Fans of Hoda Kotb had reason to celebrate as she made her return to television screens for a beloved annual tradition. After stepping away from the Today Show in January, Kotb delighted viewers by hosting the Macy’s Thanksgiving Day Parade.

The 61-year-old anchor joined her former co-hosts, Savannah Guthrie and Al Roker, for NBC’s live broadcast of the iconic holiday event. Her appearance was met with enthusiasm from audiences who have missed her presence on their screens.

Social media buzzed with excitement as viewers expressed their joy at seeing Kotb back for the festive occasion. One fan captured the sentiment by exclaiming, “Hoda Kotb on my screen again… all is well.”

Another viewer shared their enthusiasm, writing, “Not me jumping up and down at Hoda Kotb hosting the Macy’s Thanksgiving Day Parade. I love Hoda and I’ve missed her sooo much on my TV.”

The warmth and affection for Kotb’s return was echoed by many, with one person noting, “Good to see Hoda Kotb back with Savannah Guthrie for the Macy’s Thanksgiving Parade! Glad NBC brought her back for this special occasion!”

‘Good to see Hoda Kotb back with Savannah Guthrie for the Macy’s Thanksgiving Parade! Glad NBC brought her back for this special occasion!’ cheered someone else.

‘Love that Hoda Kotb still comes back to the parade after leaving today, we need her,’ a fourth fan wrote.

Ahead of her return to TV, Kotb told NPR that hosting the parade with NBC ‘feels like home.’

After leaving the Today Show in January, fans are thrilled to see Hoda Kotb back on their screens to host the Macy’s Thanksgiving Day Parade 

‘Every year, Macy’s ups the game,’ she said. ‘There are so many surprises and delights.’

‘What I love so much about [the parade] is there’s comfort in knowing that things don’t always change so drastically,’ she continued, adding that on Thanksgiving morning, ‘you get that feeling of a warm blanket’ and ‘all those memories that come along’ with the parade.

The first ever Macy’s Thanksgiving Day parade occurred in 1924 as a bid to promote the newly-opened toy department at Macy’s New York City store.

Macy’s employees marched through the streets of New York wearing vibrant costumes. 

They enlisted professional bands, had floats pulled by horses and even borrowed live animals like elephants, monkeys, camels, tigers and bears from the Central Park Zoo.

A whopping 250,000 people attended the first year, and following its success, Macy’s decided it would become an annual tradition.

Last year, fans were devastated when Kotb announced she was officially stepping down from the Today Show after 17 years on the flagship show and nearly three decades at NBC. 

The TV icon – who reportedly earned around $8 million a year – also wrote a letter explaining her ‘painful’ decision to her colleagues, explaining further that marking her 60th birthday sparked a seismic ‘shift’ in her life.

The 61-year-old made a special appearance at NBC’s live TV coverage of the festivities, stepping back on camera with former co-anchors Savannah Guthrie and Al Roker 

The first ever Macy’s Thanksgiving Day parade occurred in 1924 as a bid to promote the newly-opened toy department at Macy’s New York City store, and has been a celebrated Thanksgiving event ever since

Fans were devastated last year when mother-of-two Kotb announced she was officially stepping down after 17 years on the flagship show and nearly three decades at NBC 

‘As I write this, my heart is all over the map,’ Kotb said. ‘I know I’m making the right decision, but it’s a painful one. And you all are the reason why. They say two things can be right at the same time, and I’m feeling that so deeply right now. I love you and it’s time for me to leave the show.

‘My time at NBC has been the longest professional love affair of my life. But only because you’ve been beside me on this twenty-six-year adventure. Looking back, the math is nuts. 26 years at NBC News – Ten years at Dateline, seven on the seven o’clock hour, sixteen on the ten o’clock hour.’

She continued: ‘I’m picturing your faces and your families and all the ways you’ve lifted me up and inspired me. That’s my heart singing. So many of my professional relationships have become some of my most cherished friendships.’

She went on to pay a heartbreaking tribute to her ‘ride-or-die’ Jenna Bush Hager and claimed she will ‘desperately’ miss everyone she has worked with on the popular morning show.

‘Savannah: my rock,’ she continued. ‘Jenna: my ride-or-die. Al: my longest friend at 30 Rock. Craig, Carson, Sheinelle and Dylan: my family. Libby, Mazz and Talia: my fearless leaders. I will miss each and every one of you at TODAY desperately.’

The TV star added that she has been thinking long and hard about the decision as she continued: ‘I’ve been weighing this decision for quite a while – Am I truly ready? But, my sixtieth birthday celebration on the Plaza felt like a shift.

‘Like a massive, joyful YES, you are! I saw it all so clearly: my broadcast career has been beyond meaningful, a new decade of my life lies ahead, and now my daughters and my mom need and deserve a bigger slice of my time pie. I will miss you all desperately, but I’m ready and excited.

‘Because I’ll be working through the beginning of 2025, there’s plenty of time to talk about what’s ahead for all of us. But one thing I know for sure right now is this: everything’s going to be just fine. The Peacock’s feathers are never ruffled… no matter who comes or goes. TODAY and its amazing people — all of you — never waver. You always weather change with grace and guts.’

She concluded: ‘Happily and gratefully, I plan to remain a part of the NBC family, the longest work relationship I’ve been lucky enough to hold close to my heart. I’ll be around. How could I not? Family is family and you all will always be a part of mine.’