Who is leaving the Today show? Inside the latest cast shakeup

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The Today show has been through one of its most turbulent periods in recent memory. The biggest departure was Hoda Kotb, who left NBC's flagship morning programme in January 2025 after nearly 18 years, triggering a wave of changes that reshaped the show's line-up. Since then, a string of further exits — and one significant new arrival — have kept viewers asking: who is quitting the Today show next?

TABLE OF CONTENTS

Key takeaways

- Hoda Kotb left Today in January 2025 after nearly two decades at NBC, citing a desire to spend more time with her daughters.

- Sheinelle Jones was named the permanent new co-host of the fourth hour on 12 January 2026, joining Jenna Bush Hager on the newly renamed Today with Jenna & Sheinelle.

- Peter Alexander announced his departure from Saturday Today on 28 March 2026 after 22 years at NBC News, moving to MS NOW.

- Donna Farizan left after 12 years as a contributor in September 2025.

- Savannah Guthrie returned to the anchor desk on 6 April 2026 following a two-month absence after her mother's disappearance.

Profile summary

Hoda Kotb | Peter Alexander | Donna Farizan | Sheinelle Jones | |

Role | Co-anchor, fourth-hour co-host | Saturday Today co-anchor | Contributor/correspondent | New fourth-hour co-host |

Years at NBC | ~26 years | 22 years | 12 years | 11+ years |

Departure/arrival date | January 2025 | March 2026 | September 2025 | January 2026 (permanent) |

Reason | Family, new chapter at 60 | Family, work-life balance | New professional opportunities | Promoted within NBC |

Where next | NBC guest roles, podcasts | MS NOW anchor | Independent pursuits | Today with Jenna & Sheinelle |

Hoda Kotb's departure: the exit that changed everything

The most seismic change to the Today show's roster was the departure of Hoda Kotb. Kotb announced she was leaving the show early in 2025 after more than five years co-anchoring the morning programme. The departure came after more than 25 years at NBC News.

Kotb said on air: "I realized that it was time for me to turn the page at 60, and to try something new."

Why did Hoda Kotb leave the Today show?

Kotb had recently celebrated her 60th birthday with a segment on the Today Plaza, and she said that emotional moment spurred her decision to leave. In a letter shared with colleagues, she explained her thinking plainly:

"My sixtieth birthday celebration on the Plaza felt like a shift. Like a massive, joyful YES, you are! I saw it all so clearly: my broadcast career has been beyond meaningful, a new decade of my life lies ahead, and now my daughters and my mom need and deserve a bigger slice of my time pie." — Hoda Kotb

Kotb had previously worked at Dateline and served as co-host of the fourth hour of Today alongside both Kathie Lee Gifford and Jenna Bush Hager. After leaving, Kotb remained at NBC in various roles, including hosting Today's podcast Making Space and co-anchoring the Macy's Thanksgiving Day Parade.

Who replaced Hoda Kotb on the Today show?

After nearly a year of rotating through 60 contenders, Jenna Bush Hager found her permanent co-host for the fourth hour of Today: Sheinelle Jones. Those who guest co-hosted Jenna and Friends included Michelle Obama, Tyra Banks, Andy Cohen, and Scarlett Johansson.

Jones joined the fourth hour as a permanent co-host alongside Bush Hager on the newly named Today with Jenna & Sheinelle, starting on 12 January 2026.

"To have a show like this is beyond my wildest dreams. This is the real deal, and I get to do it with Jenna." — Sheinelle Jones, Today, December 2025

Jones stepped away from the third hour of Today to take on the new role, leaving Craig Melvin, Al Roker, and Dylan Dreyer as co-hosts of the 9 a.m. hour. In April 2026, Jones also published her #1 New York Times bestselling book, Through Mom's Eyes: Simple Wisdom From Mothers Who Raised Extraordinary Humans.

Peter Alexander leaves Saturday Today after 22 years

The new girl on the Today show was not the only headline in 2026. Peter Alexander left NBC News after 22 years at the network, including his longtime role as co-host of Saturday Today.

Alexander, 49, announced his departure on air on 28 March 2026, sharing that he wanted to spend more time with his two daughters and "challenge himself with something new." Alexander, his wife Alison Starling, and their daughters, Ava, 12, and Emma, 10, are based in Washington, D.C., while Saturday Today broadcasts from 30 Rock's Studio 1A in New York City.

On his final broadcast, Alexander reflected on his career at NBC News:

"I've had the most incredible experience over 22 years with NBC News. I could not be more grateful for the leaders and mentors here who have believed in me and given me more opportunities than I ever dreamed of." — Peter Alexander, Saturday Today, March 2026

Alexander formally announced he would be joining MS NOW (the network formerly known as MSNBC) as a chief national reporter, working on weekdays. After his exit, co-host Laura Jarrett held back tears, saying: "Peter, we love you, we are going to miss you."

Why did Peter Alexander really leave?

Alexander cited the punishing schedule: "I've been away from home more than 80 nights in the last seven months. More than 200 Friday nights away from my family in the last seven years," he said. Reports also suggested Alexander had been eyeing potential positions at NBC Nightly News and the flagship Today programme, and that "with all of those spots recently filled, he's going to try something new."

Donna Farizan says goodbye after 12 years

On 8 September 2025, Donna Farizan shared that she would be departing from Today with Jenna & Friends, ending her 12-year tenure with the programme. Farizan had joined Today as an intern at the age of 20, while still pursuing her studies.

Flanked by Jenna Bush Hager and Savannah Guthrie, she read a letter to herself on the September 8 broadcast:

"Dear Donna, the time has come to start my next chapter. The unknown can be scary, but it's also exhilarating, so let's embrace it." — Donna Farizan, Today, September 2025

Farizan thanked past mentors on air: "I am so grateful to have gone to the school of Kathie Lee Gifford, the school of Hoda Kotb, and the school of Jenna Bush Hager, because now, it's time for me, Donna Farizan, to create my own map."

Latest news: Savannah Guthrie's comeback and more absences

Savannah Guthrie's emotional return

Savannah Guthrie rejoined Craig Melvin for her first day back as co-anchor since 30 January 2026, which was one day before her mother, Nancy Guthrie, was last seen at her home outside Tucson, Arizona. Guthrie returned to the Today anchor desk on 6 April, more than two months after her mother disappeared.

Guthrie had spoken about the return ahead of time: "It's hard to imagine doing it because it's such a place of joy and lightness. But I can't not come back, because it's my family. I think it's part of my purpose right now."

Most recently, Guthrie returned to the Today show on 11 August 2026 after stepping away to film NBC's upcoming Wordle game show.

Rotating absences keep viewers guessing

On 8 July 2026, Today viewers saw new hosts on air, with Sheinelle Jones stepping in for Savannah Guthrie and Kaylee Hartung replacing Carson Daly. The absences of anchors including Al Roker and Dylan Dreyer were not explained, with Craig Melvin simply stating they were "off" for the day.

Who is still on the Today show?

The current regular line-up remains largely intact beyond the departures above. The weekday show, co-anchored by Savannah Guthrie and Craig Melvin, begins at 7 a.m. and is followed by the third hour of Today at 9 a.m. Craig Melvin typically hosts the third hour alongside Dylan Dreyer, Al Roker, and — previously — Sheinelle Jones. The fourth hour now belongs to Jenna Bush Hager and Sheinelle Jones on Today with Jenna & Sheinelle.

FAQs

- Who is quitting the Today show in 2025–2026? The biggest departures were Hoda Kotb (January 2025), contributor Donna Farizan (September 2025), and Saturday Today co-host Peter Alexander (March 2026).

- Who is the new girl on the Today show? Sheinelle Jones became the permanent new co-host of the fourth hour of Today on 12 January 2026, joining Jenna Bush Hager on Today with Jenna & Sheinelle.

- Why did Hoda Kotb leave the Today show? Kotb cited her 60th birthday as a turning point, saying she wanted to spend more time with her two daughters and pursue a new chapter in her personal life.

- Who is replacing Peter Alexander on Saturday Today? NBC has not yet formally announced a permanent replacement for Peter Alexander, who departed Saturday Today in March 2026 to join MS NOW.

- Is Savannah Guthrie leaving the Today show? No. Guthrie took an extended leave of absence from February 2026 after her mother went missing, but returned to the anchor desk on 6 April 2026 and remains a co-anchor.

- Is Craig Melvin leaving the Today show? No. Melvin has remained a permanent co-anchor of the weekday show. Occasional absences have fuelled rumours, but he has not announced any plans to leave.

- What happened to the fourth hour of Today after Hoda Kotb left? The show was temporarily renamed Today with Jenna & Friends and featured a rotating roster of around 60 guest co-hosts before Sheinelle Jones was officially named as Kotb's permanent successor in December 2025.

- Where did Peter Alexander go after leaving NBC? Alexander joined MS NOW (formerly MSNBC) as a chief national reporter, anchoring the 11 a.m. hour on weekdays.

Tuko.co.ke also shared details about the groundbreaking rotation of presenters on BBC's Match of the Day for the 2026/27 season, featuring Mark Chapman, Kelly Cates, and Gabby Logan sharing hosting duties for the first time in the show's history. This shift not only marks a significant milestone in sports broadcasting but also highlights the growing prominence of women in a traditionally male-dominated arena.

Source: TUKO.co.ke

Reporting originally appeared via TUKO. Read the full source for additional context.