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Hoda Kotb, who has been filling in for Matt Lauer since he was fired in late November for sexual misconduct, has been officially named co-anchor of NBC's 

show.
Kotb joins Savannah Guthrie at the anchor desk — making this 

's first-ever all-female anchor team.
In addition to co-anchoring the first two hours of 

Kotb will also continue to co-host the fourth hour of the show with Kathie Lee Gifford. (The third hour is currently hosted by Megyn Kelly.)


The morning news show announced Kotb's new role on Tuesday morning. "Let's give her a round of applause," Guthrie said, grinning. "This has to be the most popular decision NBC News has ever made."

"I'm pinching myself," Kotb said. "I think that we should send some medics to Alexandria, Va., where my mom has likely fainted."

"You are a partner and a friend and a sister and I am so happy to be doing this," Guthrie said to her colleague.

"There's no one I'd rather be sitting next to in 2018 than you," Kotb said, reaching out and briefly clasping hands with Guthrie.


Kotb is replacing Lauer, who was the co-anchor of 

for 20 years and was the highest paid person at NBC News at the time of his firing, NPR's David Folkenflik has reported.



Lauer was fired at the end of November, after reports of sexual misconduct and workplace harassment surfaced. He's one of many prominent men — including two top editors at NPR — to lose their jobs in a long string of harassment-related allegations and disclosures, many related to patterns of conduct that dated back decades.

NBC fired Lauer in response to an allegation brought by a younger female colleague who said Lauer sexually harassed her at the 2014 Sochi Olympics, and continued afterward.


As NPR reported at the time, there were other allegations against Lauer as well, which were detailed in reporting by 

 "sorrow and regret" for the pain he caused, promising "soul searching" and a "hard look at [his] own troubling flaws."
Hoda Kotb, the new co-anchor of 

has been a substitute or fill-in co-anchor for about a decade.
She's also a correspondent for 

the author of three books, and the host of "The Hoda Show" on Sirius XM.


famously documented Kotb's experience with breast cancer, and in the decade since her mastectomy, she has been an outspoken advocate for breast cancer prevention.
Kotb won a Peabody award for her work with 

, and a Daytime Emmy award as part of the 

show. NBC notes that she has also received a Gracie award and an Edward R. Murrow award during her time with the network.


 that after Lauer's departure, with Kotb taking his place at the anchor desk, 

's ratings didn't show any sign of a drop — instead, they 

Arts and Culture

Kotb has filled in for Lauer since he was fired in late November for inappropriate sexual behavior. Now it's official: Kotb and Savannah Guthrie are Today's first all-female anchor team.

Hoda Kotb named co-anchor of 'Today' show, replacing Matt Lauer

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