• Jamie Lee Curtis appeared on Today where she expressed her sadness over Hoda Kotb’s departure from the show
• “Say it’s not like that, Hoda. I can’t handle it. “I just can’t handle it,” said Curtis, 66. “I just can’t believe this is the last time I’m going to be here with you.”
• Reading a letter Curtis wrote for her, Kotb shared, “It says, ‘Hoda. The long and winding road. Wherever you go, my hand in yours. Bravo'”

Jamie Lee Curtis sat down with Hoda Kotb on the Thursday, December 12 episode Today show to promote their roles in the new Prime comedyThe sticky one as well as the upcoming film, The Last Showgirl.

But before Kotb could ask a single question, the Oscar-winning actress took over the interview to express her own sadness over Kotb’s exit from the NBC morning news show.

“Say it’s not like that, Hoda. I can’t handle it. I just can’t handle it,” said Curtis, 66. “I just can’t believe this is the last time I’m going to deal with this.” “I’m here with you.

“It’s appropriate that we wear purple,” Curtis added, noting the deeper representation of the color. “Purple is a wound, so today I have a wound on you. We’re both wearing purple.”

Curtis, who made her love for Kotb and the Today During her visits there over the years, it became clear that she had conflicted feelings when Kotb announced she was leaving the program.

“I’m a little sad but I still love you,” Curtis explained. “I heard you on the phone with your daughters this morning, just like I heard you on the phone every time I came here at 7:22 a.m., you FaceTime your kids. You are an absolute sweetheart and we will all miss you.” You are here. I can’t imagine this place without you.

Kotb, 60, was speechless, wiping away tears and holding his hands to his heart. “First, I want to thank you from the bottom of my heart,” she said before holding up a letter Curtis had written to her. “And thank you for the message you gave me.”

The message was sent to Kotb’s house back in September when the Today Co-host announced her exit but never arrived – perhaps due to Kotb’s move to the suburbs.

As Kotb looked at it, he began to cry again. “Can you read it?” she asked Curtis. “Read it.”

The Everything, everywhere at once Then Star held up the note. “It says: ‘Hoda. The long and winding road. Wherever you go, my hand in yours. Bravo,'” she shared.

This seemingly pushed Kotb over the edge. “Okay, let’s talk about you,” she said, wiping more tears from her face. “Oh, why!” Curtis protested. “I talk about myself all day long. I’m just talking about myself!”

But Kotb prevailed and began a discussion about Curtis’ projects, including the upcoming ones Crazy Friday Consequence. However, toward the end of the interview, Curtis brought it back to Kotb again.

“I want to say thank you,” she told the mother of two. “You have truly changed this place, this house, this group of people who love you. You’re leaving for the right reasons and you’ll take us all with you. And whatever you do, be aware of that.” You have this family with you.

“You are a beautiful person and this show is better with you on it,” Curtis continued. “God bless you. Happy holidays everyone. We’ll miss that!”

Once again, Kotb was a mess of emotions – so much so that Curtis took the plug on her own projects. “Here, I’ll do it! The sticky one is now on Prime and The Last Showgirl opens Friday in Los Angeles and (Jan. 10) in the world or whatever,” she said before turning the segment over to meteorologist Dylan Dreyer.

Today airs weekdays (beginning at 7 p.m. ET) on NBC. Friday, January 10, 2025, marks Kotb’s final day as co-host.