Hoda Kotb

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Burzis Kanga (husband; were married in 2005-2008)

Date of birth: circa 1960

In the 1990s, Hoda resided in New Orleans and worked as a reporter at a local studio, WWL-TV. Around that time, she met her first husband, Burzis Kanga. He had been living in that city for almost two decades before he met Hoda. They both crossed their ways at a charity event arranged by the American Heart Association on St. Valentine’s Day. Burzis worked as a university tennis coach at that time. They immediately fell in love and started dating. Hoda and her loved one were involved in and off relationships for several years.

After that, they separated for a short period after Hoda’s departure to New York to work at NBC News as a reporter. Soon Burzis followed her and proposed to get married. They tied the knot in December 2005 during a very private ceremony at Punta Cana in the Dominican Republic. In her interviews at that time, Hoda said that she liked a married life. She used to spend a lot of time with her husband, visiting theaters and restaurants.

But Hoda and Burzis’s happiness didn’t last for long. They separated in February 2007 after one year and two months of family life. A year later, they divorced officially. Neither of them opened up about the reason for their separation. Many years later, Burzis said in his interview that it was a hard time for them both as his father was very ill. Kotb was diagnosed with breast cancer at that time, too, and the hard time caused tension between the spouses. Besides, Kanga’s relocation to New York also was the reason for his frustration and caused him “to make mistakes,” as he said.

Burzis is a New Orleans resident as of now. He studied at the University of New Orleans and was a member of the tennis team. After graduation, he began working as a coach of male and female teams at the University of New Orleans. He was also a pro tennis coach at Chateau Estates Country Club. Kanga lost his apartment after Hurricane Katrina. He had to leave his job and move to New York to start everything from scratch.

After his divorce from Hoda, Burzis came back and occupied the position of Head Coach at the University of New Orleans.

Joel Schiffman (ex-partner; kids’ father)

Date of birth: March 21, 1958

Having passed through hard times, Hoda finally got the chance to become happy. In June 2013, she started dating a New York-based financier Joel Schiffman. Kotb met the handsome and smart man Joel at the event, which she wanted to miss because of the heavy rain. But finally, she decided to go, and that was the sign of destiny. Joel came to her asking for an autograph, and that was the beginning of their love story.

They were so happy together, and Hoda dreamed about just one thing – to become a mother. Unfortunately, she couldn’t get pregnant after the breast cancer, so she decided to adopt two girls. Later she confessed in her interview that she would have never made such a decision without Joel’s support.

Everything seemed ideal between them. They got engaged in November 2019, and in her interview with Ellen DeGeneres, Hoda confessed that she was ready to marry her long-term partner. Nevertheless, In January 2022, the couple announced their split.

Joel Schiffman is currently single. He maintains friendly relationships with his ex-fiancée and co-parent, Hoda. In addition to his two kids with the TV anchor, he also has a 29-year-old (as of 2023) daughter Kyle Schiffman, an attorney. He welcomed her with his first wife, a lawyer named Robyn McDonald.

The man earns his living as a financial executive with great experience. But for his three girls, he remains a doting dad.

Haley Kotb (daughter; adopted)

Date of birth: February 14, 2017

Hoda and her then-fiancé Joel adopted Haley Joy Kotb, the cute baby girl, in 2017. In her interview with “People,” Hoda confessed that she had never thought she would become a mother. She considered her mother and siblings as her family till she turned 50. But then, being supported by Schiffman, she dared to adopt.

Hoda was so happy to tell her fans that she had become a mother during the Today Show in 2017. Then, the woman demonstrated the picture of her holding the sweet baby girl. Hida wasn’t present during the baby’s delivery process. But she immediately came to see the little girl, having received the call from her agent. She named the daughter after Halley’s Comet.

Nowadays, Haley has already become a school pupil. Despite her busy schedule, Kobt finds the time to take her little girl to school by herself. In her free time, Haley likes swimming, scooping crabs from the sand, and blowing soap bubbles. She serves as a great inspiration to her mother, who wrote the kids’ book “I’ve Loved You Since Forever,” thinking about her little girl. At the age of 6, Haley appeared by her mother’s side on the Today Show set.

As Hoda says, Haley was so happy to become a big sister.

Hope Kotb (daughter; adopted)

Date of birth: April 2019

In her recent interview, Hoda confessed that as a parent from an older age group, she always had a secret fear that she wouldn’t be with Haley for milestones. That’s why she asked her ex-fiancé Joel to adopt another little girl. She wanted Haley to have a sister with whom she would be together forever. Joel immediately supported her idea, and they applied to adopt again. Thus, their second daughter Hope appeared in their house.

Hoda and Joel chose that name to support all the women around the world who dream of becoming mothers. Haley was so happy to become a big sister. She immediately falls in love with little Hope, and as Hoda says, they are extremely closely knitted.

In early 2023 Hoda’s followers prayed for little Hope Catherine Kotb, who appeared in the intensive care unit. The TV host didn’t share the details of Hope’s illness, but the main thing is that the girl coped with her health disorder and recovered. After that, Hoda thanked at the Today set to the doctors and nurses who helped her daughter to recover.

Little Hope feels much better now. She likes riding scooters with her sister. Besides, she sings songs and arranges dancing parties at home. Her mother, Hoda, adores her little girls and dreams of holding their little hands forever.

Abdel Kotb (father)

Date of birth: May 29, 1932

Date of death: February 9, 1985

Although Hoda lost her father many years ago, she still keeps him in her heart and congratulates him on Father’s Day.

Abdel Kader Kotb was born in Egypt, but he spent the major part of his life in the USA. In an autobiography, Hoda thanked her father and mother for their best gift – immigration to America, where she doesn’t have to wear a hijab.

Hoda’s father earned his living as a fossil energy specialist. He worked at the University of Oklahoma, where he got his Ph.D. degree. He parented three kids with his wife of many years, Sameha. Hoda was just 21 when she lost her dad. He died unexpectedly because of a heart attack. In her conversation with the co-host Jenna Bush Hager, Hoda said that her father could have become a president if he had been born in the USA. But he became the president of his own company, thus having inspired his kids to do their best, too.

Sameha Kotb (mother)

Date of birth: circa 1936

Hoda is very close with her mother, Sameha, or Sami. The TV anchor used to say that it was her mom who inspired her to become a great parent to her daughters. According to Hoda’s words, Sami was strict with her kids, and she didn’t care at all about other people’s opinions. At the same time, Sameha always supported her daughter, saying that she was the most beautiful in the world.

Sami worked at the Library of Congress. She is retired as of now and spends a lot of time with her children and grandchildren.

Adel Kotb Jr (younger brother)

Date of birth: November 1965

Hoda was blessed with two younger siblings. Her brother, Adel, is a Virginia resident. He is married to the nurse Colleen Gallagher. They have several kids, including the daughter Ella. Hoda’s brother works as a civil engineer.

Hala Kotb (younger sister)

Date of birth: circa 1968

Hoda has a sister, too. The woman’s name is Hala. She likes to stay out of the radar; still, her famous sister posts their common pictures from time to time.

Hala resides in Falls Church, Virginia. She is a PR specialist. Nothing is known about her personal life. Hala spends a lot of time with her nieces – Hoda’s daughters. It seems they are very happy together.