Hoda Kotb Is ‘Not Going to Be Sitting Home Twiddling Her Thumbs’ After Saying ‘Goodbye’ to ‘Today’

Hoda Kotb was spoiled rotten as she exited the Today show amid highly emotional scenes, and a source says she’s filled with gratitude while feeling nervously excited about what the future holds.

“Naturally saying goodbye is somewhat bittersweet because it’s end of an era for her, but she does feel ready for the change,” an insider exclusively tells Closer. “And it’s not like she’s burnt any bridges, the door will always be open for her, possibly even for the occasional cameo. Not that she’s got any intention of going back; she’s ready for this new chapter. That being said, she will miss the people a lot.”

Hoda, 60, marked her final episode of the talk show on January 10, with a celebration on the Today plaza featuring celebrity guests, gifts and tons of love from fans. There was no shortage of tears during the broadcast for the mom of two and her colleagues as she said her goodbyes.

“She has so many wonderful friends on the show, and the reality is she won’t see most of them anymore,” the insider continues. “She is going to take a breather but it won’t be some long break, she’s already got a new project in the works to keep her interest.”

“Her big focus will be her daughters, but she’s not going to be sitting home twiddling her thumbs when they’re busy with school,” the source says. “She still wants to work, but it will be a nice relief to not be up and out of the house every day before the sun’s up.”

Hoda, who is a mom to kids Haley and Hope, already announced her plans to enter the wellness space after her Today departure.

“I am starting a wellness app and company that will involve retreats and a podcast and all kinds of things that we can get together, do things that I love,” the broadcaster said while visiting The Kelly Clarkson Show on January 6. “It’s not like going to Mexico with your girls, which is fun, but this is something that when you leave, you’ll go like, ‘Oh my gosh. I feel transformed. I feel different.’”

“I started doing stuff that I thought seemed woo-woo and weird,” she said of venturing into the wellness world. “Then all of a sudden, as I was doing it, I was like, ‘Wait, I feel calmer. I feel better.’ Woo-woo makes you feel good.”

As Hoda gears up for her next adventure, she also revealed that she signed a new deal with NBC. Though she is no longer part of the Today crew, she’s still part of the network.

“I want to be a supporting character on a team that is already in place so that I’ll come in and just have a role there. And then I’m going to do my ‘Making Space’ podcast, which I enjoy and love so much,” the TV veteran told Page Six on January 9. “And for the Today show, I think we talked about doing something every four to six weeks, just a little something.”

Hoda also shot down reports that she left Today over money disputes.

“This job is amazing and I don’t do it because I get a paycheck every other Thursday. That’s not why. Because then you’re only happy on every other Thursday,” she said. “I do it because I love it. And I think it never has been a money thing for me … I’ve taken jobs I’ve loved, and then I’ve asked, you know, for whatever I wanted.”