An Unexpected Dream at 61: Hoda Kotb’s New Journey Inspired by Her Daughter

At 61, Hoda Kotb, the beloved former co-anchor of NBC’s Today Show, is embarking on an unexpected and deeply personal journey, driven by the innocent yet profound words of her young daughter, Haley Joy. After stepping away from Today in January 2025, Kotb revealed in a tearful interview on the show that Haley’s repeated affirmation, “Haley is awesome! Pow, pow, pow!” sparked a transformative vision for her future. The simple phrase, delivered with a child’s unfiltered confidence, moved Kotb so deeply that she couldn’t hold back tears, inspiring her to pursue a bold new path as the CEO of her wellness venture, Joy 101, and to redefine her life’s purpose.

Kotb’s departure from Today, where she co-hosted for 17 years, was a seismic shift for the veteran broadcaster, who joined NBC in 1998 and became a household name alongside co-anchors like Savannah Guthrie and Jenna Bush Hager. Her decision to leave, announced on September 26, 2024, was driven by a desire to prioritize her daughters, Haley, 7, and Hope, 5, both adopted later in her life. A poignant moment with Hope, who asked, “Mom, what am I going to do when I get to the top of this tree?” during a climb, crystallized Kotb’s readiness to “find another tree.” But it was Haley’s exuberant mantra that ignited her next chapter, pushing her to embrace a role she never anticipated: leading a wellness platform aimed at helping others navigate change.

During her emotional return to Today in May 2025 to promote her book, Jump and Find Joy: Embracing Change in Every Season of Life, Kotb shared how Haley’s affirmation became her own. “I was in the kitchen, and I just said, ‘Mom’s a CEO! Pow, pow, pow!’” she recounted, her voice cracking with emotion. The moment, captured in an Instagram clip that left fans teary-eyed, underscored Kotb’s realization that her daughter’s self-assured chant was a call to action. Joy 101, launched in May 2025, reflects this ethos, offering tools and inspiration for personal growth, drawing from Kotb’s own experiences with upheaval, including her daughter Hope’s health crisis in 2023.

The bookthat resonated with fans, who praised her as a role model for turning personal pain into purpose. Kotb’s book, released September 23, 2025, weaves together anecdotes from her life and insights from public figures, serving as a guide for embracing life’s transitions. Her decision to leave Today was not without struggle—she called it “the hardest thing in the world”—but her daughters’ needs took precedence. “I was thinking, they deserve a bigger piece of my time pie,” she said, reflecting on her finite time as a mother.

Kotb’s new journey as Joy 101’s CEO is more than a career pivot; it’s a mission to empower others to find resilience, much like she has. The shelter, her book, and her wellness app are extensions of her belief in community and connection, themes she emphasized on Today in January 2025, saying her word for the year was “community.” Her emotional reunion with Bush Hager on May 28, 2025, sparked hopes of future collaborations, but for now, Kotb is focused on building Joy 101 and being present for Haley and Hope.

As Kotb embarks on this unexpected dream, her daughter’s words continue to echo, a reminder that self-belief can spark profound change. Her journey at 61 is a testament to the power of a child’s innocence to inspire a legacy of joy and transformation, proving it’s never too late to climb a new tree.