The mounting pressures of her high-profile new role are already taking a serious toll on Hoda Kotb, RadarOnline.com has exclusively learned. The 53-year-old TODAY show anchor is struggling to balance her demanding career with her home life.
Having recently claimed the top anchor seat at the TODAY program, Kotb is growing increasingly frustrated as network executives keep heaping grueling hours onto her plate.
Radar readers are well aware that, with Kotb stepping into Matt Lauer's former seat beside Savannah Guthrie on a permanent basis, frequent travel has become a regular fixture of her professional life!
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Readers will recall that Kotb was 'consumed with grief' after being forced to leave her adopted daughter at home so she could report on the Olympics in South Korea.
A source told Radar exclusively: 'Hoda Kotb saw no point in sticking around in South Korea for the closing ceremony of the Olympics — she was desperate to get back to her daughter, Haley Joy, and her partner, Joel. Spending nearly two and a half weeks away from Haley was emotionally devastating.'
Even though Kotb held video calls with her loved ones while overseas, those interactions couldn't replace actually being present, the source noted. 'She was already in South Korea when Haley turned 1 on February 14. The family threw a celebration before Hoda departed, but the guilt of missing Haley's actual birthday weighed heavily on Hoda.'
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Kotb opened up about her heartbreak over missing her daughter's birthday, fans will recall. 'Valentine's Day has already arrived in South Korea and I am far from my little Valentine! We threw Haley a birthday party before I left,' the anchor wrote alongside a touching Instagram clip of her crooning 'Happy Birthday' to her wide-eyed little girl.
Within hours of touching back down in the Big Apple from her exhausting overseas assignment, Kotb is reportedly required to report back to the studio first thing Monday morning — and 'Hoda isn't happy about it.'
'She had hoped to take a few days off to compensate for the time she was forced to spend away from Haley, but her superiors turned her down. The morning news ratings battle leaves zero room for personal considerations.'
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A network insider disclosed: 'Hoda and the entire Today team were operating at full throttle during their time in South Korea. Whenever they weren't broadcasting live, they were rushing between various sporting events that needed coverage for Today.'
'She's due for some time off soon, but the wait is agonizing for her.'
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