‘One last time. Let’s do this.’

It’s the end of an era as Hoda Kotb signs off Today co-anchor.

Friday was Kotb’s last day, and while there was plenty of news to report — the Los Angeles County fires, Jimmy Carter’s funeral — it was also very much a “Hoda-bration,” as NBC called her weeklong farewell. . There were montages, tributes to colleagues, tributes to celebrities and lots of tears.

As the show kicked off Friday morning, co-host Savannah Guthrie teased that the day would be about celebrating “everything everyone loves about Hoda, filled with special surprises and lots of joy.”

The female presenting team – the first ever on the show – held hands as Kotb, dressed in a white pantsuit, said: “One last time. Let’s do this.”

Kotb revealed in a behind-the-scenes video that Guthrie — who wore black for the occasion — gifted her a bracelet that said “With you” in cursive, as well as a ring that said “Love.” She said, “I feel loved and held.”

Every member of the Today team paid tribute to Kotb in a video. Guthrie, who said Kotb was “like a sister to me,” said, “I love you very much. I always say to you: whether you sit next to me or not, whether we get up at four in the morning or not, you will always be by my side.’

Al Roker said that when Kotb had his near-death scare in 2022, Kotb visited him in the hospital almost every day, so many times people could have mistaken her for a doctor.

Craig Melvin, Kotb’s replacement, said that “Hoda doesn’t do interviews. She has conversations [in which] she peers into your soul.’ He talked about how encouraging she was to him. (Kotb wished him luck on Monday when he takes over, joking that she wouldn’t be watching because she would be sleeping in.)

Carson Daly talked about Kotb’s good energy, how she’s always singing and dancing on set, and he dedicated Coldplay’s “All My Love” to her.

Keith Morrison, who worked with Kotb Dateline earlier in her 26-year career at NBC News, she spoke about guiding her as she learned to tell stories. He said, ‘We will miss our Hoda.’

Kotb, a breast cancer survivor, is known for her good energy and sharing inspirational quotes on her Instagram. The team said it has added the “morning boost” segment, an uplifting story that airs after a series of difficult news stories. Kotb said Jenna Bush Hager would take the “boost” and hand it over to her Hoda & Jenna co-hosted a metal baton to commemorate the transition.

The fans in the square were ready to say goodbye to Kotb. There was a large crowd of people with posters and glasses that said ‘Hoda’. Kotb joked that a security guard outside told her, “Next time you retire, do it in July,” since it’s a particularly cold week in New York.

There were a ton of celebrity tributes, from Oprah Winfrey to Kristin Chenoweth. Jamie Lee Curtis also had a sphere made for Kotb with the inscription: “Every today with you is a better day.”

Kotb has said her decision to leave was made around her two young daughters, Haley and Hope, who both showed up. They said they were excited that their mother would be home Monday morning to take them to school.

The family was serenaded by Kermit the Frog, who sang “Rainbow Connection,” the song Kotb sings to her girls every night. Kotb became emotional listening to it, especially when her colleagues joined in.

We’ll update this story until Kotb officially signs off…