Hoda Kotb on why she really left 'Today' show and those pesky Kelly Clarkson rumors

Fans of “Today” were surprised when long-time host of the fourth hour of the show Hoda Kotb left the show earlier this year.

But now, Kotb is finally revealing the real reasons behind her exit, one of the main ones being the health of her daughter, Hope.

Hope was diagnosed with type 1 diabetes, requiring “constant care” and monitoring 24/7, as Kotb told People Magazine in a recent cover story.

She added that Hope is a “trooper” for enduring the various shots and treatments associated with her condition.

“She is a happy, healthy, rambunctious, amazing kid, and we have to watch her. Diabetes is a part of her, but not all of her. I hope it shapes her but never defines her,” Kotb told the outlet.

Her daughter’s health was a driving force in her decision to leave “Today.”

“I really wanted to and needed to be here to watch over her. So, whenever she needs anything, and it can happen at night, multiple times, I’m up — I’m up up up,” she said.

Kotb added, “But I would never, ever want Hope to one day grow up and say, ‘Oh, my mom left her job because [of me].’ It wasn’t that alone. But if you look at it cumulatively, it was a part of that decision.”

The 60-year-old is mom to six-year-old Hope and eight-year-old Haley and said that the change in her schedule—from 3:15 a.m. wake ups for the morning talk show to a slightly more relaxed 4:30 a.m. at home—has allowed her to be there day to day to catch special moments with her girls.

“It’s really cool to just realize that there’s so much more to life,” Kotb told People. “I wasn’t able to bear witness to my kids’ daily lives because of what I was doing. I got to see Haley sing ‘What a Wonderful World’ at 9:15 a.m. — I would have missed that. I used to think life was the big things, but it really is all the stuff that happens in between.”

As Kotb continues working from home on other ventures like her wellness company, the question of if she’d ever return to TV has been making the rounds.

In particular, there are rumors Kelly Clarkson may leave her daytime talk show, leaving an open slot for someone like Kotb, who insiders told Page Six was in consideration for the job.

But Kotb addressed the idea during an appearance on “Today” on Wednesday.

“Delete, delete,” she said. “Not true.”

Kotb also made it clear “Today” was her only onscreen home.

“Do you think if I ever came back to TV - do you know where the only place I would ever come back to is? Right here. This is the spot!” she said.