A huge shake-up at CBS could reportedly see CBS Mornings host Gayle King be replaced by former Today Show anchor Hoda Kotb. Various sources say that Bari Weiss, the newly appointed editor-in-chief for CBS News, is actively pursuing Kotb, who retired from Today in January, as a potential candidate to fill in the role as King’s contract with CBS ends in May 2026. This report comes amid conflicting news that either confirm or deny that King is exiting the network.
Hoda Kotb reportedly being courted as CBS Mornings host
Gayle King is at risk of being pushed out of her position at CBS Mornings due to the show’s low ratings compared to its competitors, an insider has said to RadarOnline. Meanwhile, Kotb apparently has the appeal and experience that Weiss is looking for.
“CBS is done accepting third place,” one source said. “Bari wants a huge name who brings warmth, credibility – and viewers. And Hoda checks every box.”
King’s contract with CBS has her allegedly earning somewhere between $10 million and $15 million a year. That’s a considerable number, as CBS parent Paramount Global is moving toward massive layoffs in light of the company’s merger with Skydance. The insider explained, “People with big salaries and small ratings are going to be mercilessly cut – and Gayle fits the bill in both categories.”
As for Kotb, the offer is reportedly enticing. A rival executive says that if she were to accept the position, “she’d be the star” and wouldn’t need to share the spotlight with other co-anchors, as she did with Savannah Guthrie on Today. A prior report from NBC insiders in October says Kotb was “desperate” to get her position at Today back after her wellness platform and app, Joy 101, didn’t land as well as she wanted.
As one source put it, Hoda “realized that her real power is mornings” and that she “is the comfort America trusts with its coffee.”
However, Kotb has been with NBC for nearly two decades and has made several appearances on The Today Show after her retirement, most recently being a guest host for Macy’s Thanksgiving Day Parade. King and Kotb also publicly support one another, with King having appeared on Kotb’s last day on The Today Show with a gift.
That said, Kotb’s current contract with NBC is “nowhere near ironclad,” according to multiple insiders.
