Hoda Kotb rang in her birthday together with her family members by her facet, together with her ex-fiancé, Joel Schiffman.
“Birthday simply getting began— and already overwhelmed! ❤️❤️,” Kotb wrote alongside a montage of photographs and clips from her 61st birthday celebration through Instagram on Saturday, August 9. Schiffman appeared twice within the publish, first at a household lunch outing and once more alongside extra of Kotb’s relations for a birthday dinner at her house.
Kotb’s eating room was decked out with birthday banners and balloons, in addition to a bouquet of sunflowers. After grabbing lunch at a waterfront restaurant, the group appeared to go fishing earlier than returning to Kotb’s home for dinner. The publish additionally featured a candy clip of Kotb’s new pet, Waffles, whom she adopted final month.
Together with Schiffman, Kotb celebrated her birthday together with her siblings, Hala and Adel, and her two daughters, Haley and Hope, whom she shares with Schiffman. (The pair have been collectively for eight years earlier than Kotb introduced their break up on a January 2022 episode of As we speak.)
A number of celebrities and followers wished Kotb a contented birthday within the publish’s feedback. “Joyful birthday,” wrote Octavia Spencer, whereas Maria Shriver shared, “Joyful blissful my dearest hoda i really like you i see you let’s go.”
“Joyful Birthday Hoda! You’re beloved by so many…joyful, type, loving, caring, and enjoyable! 🥳☀️🎂,” one fan commented. One other added, “Joyful Birthday @hodakotb you’re the epitome of grace kindness and light-weight sending you a number of love and finest needs ❤️🥳🎂.”
Schiffman has popped up on Kotb’s social media a number of occasions within the years since their breakup, largely in photographs with their daughters. “A terrific father’s day for an incredible dad ! Joyful father’s day Joel!” Kotb captioned Instagram pics of her ex with Haley and Hope on June 15.
Schiffman additionally sported matching PJs with Kotb and their children final Christmas. “Merry Christmas🎄🎄,” Kotb captioned December 2024 Instagram pics of the household of 4 rocking reindeer pajama tops and purple plaid bottoms.
Saturday marked Kotb’s first birthday since leaving NBC’s As we speak earlier this yr. The TV persona beforehand cited turning 60 as one of many important causes behind her exit. She celebrated her milestone birthday throughout a particular August 2024 episode of As we speak With Hoda & Jenna (now As we speak With Jenna & Associates).
“I remembered standing exterior, this stunning bunch of individuals with all these attractive indicators, and I assumed, ‘That is what the highest of the wave looks like for me,’ and I assumed, ‘It could’t get higher,’” she recalled of the on-air particular throughout a September 2024 episode of As we speak. “And [I] determined that that is the appropriate time for me to, form of, transfer on.”
She continued, “Clearly, I had my kiddos late in life — and I used to be considering they deserve a much bigger piece of my time, the pie that I’ve. I really feel like we solely have a finite period of time. And so, with all that being mentioned, that is the toughest factor on the earth.”
Kotb formally bid farewell to As we speak on January 10. Since her exit, she has launched her personal wellness firm, Pleasure 101, and introduced her new guide, Leap and Discover Pleasure, which hits bookshelves subsequent month.