Savannah Guthrie reveals when she found out about Hoda Kotb leaving ‘Today’ show

Savannah Guthrie discovered Hoda Kotb was leaving the “Today” show just days before she announced it publicly on Sept. 26.

“It was the Monday before the world found out and she called me because I had had the day off and I was traveling,” Guthrie, 52, recalled to Us Weekly at the Project Healthy Minds 2nd Annual World Mental Health Day Gala in New York City on Thursday.

“She called me and the first thing I said to her is, ‘I’m proud of you. I love you, you’re amazing. And it doesn’t matter where we sit, we’ll always be by each other’s side.'”

Savannah Guthrie told Us Weekly that Hoda Kotb told her she was leaving “Today” the Monday before she announced the news publicly on Sept. 26. AP

“She called me and the first thing I said to her is, ‘I’m proud of you. I love you, you’re amazing,” Guthrie recalled. Charles Sykes/Invision/AP

The journalist wasn’t too surprised by Kotb’s decision to leave her co-anchoring position because she said they “had this discussion for years and years.”

“We’re dear friends and we have a lot of similarities,” she added. “We’re basically in the same phase of life.”

While Guthrie told Us Weekly she was “so sad” for herself and the show because they’re losing “irreplaceable” Kotb, she confirmed she is “happy for her as her friend.”

Guthrie said she and Kotb had spoken about her eventual retirement “for years and years.” Getty Images for NBC Universal

She also said while she feels “so sad” for herself to lose Kotb, she is “happy for her as her friend.” GC Images

Guthrie shared the same sentiment when she spoke to Page Six at the Project Healthy Minds World Mental Health Day Gala.

“I’m so happy for her and I’m so proud of her as her friend because she’s following her heart and it’s a big bode of confidence in herself and her future — not because she knows what it will be, but because she believes in herself and she trusts her gut,” she gushed.

“I’ll really, really miss her. We all will, you know? To me, she’s irreplaceable,” she added. “But we’re family and she’s not going too far.”

Guthrie and Kotb have a close relationship on camera and off. WireImage

Guthrie told Page Six Thursday evening that she considers Kotb “family.” Erik Pendzich/Shutterstock

Kotb will still be employed by NBC following her “Today” exit, but it’s unclear what her next role will be.

An insider told Page Six ahead of her big announcement that she hopes to spend more time with her daughters, Haley, 7, and Hope, 4.

“It’s heartbreaking for everyone, but Hoda wants to be able to walk her kids to school,” the source said.

When Kotb emotionally announced her impending departure from “Today,” she said she really began analyzing her life, achievements and what she wants in her future ahead of her 60th birthday in August.

Kotb announced she was leaving “Today” with her colleagues by her side, including Guthrie, Sheinelle Jones, Jenna Bush Hager, Al Roker and more. NBC

She said it was “the hardest thing in the world.” Nathan Congleton/NBC via Getty Images

“I decided this is the right time for me to kind of move on,” she explained. “And so with all that being said, this is the hardest thing in the world.”

Kotb has been with NBC for 26 years and took over Matt Lauer’s spot as a “Today” co-host in 2017 amid his serious sexual harassment allegations.

She also hosts the third hour of the show with Kathie Lee Gifford and then Jenna Bush Hager.