‘We will all miss you’

• Jamie Lee Curtis appeared on Today where she expressed her sadness over Hoda Kotb’s departure from the show

• “Say it’s not like that, Hoda. I can’t handle it. I just can’t handle it,” said Curtis, 66. “I just can’t believe this is the last time I’m going to be here with you”

• When he read a letter Curtis wrote to her, Kotb shared, “It says ‘Hoda. The long and winding road. Where you go, my hand in yours. Well done”

Jamie Lee Curtis sat down with Hoda Kotb on the Thursday, December 12 episode of Today show to promote her roles in the new Prime comedyThe Sticky as well as the upcoming film, The Last Showgirl.

But before Kotb could get a single question out, the Oscar-winning actress took over the interview to express her own grief over Kotb’s exit from NBC’s morning news show.

“Say it’s not like that, Hoda. I can’t handle it. I just can’t handle it,” said Curtis, 66. “I just can’t believe this is the last time I’m going to be here with you. “

“It’s fitting that we wear purple,” added Curtis, noting the color’s deeper representation. “Purple is a wound, so I have a wound with you today. We both wear purple.”

Curtis who has made her love Kotb and Today show clearly during her visits there over the years, continued to say she had mixed feelings when Kotb announced she would be leaving the program.

“I’m kind of sad, and yet I love you,” Curtis explained. “I heard you on the phone with your daughters this morning, as I have heard you on the phone every time I come here at 7:22, I FaceTime, your children. You are an absolute treasure and we will all miss you here I can’t imagine this place without you So that’s what I needed to say.

Kotb, 60, was speechless, wiping back tears and holding his hands over his heart. “First of all, thank you from the bottom of my heart,” she said before holding up a letter Curtis wrote to her. “And thanks for the note you gave me.”

The note was sent to Kotb’s house back in September when it Today co-anchor announced her exit, but never came – perhaps because Kotb’s move to the suburbs.

Looking at it, Kotb began to cry again. “Can you read it?” she asked Curtis. “Read it.”

The Everything, everywhere at once the star then held up the note. “It says, ‘Hoda. The long and winding road. Where you go, my hand in yours. Bravo,'” she shared.

That apparently pushed Kotb over the edge. “Okay, let’s talk about you,” she said as she wiped more tears from her face. “Oh, why!” Curtis protested. “I talk about me all day long. All I do is talk about me!”

But Kotb prevailed and initiated a discussion about Curtis’ projects, including the upcoming ones Cool Friday successor. Towards the end of the interview, however, Curtis brought it back to Kotb.

“I want to say thank you,” she told the mother of two. “You’ve really changed this place, this house, this group of people who love you. You’re leaving for all the right reasons, and you’re going to take us all with you. And whatever you do, know you have this family with you.”

“You’re a beautiful person and this show is better for you when you’re on it,” Curtis continued. “God bless you. Happy holidays, everyone. We’re going to miss this one!”

Once again, Kotb was a mess of emotions – so much so that Curtis took over the plug for his own projects. “Here I go; do it! The Sticky is on Prime now and The Last Showgirl opens on Friday in Los Angeles and on (Jan. 10) in the world or whatever,” she said before tossing the segment to meteorologist Dylan Dreyer.

Today airs weekdays (beginning at 7:00 a.m. ET) on NBC. Friday, January 10, 2025 marks Kotb’s last day as co-anchor.

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