Hoda Kotb of The Today Show announced in a call-in to the program this morning that she has a new baby named Haley Joy, whom she adopted. On the Today Show they shared a photo of Hoda holding little Haley, above, which is just so sweet. She announced, choking back tears, “That little girl Haley Joy is my daughter.” Here’s more of what she said, and you can watch the video below.
I do have something to tell you. Instead of telling you, I’m going to show you something. Do you have a picture you can put up for me? That little girl Haley Joy is my daughter. [Gets choked up]
I adopted her. That’s her crying in the background. Haley is a Valentine’s baby so she’s a little nugget. She was six(?) pounds when I got her. She is the love of my life.
My mom was here. She goes ‘Hi little miss Haley, we’ve waited so long for you.’
That’s such a nice story! Haley Joy is such a cute name too. For the few people who are going to say Hoda is “too old” to have a baby, I think that’s her decision and that she’s going to give that little girl a wonderful life. George Clooney is 55 and he’s expecting twins. Like George, this is Hoda’s first child. According to People, she was previously married to a tennis coach named Burzis Kanga. They had no children and divorced in 2007. She’s been living with her boyfriend, Joel Schiffman, for a few months.
Here’s the video of Hoda’s announcement:
— Hoda Kotb (@hodakotb) February 21, 2017
Matt Lauer opened the segment with the fact that Hoda has been hinting on social media that something has changed in her life. She’s been posting inspirational quotes like these, which are so nice to read in light of this good news. Congratulations to Hoda!
Happy Wednesday xo❤❤ pic.twitter.com/mBHdMFe15r
— Hoda Kotb (@hodakotb) February 15, 2017
Happy Thursday xoxo pic.twitter.com/9hfkNLMyRi
— Hoda Kotb (@hodakotb) February 16, 2017
Photos credit: WENN.com and Hoda Kotb
I am so happy for Hoda .I know how much she loves kids especially her nieces.
Happy news, congrats to her.
I love Hoda, she just brings so much joy to everyone else..she seems like such a happy person, good for her!
This brings a genuine smile to my cynical old heart. All the best to mama and baby. 🙂
My friend’s dad and my dad had older parents. There were downsides and upsides, the best of which is that you are more confident and mellow later in life, which makes for better parenting. Cheers to all the grandparents raising grandkids, too.
Yayyyyyyy!!!! I cried watching the announcement. I enjoy Hoda so much and am so happy for her!!!
oh, me too!! i don’t usually get teary ever (especially about celebs), but i just adore hoda soooo much, i am so happy for her!
I am one of the people that thinks she is too old. Not now when she feels young and may be quite healthy. But later when the child is in her teens, 20s, 30s, and beyond. By that time, Hoda will be in her 70s and 80s if still alive. Its then, her child may miss out on having a parent around to help guide her in life.
I’m sure plenty will disagree with me, which is fine.
This is a really wonderful outcome for this baby’s life. She might not have had a lot of other promising outcomes. Hoda is likely to fill her daughter’s life with other trusted people who would be glad to step in for guidance at all points, whether she is alive or not. Parents can be taken from children at any age. It’s not that I agree or disagree with you, but rather that I think we assume these unwanted children have so many good options. They don’t. Any home, any security, is a good outcome for children who need homes and families. Best of luck to them!
Honestly…what’s it to you, DeeZee? How does someone’s age when they have kids affect you?? Why do you care enough about someone’s life choices to voice your opinion…a disapproving one at that?
I don’t agree with DeeZee, but we all are just expressing our opinions, and a lot of opinions on here are negative. Maybe not this story as much, but still. At least she wasn’t really nasty about it. There are negatives to being an older parent, just as there are negatives to being too young too. Hoda seems smart so I bet she weighed the pros and cons, and hopefully everything will turn out well for her and her daughter. Also, it is true that a lot of these children do not have tons of great options, and honestly this one does seem like a fabulous option.
@deezee Nothing is promised, including the number of our days. I was 43 when I adopted my only child; I’ll be just shy of 61 when she graduates this May. This past week a friend of mine, only 49, was diagnosed with liver cancer, and the prognosis isn’t good. Her oldest daughter will be graduating in May, also.
I had our beloved only child, our daughter, when I was 40. This was after a stillbirth and miscarriage. She’s 24, and I’m 64. She’s the WORLD’S BEST PERSON SINCE 1992. I do not doubt the many advantages Hoda can give her little one. Best to her.
@third ginger Okay. Super cute mum alert. That was a really sweet post about your baby (24 to the world).
I had my youngest at 42. I always think best for last (sorry older kids). He is the sweetest, funniest kid. I’m 50 now and I don’t mind at all being an older mom. Not sure I’d want a baby now-but I completely understand how Hoda would. Good for her!
I am an older mum, having given birth at 38 to my wee girl. Glad to hear from older mums, especially first timers. So many mommy bloggers are my age, but have seven or eight kids 🙂
Hoda’s mom is very active and vibrant and she is probably almost 80.
I agree Deezee. It would have been better to let this angel enter into the system and cross our fingers that a nubile young couple of perfect health and physical ability would find her, adopt her, provide a loving home and live into her 30s. Selfish Hoda.
This baby was adopted at birth. I don’t necessarily agree that Hoda is too old, but there would be hundreds of people waiting to snap up this baby if Hoda didn’t. She wouldn’t be languishing in the system – that would be the older children that nobody seems to want.
My Mom’s Mother passed at age 39.. when my mom was 18, and her brother was 8. So nothing is promised. There are too many parents not loving their children to worry about the ones that do. I’m so happy for her.
My mom died when I was 17 and she was 41 – it was extremely unexpected to everyone in my family. Just because someone has a child when they are younger is no guarantee they will be there to raise them for a majority of their life.
I work with kids that sometimes are coming out of the adoption or foster system. Most of them are coming from parents who either surrendered them because they knew they couldn’t care for them or they were removed from parents who actively hurt them. What do you think these kids would take – a parent who lives for 50 plus years with them but who is lousy (often what they come from) or 20 years with a parent who is loving, amazing and kind? I know what they’d say, because I’ve seen them meet good parents (yes, many of whom are older). And their lives change.
I’m an older parent. Had my kids at 38, 39 & 40. I’m not gonna lie, it’s harder older and there are some downsides. I wish I could have had them when I was younger and they wish I was younger, but they also really dig my chili –so it is what it is. Life often doesn’t happen in ideal timelines, so you make the best of it. I love adoption. I have two adored nieces who were adopted and it’s hard to imagine life without them.
Tinker bell I don’t know how old you/your kids are, but I don’t think you’d be considered an older parent now! I had my kids at 28, 30 and 33. I’m from a suburb in the Midwest, and I moved to a small rural town. And of everyone I know, including the small town, I am always on the young mother side. Especially for the one I had at 28. But none of my high school or college friends starting having kids until now, so with the last baby I’m in the mix, but the older 2, I had no friends with kids at that point. In the kindergarten class, I’m one of the younger moms. But I know my mom had all her kids by 24 and my peers had parents the same. I’m not saying it’s good or bad- personally I wanted to be done by 30- but hey, the times are a-changing 🙂
I’m with you DeeZee. I think she’s too old and FTR I think George is too old too.
Awe!! Congrats to Hoda, I just love her! She’s always positive and smiling and laughing, she’ll be a fantastic mother😄 I see no issue with her age, you never know how long you’ll have in this life, I know a few people who lost parents to freak accidents at a young age. Hoda has chosen to spend the rest of her life being a mother to that beautiful baby girl, love it!
Well congrats. Hoda is officially a wine mom now. I’m sure Kathie Lee is thrilled. LOL
Hoda has the resources to stay healthy. Access and affording the best healthcare in terms of prevention and treatment is more than half the battle. I’d bet on her being around to see the kid out and stable on her own as an adult. As parents, that’s the number 1 goal.
Yup, it’s a sad commentary but absolutely true. And, even if money can’t buy Hoda a long life with her daughter, her resources will provide so many opportunities. I’m not saying graduating debt free makes up for losing a parent, but it’s something, for sure. It’s not better or worse than being a younger parent with fewer resources, it’s just different.
Adoption is a beautiful thing. Congrats to her and that beautiful baby. They are a FAMILY..
I love to read/hear about women 50+ becoming mothers! Gender equality!
It’s not about gender equality.
I understand what cupcake is saying about gender equality! It seems as though older men who are on their second families and having babies in their 50s don’t get anywhere near the judgement that women in their 50s do…..
Everyone seems to be ecstatic for first timer George Clooney and he is older than Hoda!
So happy for her.
Congratulations to her. Adoption is wonderful and I know she and her little girl will have a great life together.
Such happy news, congrats Hoda! 😊
Aw God bless! I liked how happy everyone was for her!
Beautiful announcement. Love the name too. Joy all around!
Congrats! 💜💜💜 I would love to be a mom again. I’m 38 yo , I have an almost 11year old. I’ve been a single mom for over 10 years but haven’t met the right person yet. Hopefully it happens soon. I would love to adopt but yeah I don’t have her financial resources. Anyway the video made me emotional..so happy for her!
Hang in there L! I didn’t meet the right man for me until I was 31. We had our babies when I was 33, 38 and I am now pregnant with our “happy surprise” at the tender age of 39. Older moms UNITE!
The difference between Clooney and Hoda is that she adopted a child who had already been brought into the world and would otherwise not have a very easy life (most likely). Adopting, even at an older age, is not at all a selfish choice in my mind. Having biological children in your fifties however? Sure there aren’t any guarantees, but old age isn’t easy. My parents have spent the last fifteen years under a lot of stress due to having to take care of ailing (and none too healthy) parents. It’s time-consuming, expensive, emotionally devastating and takes a great deal away from your own job and family. It’s great if you luck out and still have your physical and mental faculties at age 80, but I wouldn’t wish the burden of taking care of a parent who’s suffering from dementia, failing kidneys, late-stage diabetes, etc. on any young person unless you have the money to pay for the health care and caretakers.
Personally I think ANYONE male or female at 50 raising a child from infancy is…..not great, it’s true no matter how you spin it that as you get older things can get a lot more difficult. however, I also believe it’s a personal choice & these people have the resources & help the average “senior” doesnt so their child/children would continue to get well taken care of even after they’re gone….or to take care of them if needed. So, Congrats!
Good points. It just saddens me that there are so many kids that need to be adopted who are not “newborns”. Those poor kids always get left behind and then thrown out of the system as soon as they turn 18 with no family or resources. Maybe more people will consider adopting older kids as well. I understand the appeal for newborns but still…anyways if I ever choose to adopt (if I have the money and resources) I will go for an older child.
I agree 100%. It breaks my heart that older kids often get passed over bc most people want the perfect little infant/toddler. Every child deserves a loving home, no matter their age
Maybe people in their 50s should adopt older children.
So glad for Hoda! Having lost a parent in my 20s I’ll say people that judge need to get over it. My dad died (accidentally) in his mid 50s my friend whose Dad was in his 50s when she was born is a healthy strong and spry in his 90s. There are no guarantees. And though grief is painful love is a more impactful and powerful emotion.
Congrats to her! She seems like a nice woman, best of luck to their family.
Gods too old to adopt. So gross. She is almost senior citizen. Poor kid. People will think she is baby grandma
Some people long for children their entire lives and it doesn’t happen for them, for many reasons.
And then a blessing happens at an older age, when they are more ready and able to care for that child than those who have oops babies at a younger age. Or younger parents who are: abusive, alcoholic, neglectful or otherwise unfit.
Who is anyone to judge someone who provides a loving, stable home simply because they don’t fit your personal ideal age for parenting?
Any idiot can bring a child into this world. We should celebrate those who actually chose to parent, and do so well.
@ Miss Melissa. So beautifully said. Let’s celebrate those who actually choose to parent.
Congratulations to Hoda K. She seems to be a joyful, positive person. She has a lot to give a baby in lots of ways! It touched my heart! You go Hoda K. Love hard!
I was a Kindergarten/Pre K teacher for many years and some of my greatest parents have been older parent. They tend to be more relaxed about life and have a more laid back style to raising children. The hard part for them is fitting in with other younger parents and the journey to able to relate to other younger parents. They do worry that their child won’t be accepted by other kids in the class or get invited to a Birthday party or play date because they have difficulty connecting with other parents at school.
Yay for Hoda. I know there is always tsk-ing from some here when someone who is deemed “too old” becomes a parent.
After reading some horrifying things lately about what goes on in our world, including a long story in the St Louis (MO) newspaper about a 6 month pregnant woman who has already had 3 kids taken away from her and is shooting up heroin with her boyfriend, I don’t waste my worries on kids that have awesome responsible parents– no matter how old the parent may be.
I wish her much happiness with her little bundle of “Joy.”
Aw, congratulations Hoda!
I always assumed she was a mom, I just get “mom vibes” from her. But good for her.
Mazel, Hoda and bebe! Here’s to your future wine drinking partner!!
My parents had me late in life. My dad was 55 and mom 50. I had my father for 40 wonderful years and my mom is still with me at 91. My best friends parents had her when they were in their early 20’s and were killed in a car accident when she was 8. There are no guarantees in life. Bless her and her new child.
So happy for Hoda and Haley Joy! I always wanted children, but I have never had the financial ability to adopt a child and was unable to have children of my own. It makes me so happy to see a child get such a great parent who has the ability to care for that child financially and with the amount of love Hoda has to share! Good luck to them both! They will be each other’s perfect love!