Why Hoda Kotb Is Missing From ‘Today’ After Long Weekend Off

Hoda Kotb was missing from her usual spot on Today on Tuesday, Sept. 3.

Following the long Labor Day weekend, the longtime anchor took an extra day off from work for a personal, family reason: her daughters' first day of school.

During the broadcast, her co-host, Savannah Guthrie —who was joined by fellow show mainstay Craig Melvin in Kotb's absence—explained that she had motherly duties to attend to as her two children, Haley and Hope , began a new academic year. She even stepped in to deliver her friend and colleague's segment, "Hoda's Morning Boost."

"Hi everybody, good morning. Welcome to Today ," Savannah opened, before addressing why the popular TV personality was missing: "So nice to have you with us on a Tuesday morning. Hoda is off—this is the first day of school for her girls, so she's holding it down with them."

Hoda shares her kids with ex-fiancé, Joel Schiffman .

"Happy Labor Day, summer is over," Guthrie continued on the show, asking Melvin, "Don't you just love a new school year?"

Before welcoming in the new semester and unofficially waving goodbye to summer, both Kotb and Guthrie took time off to prioritize family bonding.

Just days ago, on Aug. 30, Melvin calmed fans' fears about the two host's whereabouts, explaining to viewers, "Hoda and Savannah are off to spend time with their families ."

While Kotb is mom to two girls, Guthrie has two sons, Vale Guthrie Feldman and Charles Max Feldman , with her husband, Mike Feldman .

"Holding on to the last of summer ☀️," the Mostly What God Does author gushed in the accompanying caption of an Instagram post during her time off.

Meanwhile, Kotb kept her personal time private for the most part.

As for this week, she is expected back to her normal seat after supporting her kiddos' on their big day.

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