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Will Savannah Guthrie be the next to leave Today? NBC insider names the two leading candidates to replace Hoda Kotb after his surprise exit

Will Savannah Guthrie be the next to leave Today? NBC insider names the two leading candidates to replace Hoda Kotb after his surprise exit

NBC executives are worried about tomorrow at “Today.”

Following Hoda Kotb's decision to leave the long-running breakfast show, bosses are reportedly worried co-host Savannah Guthrie could follow suit.

Kotb, 60, announced her surprise move on Thursday, saying she was ready to “turn the page” and would be leaving “Today” early next year after sitting by Guthrie's side since 2017.

Guthrie, 50, is due to extend her contract next year and bosses fear it is time for her to look for new horizons too.

The veteran broadcaster, who reportedly earns more than $8 million a year, has co-hosted “Today” since 2012 and steered the show through the Matt Lauer sex scandal that rocked the network seven years ago.

“Savannah's contract expires next year and they want to keep her and will do everything they can to continue their relationship with Savannah so as not to overwork everything,” an NBC insider told the Daily Mail.

Savannah Guthrie and Hoda Kotb have co-hosted “Today” since 2017. Nathan Congleton/NBC via Getty I
Hoda Kotb, Savannah Guthrie and Jenna Bush Hager appear on “Today” on September 26 when Kotb announces her decision to leave the show. NBC

Bosses hope they can persuade Guthrie to stay and replace Kotb with another familiar face from the NBC family.

According to the insider, “The replacement will be with people who are already there, rather than paying an outsider tons of money to sit with Savannah.”

The two leading candidates for the job, according to the source, are Craig Melvin and Laura Jarrett.

Melvin currently serves as a news anchor on “Today” and co-hosts the show’s third hour.

Jarrett, meanwhile, co-hosts Saturday's edition of “Today.”

Melvin currently serves as a news anchor on “Today” and co-hosts the show’s third hour.
Laura Jarrett co-hosts Saturday's edition of “Today.” Getty Images

“NBC wants to put one of them in place of Hoda. Whoever appeals more to the audience will be the most likely replacement,” the insider said. “The presenters would all love the opportunity to take Hoda's place, Sheinelle Jones would be interested, but honestly everyone is rooting for Laura or Craig.”

In fact, the insider claimed that bosses were willing to wait until they make an official announcement.

In addition to the main “Today” show, Kotb co-hosts the show’s 10 a.m. segment with Jenna Bush Hager.

There's currently no replacement for “Today with Hoda and Jenna” on the radar, as executives will likely try out guest hosts to see who's the best fit for Bush Hager.

“There is more wiggle room with Jenna and who will join her after Hoda leaves,” the source noted. “It could be a revolving door until someone gets stuck. The job to join Jenna is still a work in progress and could be anyone at this point.”

In addition to the main “Today” show, Kotb co-hosts the show’s 10 a.m. segment with Jenna Bush Hager.

Kotb shocked viewers on Thursday by announcing that she was leaving “Today” – the show she has co-hosted with Guthrie since 2017.

Kotb first joined NBC in 1998 as a correspondent. In 2008, she became co-host of the 10 a.m. hour alongside Kathie-Lee Gifford, whose show was titled “Today with Kathie-Lee and Hoda.”

Gifford left the show in 2019 when she was replaced by Bush Hager.

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