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Nathan Congleton/NBC(LOS ANGELES) -- In the wake of Matt Lauer's termination from the long-running morning show, Hoda Kotb has been officially named the Today show's co-host with Savannah Guthrie. Andy Lack, Chairman, NBC News Group, revealed the news ...

Hoda Kotb named co-host of “Today” following Matt Lauer’s sex scandal ouster

Nathan Congleton/NBC(LOS ANGELES) — In the wake of Matt Lauer’s termination from the long-running morning show, Hoda Kotb has been officially named the Today show’s co-host with Savannah Guthrie.

Andy Lack, Chairman, NBC News Group, revealed the news in an email to staff moments before the new anchor team made its debut Tuesday morning.

“It’s 2018 and we are kicking off the year right because Hoda is officially the co-anchor of Today,” Guthrie said after the show opened with Kotb’s name for the first time.

During applause, Guthrie said, “This has to be the most popular decision NBC News have ever made and I’m so thrilled.”

Guthrie and Kotb will co-anchor the 7-9 a.m. hours of Today, along with weather anchor Al Roker and Carson Daly, who hosts a segment called Orange Room. Kotb will also continue co-hosting the 10 a.m. hour of Today with Kathie Lee Gifford.

Praising Kotb for “[hitting] the ground running” as a substitute co-host for Lauer, Lack called the co-anchor “remarkable,” adding, “She has the rare ability to share authentic and heartfelt moments in even the most difficult news circumstances.”

Guthrie had the show’s producers re-run the anchors’ name announcement, multiple times. Hoda, who said she was “pinching herself,” noted the announcer had her her name was “pronounced right and everything.”

Guthrie called Hoda, “a partner and a friend and a sister,” and said, “I am so happy to be doing this.”

“Well, there’s no one I’d rather be sitting next to in 2018,” Kotb replied.

It’s the first time an all-female team will head up Today. For the record, ABC News’ Diane Sawyer and Robin Roberts were the first all-female hosting team for a major network morning show, on Good Morning America from 2006-2009.

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