Hoda Kotb Makes It Official — Surprise New Family Member Brings Joy Months After TODAY Exit

Hoda Kotb has brought an unforgettable surprise to her family, delighting her two young daughters with a special new addition to their home.

In a heartwarming video posted on July 10, Hoda’s friend brought an adorable brown-and-white puppy to the driveway for her daughters, Haley (8) and Hope (6), to meet. Hoda lovingly held the puppy and exclaimed, “Here, take her. She’s yours, she’s yours. Oh my God!” before passing the pup to Hope. The little one was immediately enchanted, prompting Hoda to laugh and ask, “Do you think she needs to pee?”

Hoda captioned the post, “It’s official. Meet our newest addition, WAFFLES,” and the video quickly racked up over 69,000 likes on Instagram.

Since leaving TODAY in January 2025, Hoda has focused on enjoying more time with her daughters. This newest family member is the perfect companion to help the trio create lasting memories together.

The TV star has also been keeping busy professionally. She is preparing to release a self-help book, Jump and Find Joy, encouraging readers to make love-based choices instead of fear-driven ones to find happiness on the other side of uncertainty. Additionally, she continues to host her empowering podcast, Make Space with Hoda Kotb, recently sitting down with Joanna Gaines to discuss topics from imposter syndrome to the realities of being a working mom.

Hoda’s former TODAY co-host, Jenna Bush Hager, and she were also nominated for a Daytime Emmy for Outstanding Daytime Talk Series Host for their show, Today with Hoda and Jenna.

Regardless of career shifts or personal milestones, Hoda continues to radiate joy, curiosity, and a zest for life, delighting fans with glimpses of her fulfilling post-morning-show life.