Best known for keeping Americans up to speed on the latest news, Hoda Kotb is a wonderful Egyptian-American broadcaster. The NBC’s Today co-anchor recently received awful personal news, however. It had something to do with the state of her health. It is a good thing that the television star did not let this diagnosis bring her down even though it would have been easy to fall into despair. When she talked about this part of her life, her response instead reminded all of us what a badass she truly is.
Hoda Kotb Shows Us That She Is A Badass When She Received Some Devastating News
Even In The Face Of Danger
Honestly, we probably should not have been surprised at all. After all, Hoda Kotb has always been calm even in the face of danger. In the late ‘90s, she started to work on Dateline for NBC by reporting on all kinds of harrowing events. Among other things, she covered stories such as Hurricane Katrina, the Southeast Asia tsunami, and the wars in Iraq and Afghanistan. She is no stranger to tragedy.
Even In The Face Of Danger
Things Were Looking Up For Her
In 2007, Hoda Kotb scored a cheerier gig. A year after she joined Today, Kathie Lee Gifford joined her. The two of them had great chemistry in front of the cameras, which made them a hit among viewers. Kotb occasionally stood in for main anchors Savannah Guthrie and Matt Lauer as well.
Things Were Looking Up For Her
She Scored A Permanent Gig
After some time, Hoda Kotb eventually got the opportunity to work with Savannah Guthrie permanently. In the winter of 2017, Matt Lauer made his controversial departure from the program. It was then announced that he would be replaced by the Egyptian-American talent. This was a pretty historic event as this was the first time that the main anchors of the show would both be women!
She Scored A Permanent Gig
The Duo Was A Hit Among Fans
Luckily, viewers adored this new duo. On their trial run, Guthrie and Kotb worked together to beat the rival show Good Morning America in terms of ratings for one straight month. You would never have known it, but Kotb was actually going through a lot of personal difficulties at the time. Soon enough, the TV star would get news that turned everything upside down for her.
The Duo Was A Hit Among Fans
Her Ambition Was Always There
Before then, Kotb had been a healthy person. She had always been ambitious too. In the mid-‘80s, she went to Virginia Tech University to take up broadcast journalism. It was when she started her college radio career at WUVT. When she finished her degree, she was able to get a job in the field at CBS.
Her Ambition Was Always There
She Worked In Her Home Country
It was for a position based in Cairo, the capital of Egypt. Her parents grew up there, although they later moved to Oklahoma for their studies and started a family stateside. In the past, Kotb and her two siblings would join their parents on trips to the North African country every now and then.
She Worked In Her Home Country
Only The Start For Her
Obviously, this was not the last broadcasting role that Kotb took on. Over the years, she has worked in different CBS and ABC affiliates in Illinois, Florida, and Mississippi. She later moved to WWL-TV in New Orleans after landing an anchor-reporter position there. For six years, she worked at the network until she got the chance to join the big leagues with NBC.
Only The Start For Her
Her Personal Life Was Not As Successful
Her career might have been going well, but you can’t say the same thing for her personal life. In 1986, her dad Abdel died from cardiac arrest. In 2020, she talked about this tragedy on a Today documentary called Dads. “He taught us about hard work, like getting it done. And we all just believed that we can be anything and do anything,” Kotb shared with the world.
Her Personal Life Was Not As Successful
When It Comes To Her Love Life
You can also say that she has been pretty unlucky in the romance department. In 2012, Kotb said that her relationship with a lawyer by the name of Jay Blumenkopf was the real deal. It looks like he did not agree with that as he ended up breaking up with her a few months later. Ouch.
When It Comes To Her Love Life
Not The First Time For Her
It was not the first time that she had experienced relationship woes. In 2007, the Today star started divorce proceedings against Burzis Kanga. This took place only a little over a year after they tied the knot. The news took people by surprise since it was not like the two of them rushed into it.
Not The First Time For Her
They Had Been Together For A While
The truth is that Kanga and Kotb had been together for a couple of years by then. They first met at a charity event back in the ‘90s. The two of them stayed together even when she had to move from New Orleans to New York for her career. In 2005, he finally asked her to marry him.
They Had Been Together For A While
She Was A Fan Of The Married Life
At first, it looked like Kotb was taking to the married life well. In 2016, she told New Orleans Living, “If I would have known it was this much fun, I probably would have done it a long time ago!” Sadly, they were not meant to be. Within just one year, the couple found themselves in the divorce courts.
She Was A Fan Of The Married Life
It Simply Did Not Work Out
In 2018, Kanga told RadarOnline that it just did not work out for them. “The divorce happened under difficult conditions,” he shared. “Those were personal reasons for both of us.” He also accepted his responsibility for how it turned out. “In hindsight, there was a level of immaturity on my part, mistakes I made. It was unfortunate we were married for a short time. It’s a shame it transpired that way,” he said.
It Simply Did Not Work Out
There Are No Bad Feelings There
Despite this, it does not look like the tennis coach has ill feelings about the marriage. In fact, he only had good things to say about Kotb in the interview. He went as far as to say, “I will always cherish our memories. She is the epitome of class. I think the world of her. We had great memories together.”
There Are No Bad Feelings There
It Had Been Bad Timing For Her
Sadly, the timing of the divorce was awful for Kotb no matter how you look at it. In the same year that they divorced, she got bad news about the state of her health. After a routine check-up, she discovered that there was a lump in her breast. Of course, this already worrying enough as it is, but she also found out that it was cancerous.
It Had Been Bad Timing For Her
What The Diagnosis Had Been Like
In 2017, Kotb talked about her diagnosis when she appeared on Megyn Kelly’s talk show on NBC. “As a confession, I really didn’t get a mammogram,” she explained. She went on, “I sort of found it accidentally when I went to the gynecologist, and it ended up being cancer. I worked a health show – I was actually telling people to get mammograms and I didn’t do it myself.”
What The Diagnosis Had Been Like
They Found Out About It Early On
The good news is that it was still stage one. This meant that they discovered the condition early on. Kotb then signed up for an operation and got reconstruction procedures. She was given the all-clear a year later. The star thanks her surgeon for guiding her through all of it. Dr. Freya Schnabel gets credit for this.
They Found Out About It Early On
What She Learned From The Illness
Kotb did a segment for Breast Cancer Awareness Month. The star revealed that it has taught her a valuable lesson. This health scare has turned her fearless. I have to say, if you survive breast cancer or anything, you get four words. And those four words are: ‘You can’t scare me,’” she told Megyn Kelly.
What She Learned From The Illness
After Overcoming The Awful Disease
“Because you have overcome that and once you realize after you come through the weeds on something as terrible as breast cancer and you’re still standing, every decision you make is easy,” she explained. “The world snaps into focus.” Aside from this, the broadcaster talked about her battle at an event by the Breast Cancer Research Foundation. It was held in New York in the same year.
After Overcoming The Awful Disease
She Was Hesitant To Talk About It
She gave a pretty candid speech at the event. According to her, she did not have any interest in serving as the face of this advocacy at first. The Hollywood Reporter quoted her as saying, “I did not want to think about cancer. I wanted to have my surgery over, and I didn’t want to discuss it. I didn’t want to wear pink. I didn’t want to know anything about pink. I was not interested in pink. I wanted it over.”
She Was Hesitant To Talk About It
All Thanks To A Stranger
However, she changed her mind when she talked to a stranger on a plane. After the man learned that she did not want to talk about her battle, he told her, “Don’t hog your journey, it’s not just for you. Think of how many people you could have helped on the plane ride home. You could put your stuff deep in your pockets and take it to your grave, or you can help someone.”
All Thanks To A Stranger
She Had A Change Of Heart
The pep talk ended up giving her a change of heart. It altered the way she saw her condition. “Cancer shaped me, but it did not define me,” Kotb said. “It’s part of me, but not all of me.” Since then, she has talked about her health battles more openly. In 2019, she got the opportunity to discuss her story some more during Breast Cancer Survivor Month.
She Had A Change Of Heart
It Is A Very Positive Community
This time, she told the viewers of Today that the yearly campaign does not have to be sad at all. “There are so many positive things that are happening in the breast cancer space. And I was reminded this morning of what my boss said to me over here when I first told him about my diagnosis.”
It Is A Very Positive Community
They Are All Still Here
Kotb went on to say, “I was terrified and I hadn’t said it out loud to anyone at work. And I went up to David Corvo, and I said, ‘I just want you to know something.’ I said, ‘I have breast cancer,’ and I burst into tears.” She said that Corvo responded by saying, “I just want you to know something. I know a lot of women with breast cancer and they all have one thing in common. They’re all still here.”
They Are All Still Here
This Made Her Feel Better About It
Kotb told Maria Shriver, her temporary co-host, about how moved she was to hear those supportive words from Corvo. “For a lot of women who catch it early [survival] is the case,” she explained. She added, “And it kind of gave me hope and I remember going from scared to ‘Oh, okay!’”
This Made Her Feel Better About It
She Used Her Energy In A Shocking Way
In the end, she found a way to channel her positive energy in the most amazing way. She was already 52 years old when she made up her mind to have kids. It is a good thing that she was not alone in this journey. Joel Schiffman, her partner, was ready to welcome this huge change into their lives as well.
She Used Her Energy In A Shocking Way
He Is The Right Man For Her
In 2019, Kotb recounted the story when she was interviewed by Know Yor Value. “I told him, ‘If you need a minute to think about it’… But he said, ‘I don’t need a minute.’ When someone’s happiness is more important, that’s love. I found the guy,” she said. On a chat show called Bethenny, she shared how they first met. The pair met at a book signing of hers in 2013.
He Is The Right Man For Her
How The Two Of Them Met
“I didn’t even want to go,” she revealed. “They asked me to sign some books and one guy is like, ‘Can you sign it to my grandma?’ And this guy walks up and he’s like, ‘I’ll take a book.’ And I was like, ‘Who do you want me to write it to – your girlfriend, your wife, your aunt?’ And he goes, ‘Write it to me.’”
How The Two Of Them Met
When Word Got Out At Last
Their relationship has since become public knowledge. Two years after the book signing incident, they were photographed together at the beach. On Today, Kotb revealed that she had a boyfriend, but she did not want to divulge his identity. When word finally got out, she told the viewers of the show, “I feel some relief. I talked to him this morning and he said, ‘Who cares? Who cares!’”
When Word Got Out At Last
What Their Life Is Really Like
She has been sharing more details about their life together since then. What is it like for the lovebirds now? In 2016, she revealed on her SiriusXM show, “Joel and I are getting an apartment together, so we went to see it with the measuring tape. It’s a little weird to be in your 50s and we’re like, ‘Hey, we’re moving in!’ It’s like you’re kids. It’s so weird.”
What Their Life Is Really Like
Parents To An Adopted Little Girl
A year after that, Kotb shared that they have adopted a baby girl. When the news anchor spoke to People, she said that her battle with cancer had left her infertile. Luckily, they did not let this stop her. She said, “One of the things in my life I’ve always wanted was to be a mom.”
Parents To An Adopted Little Girl
Accepting What Is Not For You
At first, she thought that was it for her. She said, “Sometimes in your life, things just don’t work out for whatever reason, so you say, ‘Well, I wasn’t meant to have that.’ But it was really hard to come to terms with it.” It was a good thing that she was able to fulfill her wish in a different way.
Accepting What Is Not For You
They Adopted Yet Another Child
It sounds like she has taken well to motherhood. In 2019, the couple adopted yet another daughter. The news anchor shared, “We like the idea of Haley [having] a sibling because she has had such interesting circumstances to grow up. So it would be nice to be able to share it with somebody.” How lovely!
They Adopted Yet Another Child
It Has Not Gone Unnoticed
Her lust for life has not gone unnoticed either. In 2020, Kotb and Guthrie were both included in the “Badass 50” list of women who change the world by Instyle. “I’ve done two badass things in my life – [my daughters] Haley and Hope. I’m in my 50s. Becoming a mom was a moment that I thought had passed for me, but I got to reach back in time and grab it,” Kotb explained to the magazine.
It Has Not Gone Unnoticed
She Has Received Hate For It Too
There are people who think that her decision to be a mom is a cause for celebration. In September 2020, Kotb revealed that she got a letter telling her off for her decision to adopt a pair of girls when she was already in her fifties. “I literally read it and I thought, ‘Oh my god, I can’t believe someone put a stamp on it and sent it,’” she said.
She Has Received Hate For It Too
It Was A Hurtful Note
According to Kotb, she felt deeply upset when she got that cruel piece of correspondence. “I felt horrible in that moment because there is something that bothers you inside about that,” she said. It was a good thing that she did not have to go through this alone. Jenna Bush Hager was there to defend her too!
It Was A Hurtful Note
Her Colleague Came To Defend Her
“That stranger who took the time to write something so mean, she doesn’t even know what you’re like as a mother,” Jenna Bush Hager said. “She’s never seen you hold those little girls. That infuriates me. And I think why it’s so hard is that as parents we’re already questioning ourselves constantly.”
Her Colleague Came To Defend Her
Too Busy To Care About This
We are just glad that Kotb keeps herself too busy to really care about such things. Not only is she taking care of two young girls, but she has since gotten engaged to Schiffman in 2019. On Today, she shared that she accepted his hand in marriage. She seemed thrilled as she showed off her engagement ring as well.
Too Busy To Care About This
They Had To Put It Off
Unfortunately, things beyond their control made it hard to schedule the wedding. It was impossible to tie the knot in 2020 due to the global pandemic. Despite this, Kotb told Ellen DeGeneres that she still wants to get married at her “favorite place on Earth.” On top of that, she remains very much head over heels in love with her fiancé. The news anchor shared, “I picked the best person on Earth. I know it, a thousand times over.”
They Had To Put It Off
Celebrities can often have terrible circumstances, and they show how strong they are by overcoming their obstacles. Whoopi Goldberg is a legend in her own right, and has also overcome many an obstacle towards achieving success in her career…
Dyslexia Struggles
Whoopi Goldberg is a famous actor and comedian, the recipient of many awards, from an Emmy, to a Grammy, to an Academy Award to a Tony! However, it wasn’t always easy for Whoopi. Did you know that Whoopi suffers from dyslexia? Fortunately, this didn’t hold her back as she strived towards stardom. Initially, it did prove troublesome though.
Dyslexia Struggles
What Is Dyslexia?
Dyslexia is a common learning disability and can have an effect on your reading, writing and speaking ability. It can also affect your mental health, as well as your physical health. Previously, it was harder to detect and diagnose dyslexia; there simply wasn’t enough research on the condition. As a consequence, Whoopi struggled at school and dropped out aged 17.
What Is Dyslexia
Diagnosis
It wasn’t until Whoopi was an adult that she was finally diagnosed with dyslexia. It came as a relief for Whoopi as it explained many things that happened to her earlier in life. It wasn’t uncommon for kids to be labelled unintelligent and consequently written-off by their teachers for showing a lack of aptitude at school. What teachers didn’t know back then was that dyslexia can cause these issues; something that we are fortunately more aware of now.
Diagnosis
First Jobs
Since the diagnosis was so late, Whoopi left school prematurely. So what did she start off as? Well, we know for a fact that she didn’t head straight to the entertainment industry, so actually began with some other jobs. The first job she worked was as a bank-teller, the second was a bricklayer and she even worked as a makeup artist in a mortuary! Eventually she moved to New York City to train as an actor, but what a start! Nothing like seeing what’s out there first, hey…
First Jobs
Advocacy
Since battling through her dyslexia, Whoopi has gone on to become the highest-profile spokesperson for dyslexia. Her story is inspirational and has encouraged others who suffer with the condition to pursue their dreams, with renewed hope that they can overcome any obstacles. Whoopi resonates greatly with the dyslexic public and has often been cited as a reason for their successes.
Advocacy
Early Years
Whoopi was actually born as Caryn Elaine Johnson and grew up having little. She was raised by her nurse mother in a New York City housing project, but fortunately had a loving, supportive parent in her life. Goldberg credits her mother as a reason for her success, despite growing up in such adversity.
Early Years
Childhood Problems
Whoopi loves her mother and it deserves the repetition of how much her mother’s support helped her in life. Whoopi harbored the belief that she was simply a slow child. However, her mother felt that Whoopi actually struggled to learn in conventional methods, but was in fact bright. Due to her lack of aptitude at school, Whoopi experienced name-calling and some bullying. Many even felt that her lack of ability was a result of laziness and ignorance, rather than something more deep-rooted.
Childhood Problems
Support From Mom
Whoopi had a willful personality however, and was a self-believer in her skills. This was catered by her mother’s support, after encouraging her to develop her creative skills and helped her to become the success she is today. Whoopi eventually used other learning methods, unconventional ones. This proved effective and necessary for her understanding of various scripts that she would later need to fully comprehend for acting roles.
Support From Mom
San Diego & Berkeley
Goldberg began her working life in the 1970s after moving to San Diego, becoming a waitress. Shortly after this, she moved on to Berkeley; where she worked odd jobs. Such jobs included being a bank teller, working as a mortuary cosmetologist and a bricklayer. She showed some interest in acting here, and joined avant-garde theatre troupe “The Blake Street Hawkeyes”. Goldberg also gave comedy and acting classes.
San Diego, Berkeley
New York City Training
In New York, Whoopi attended the HB Studio and studied under teacher Uta Hagen. She earned her first role on screen in Citizen: I’m Not Losing My Mind, I’m Giving It Away, an avant-garde ensemble feature produced by William Farley, a San Francisco filmmaker. Her big break however, came afterwards when she starred in The Spook Show…
New York City Training
The Spook Show & Mike Nichols
The Spook Show was where it all began for Whoopi. Nichols said that he “discovered” Goldberg from watching her in this show, and their forthcoming professional relationship only led to be success for everyone involved. After meeting backstage initially, Nichols claimed that he “burst into tears”, and that he and Goldberg “fell into each other’s arms”. This was only the beginning of a long friendship for the pair, where Nichols would help her transfer her show over to Broadway, retitling it Whoopi Goldberg.
The Spook Show & Mike Nichols
Media
Not only has Whoopi been a success on screen, but she has also made significant media appearances over the years, such as playing the role of Califia, the Queen of the island of California. She took to this role for a theater presentation called Golden Dreams (Disney California Adventure Park) in 2000. She became the host of the Universal Studios Hollywood Studio tour in 2006, appearing in clips whilst aboard transportation.
Media
Junior Eurovision Song Contest 2008
Whoopi is a down-to-earth woman, and uses her platform to influence people for the better. An example of this was in 2008 when she appeared at the Junior Eurovision Song Contest, giving a short message. Not only did she wish all the contestants good luck, but she also stressed the importance of supporting UNICEF; the official charity of the song contest.
Junior Eurovision Song Contest 2008
UNICEF
Whoopi has done more for UNICEF too. In 2003 she was formally appointed as a UNICEF Goodwill Ambassador, partnering with UNICEF to campaign for many issues, which included fundraising for the global response to COVID-19. Other issues she has campaigned for is tackling pneumonia. Whoopi has used her global reach to advance child rights and other humanitarian efforts, including HIV, education and substance abuse.
UNICEF
Entrepreneurship
Whoopi has overcome adversity to become successful in the entertainment industry, campaign for important global issues, but has also been a business owner! Goldberg was a co-founder of Whoopi & Maya, a company that makes medical cannabis products for women who suffer with severe menstrual cramps. Whoopi set up the business to help people with this issue, as she was a sufferer her whole life. For Whoopi, cannabis was the “only thing that gave her relief”.
Entrepreneurship
Whoopi & Maya
Whoopi and Maya launched the company in 2016 and it was instantly successful. The pair sold products that used high quality cannabis-infused salves, balms and edibles with the sole purpose to relieve menstrual pain and discomfort in women. As such, the products were specifically formulated to provide relief for these women. Whoopi was praised for providing a solution for a niche market that doesn’t have too many real options
Whoopi & Maya
Activism
Whoopi has also used her platform for activism for causes close to her heart. Goldberg advocates for human rights, moderating a panel at the Alliance of Youth Movements Summit so she can explain how to use social networks against violent extremism. Additionally, Goldberg has moderated a panel at the UN on human rights, terrorism and children in armed conflict, alongside other major issues.
Activism
LGBT Activism
Cyndi Lauper launched a campaign in 2010 called “Give a Damn” in 2010, with the goal of bringing wider awareness of discrimination towards the LGBT community. Whoopi joined her in the launch and publicly invited straight people to become allies of the LGBT community. Goldberg has rallied for the LGBT community many times. For example, she also participated in the 1987 March on Washington.
LGBT Activism
Awards
Since she started her career, Whoopi has appeared in over 150 films and is one of only a few people to have received the ‘EGOT’ (An Emmy, Grammy, Oscar and Tony) award. Additionally, she is the only black woman to have won all four. Whoopi is the first African-American actor to have received Academy Award nominations for Best Actress and Best Supporting Actress. She has also won a BAFTA and won two Golden Globe Awards.
Awards
Legend
Whoopi has had quite the life and career and has certainly overcome adversity and hardship to be successful. She’s made us laugh, she has left us in awe at some incredible acting performances and has certainly been an inspiration.
Legend