Entertainment

REPORT: Hoda Kotb’s Replacement On ‘Today’ Is Revealed

Published

3 days ago

March 31, 2025

NBC is reportedly eyeing a singer and talk show host to take over Hoda Kotb’s spot on the morning show following Kotb’s planned departure in early 2025. While nothing has been finalized, Kelly Clarkson is said to be seriously considering the move.

The possibility comes amid changes behind the scenes at NBC, where network executives are working to keep Clarkson on board after she’s reportedly felt stretched thin by the demands of her own show.

Behind the scenes, the network is reportedly making a strong push to keep Clarkson in the NBC family. “Kelly Clarkson is set to take over Hoda Kotb’s former spot on the iconic Today sofa,” an NBC insider said to DailyMail.

The longtime American Idol winner has been juggling a demanding schedule with The Kelly Clarkson Show, and sources say the strain has started to take its toll. NBC executives are well aware.

NEW YORK – AUGUST 27, 2018: Grammy Award Winning Superstar Kelly Clarkson sings during 2018 US Open Opening Night Act at National Tennis Center in New York

The insider revealed that the singer is “contemplating” the move, as network brass are eager to retain her amid concerns that she’s been “overwhelmed” by the workload tied to her daily talk show. The network relocated The Kelly Clarkson Show to 30 Rockefeller Center last September “to keep her happy,” but that might not be enough.

A source told the DailyMail that Clarkson has been offered a spot on the Today show, which she’s said to be considering. After six years of enduring a daytime TV schedule, Clarkson is reportedly also ready to step away entirely, according to a source close to the situation.

Brandon Blackstock and Kelly Clarkson at the 25th Annual Critics’ Choice Awards held at the Barker Hangar in Santa Monica, USA on January 12, 2020.

Clarkson has been absent for ten episodes this month, and the source said she stepped away after feeling “overwhelmed.” However, taking over Kotb’s former position could be seen as a more relaxed role, potentially bringing Clarkson into the realm of an eight-figure salary.

“TV is a rough business,” the insider said, emphasizing the relentless effort required to remain successful. “The hard work to stay on top is endless.”

Clarkson’s priority is her family, the source continued, sharing, “Kelly wants to spend more time with her kids. She feels she is missing too much of their lives and is now contemplating leaving [her show] and replacing Hoda.”

LOS ANGELES – SEP 19: River Rose Blackstock, Kelly Clarkson, Remington Alexander Blackstock at the Kelly Clarkson Star Ceremony on the Hollywood Walk of Fame on September 19, 2022 in Los Angeles, CA

Her personal life has also been in the spotlight; she was married to talent manager Brandon Blackstock from 2013 until their divorce was finalized in 2022. The former couple shares two children, daughter River Rose and son Remington Alexander.

Inspiration struck when Kotb left her role in November to focus on her children, prompting Clarkson to consider a similar path. “Life is short, they are growing up too fast,” the source said, highlighting Clarkson’s feelings about the precious time with her two children, ages 8 and 10.

The opportunity to switch to Today seems to offer Clarkson a desirable balance, allowing her to maintain her top-tier status in network TV while enjoying more time as a mother. With NBC already having moved her production to New York and a rotating lineup of guest hosts filling in during her recent absence, executives are scrambling to find a long-term solution that keeps Clarkson in the fold.