co-anchor of NBC's 'Today' show in 2018, following Matt Lauer's departure.
- Co-hosted the popular fourth hour of 'Today' with Kathie Lee Gifford and later Jenna Bush Hager for 18 years.
- Received a Gracie Award for her documentary 'The Choice 2012: A Woman's Right.'
- Is a multiple New York Times bestselling author of books like 'Hoda: How I Survived War Zones, Bad Hair, Cancer, and Kathie Lee.'
Did You Know?
She worked as a field reporter for WWL-TV in New Orleans and once did a live shot while floating in a boat during a flood.
She is a licensed boat captain.
She adopted her first daughter, Haley Joy, in 2017 at the age of 52.
“You’re not stuck. You’re just committed to certain patterns of behavior because they helped you in the past.”
