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By Michelle McGahan
Contributing Entertainment Writer
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Hoda Kotb's two daughters — Haley, 7, and Hope, 5 — made a rare appearance on the Today show for their mom's farewell episode.
Kotb, 60, shared a tearful goodbye to longtime Today colleagues on the Friday, January 10, episode of the iconic morning show — her final sign-off after 17 years as co-host. During the broadcast, the beloved NBC personality was feted with everything from celebrity well-wishes (including Oprah and Jamie Lee Curtis) to tearful moments with her co-stars — and crew. But one of the most memorable moments on Kotb's final episode involved her daughters — and Kermit the Frog.
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On Friday, as Kotb, Haley and Hope all sat in the studio together, they were serenaded by the famously green Muppet, who sang his signature song "Rainbow Connection" — the tune that the mom-of-two sings to her daughters at bedtime, per People.
"Oh my God," Kotb, getting visibly emotional, mouthed at one point during the poignant moment, the outlet reported.
The Today With Hoda and Jenna alum, who shares Haley and Hope with ex-fiance Joel Schiffman, shared in her September retirement announcement that part of the reason she was leaving the show was to spend more time with her kids.
"Obviously I had my kiddos late in life," Kotb told her co-stars, including Savannah Guthrie, Jenna Bush Hager and Al Roker. "And I was thinking that they deserve a bigger piece of my time pie that I have. I feel like we only have a finite amount of time. And so, with all that being said, this is the hardest thing in the world."
Still, Kotb — who became a mom at 52 when she adopted Haley in 2017 — will remain a part of NBC as a correspondent for the next two Olympic Games and will contribute exclusive interviews for the network. She is also launching her own wellness brand.
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