Hoda Kotb has revealed the details surrounding her decision to leave the “Today” show.

The veteran “Today” anchor, who co-hosts with Savannah Guthrie on weekday mornings, spoke openly about this bittersweet experience during her appearance on “The Tonight Show” with Jimmy Fallon this past Monday.

“I feel like I’m going through a kind of repotting. You know, when you uproot something and you’re kind of hanging there, thinking, ‘What am I doing? What’s going on?’ But deep down, I know I’m going to end up in a good place,” Kotb explained to Fallon.

Kotb’s surprise announcement came as a shock to loyal viewers who tune in every morning at 7 a.m. to watch her deliver the news, and then she later co-hosts “Hoda & Jenna” with Jenna Bush Hager.

“When I hit my 60th birthday, something unexpected occurred,” she noted. “I celebrated with a wonderful party at the ‘Today’ show and as I looked out at a crowd of well-wishers and all the lovely signs.”

She reflected, “In that moment, I felt in my heart, ‘This is it.’ It’s a feeling I’ve never experienced before.” Fallon, a huge supporter of Kotb, remarked that she was “leaving while on a high” after 17 years with “Today” and 26 years at NBC.

The mother of two daughters—Haley, 7, and Hope, 5—noted that she looks forward to ditching the early wake-up calls that come with her “Today” responsibilities.

“I told them, ‘Mommy will be able to take you to school,’ and they asked, ‘Wednesday?'” she said. “‘No, sweetheart, not Wednesday.’ ‘Next week?’ I said, ‘Not next week either. Probably sometime in January or February.'” She humorously added, “I might as well keep working forever. For them, it feels like ‘forever,'” Kotb laughed, adding that “they need more of me” and “I need more of them.”

Kotb reassured Fallon that she intends to remain within the NBC family after her departure.

Hoda Kotb will officially exit the ‘Today’ show in early 2025

The farewell tour for Kotb has just begun, as she is not expected to leave the program until next year.

On September 26, Kotb became emotional while sharing the news live on NBC, describing the choice to depart as the “hardest thing in the world.” She revealed that turning 60 in August was a “significant” moment that prompted her to consider the future ahead.

“I came to the realization that it was time for me to turn the page at 60 and embark on a new adventure,” she said, adding, “This is the right moment for me to step away.”

Kotb also mentioned that her kids deserve a “larger share of my time.” She aims to leave “Today” in early 2025.

Contributing: Brendan Morrow