‘Today' co-anchor Hoda Kotb adopts baby girl at 54 with boyfriend Joel Schiffman!

Hoda Kotb, the co-anchor of Today has expanded her brood! She has welcomed another daughter to her family. The 54-year-old author and journalist adopted baby girl Hope Catherine Kotb.

"Exclusive" story

The announcement was kept a secret until her co-anchor Savannah Guthrie announced on Today that they had an "exclusive" story. Kotb then shared through the tears the exciting news via a phone call on Tuesday into her show. "It's a girl! I can’t believe that I’m here! I’m so happy to be here” she said.

She also announced the new family member via Instagram, alongside her two-year-old daughter Haley Joy, whom she had adopted on February 21, 2017. At the time of Haley’s adoption, she had been open about her decision to adopt,

"I think sometimes you think either I can't ... or, I waited too long, or circumstances didn't intend for me, and I should be grateful to have this life, and why would I ask for something more? It felt almost selfish. 

I feel like if you're meant to have a child in your life, your child is out there. You don't even know who you've inspired.

One of the things in my life I’ve always wanted was to be a mom.”

Subtle Hints

Just a day before, she had hinted at the adoption with a picture on her Instagram page stating “Choose Hope” referring to her daughter Hope Catherine Kotb.

On Tuesday, Kotb shared on The Today show that she has already taken to her reprised role of a mother,

"This morning at breakfast [Haley] was trying to feed [the new baby] her raspberries and I was like, 'Not yet, babe. She was literally marching around saying, 'I'm a big sister.'''

Kotb also spoke of her Joel Schiffman and the moment the baby was handed to them,

"You know what's funny? You think that you're full. Joel and I were standing there when they hand you the baby... in that moment, I was like, 'My God! My heart just grew!'"

Previous relationships

Hoda Kotb married former University of New Orleans tennis coach Burzis Kanga in 2005. In March 2007, Kotb underwent a mastectomy and reconstructive surgery for breast cancer which was well documented by Today Show. Since then she has become an advocate for breast cancer awareness.

But cancer had left her unable to conceive and within three years, the marriage fell apart and the two divorced in 2008. They did not have any children together. 

She has been dating New York financier Joel Schiffman for more than six years now.

Short Bio

Hoda Kotb is a broadcast journalist, television personality, author by profession, and American by nationality. She is best known as the co-anchor of the NBC News morning show Today and co-host of the Fourth Hour...Full Bio

Also read: Jenna Bush Hager reveals the sex of her third baby with husband Henry Hager!