All About Hoda Kotb's Mother Sameha Kotb

Mar. 15, 2025

Hoda Kotb and her mother Sameha celebrate the launch of Hoda’s book ‘How I Survived War Zones, Bad Hair, Cancer and Kathie Lee’.Photo:Peter Kramer/NBCU Photo Bank/NBCUniversal/Getty

Peter Kramer/NBCU Photo Bank/NBCUniversal/Getty

FormerTodayshow hostHoda Kotbhas built a career out of resiliency and hard work — and she credits her mother, Sameha Kotb, for giving her strength.

In January 2025, Hoda hostedTodayfor the last time, and though her mom couldn’t be there in person, she did record avideo messagecongratulating her daughter for her long hosting run.

“Hodie, I’m proud of you, and I’m sure you’re going to be doing great work later on,” she said.

In her keynote address for theLibrary of Congress’ 2010 celebration of Women’s History Month, Hoda shared that “You can do it!” has been her mother’s mantra.

The broadcast journalist has also spoken about Sameha’s optimism, a trait she passed on to her.

“She falls in love over and over and over again with people, with places, with a new dish. She wakes up happy. I don’t care if there’s a hurricane approaching. She’ll look outside and go, ‘Maybe not this moment, but it will be nice in about an hour,’ ” Hoda wrote onToday’s blog.

Here’s everything to know about Hoda Kotb’s mother, Sameha Kotb.

She worked for the Library of Congress

Hoda Kotb’s mother Sameha Kotb with her sister Hala Kotb and brother Adel Kotb.Hoda Kotb Instagram

Hoda Kotb Instagram

Sameha is now retired, but she worked for theLibrary of Congressfor more than 30 years. During her time there, she maintained close relationships with her colleagues.

“I can’t remember a time when my mom didn’t work. She has forever been on the move — a go-getter,” Hoda said of her mom in aTodayarticleabout Sameha being her hero.

“To this day, my mom’s unsinkable spirit is an inspiration to me. Everyone knows Sameha simply as ‘Sami,’ “ Hoda said in 2012, speaking about her mom’s coworkers.

“Along with 500 miles of shelved books, her closest friendships are cataloged in that library. They are as much the value of work to my mom as is the work itself,” she continued.

Hoda remembers her mom as always being a hard worker who even helped her out when she was a kid with a paper route.

“When my brother Adel and I had a paper route as kids, my mom would get up before us at the crack of dawn to drop off theWashington Postat different corners. That would lighten our load as we walked and delivered papers to each area.”

She’s a mom of three

Hoda Kotb and her family.Hoda Kotb instagram

Hoda Kotb instagram

Hoda is just one of three kids to her mom, Sameha, who also shares daughter Hala and son Adel with Hoda’s late father, Abdel Kader Kotb.

Adel is a civil engineer and father of two. Hoda oftencelebrates her siblingson social media.

All of Sameha’s children have been there to support her when she needed them, including whenshe ran the Marine Corps Marathon. Hoda recounted the story forToday’sblog.

“My sister Hala, Adel and I joined her in D.C. to cheer her on. We waved to her at the starting line and mapped out all the spots where we’d be able to yell to her," Hoda wrote. “At Mile 3 she looked great, waving and smiling. Mile 6 was a problem.”

After her sister Hala urged her to go in and help after mile 10, Hoda started running with her since her sister wore sandals and her brother wore loafers that day and she was the only one in sneakers.

She’s “tata” to Hoda’s kids

Hoda Kotb with her sister Hala, mom Sameha, and kids Hope and Haley.Hoda Kotb Instagram

Hoda is a motherherself to two kids, Haley Joy and Hope Catherine. While Sameha is their grandmother, they have a special name for her: Tata.

Tata is the informal word for grandma in Lebanese Arabic. Sameha and Hoda are of Arabic descent, and their family even lived in Egypt for a year when Hoda was young.

In January 2025, Sameha was there tocelebrate Haley turning 8at a birthday party Hoda threw her at a bowling alley, and can be seen in theInstagrampost Hoda posted of photos from the party.

Hoda has often credited her mother for inspiring her approach to parenting.

“She was a great mom. She was strict," she toldTodayin 2016. “That was how we lived. You understood what no meant. There was no ‘But everyone else is doing it.’ She couldn’t have cared less what anyone else was doing.”

Sameha is also a grandmother to Adel’s children: Hannah, a current Cornell University student, and Ella.

“She loves her grandkids and they love her beyond,” Hoda said on theTodayshow.

She’s been there for Hoda in her hardest and proudest moments

Hoda Kotb with her mom Sameha and sister Hala.Hoda Kotb Instagram

Sameha has also supported her daughter through some of life’s harder moments.

When Hoda was diagnosed with breast cancer in 2007, her mother was one of the last people she saw before being wheeled into surgery for a double mastectomy.

“I remember the doctor looked at my mom, who was terrified, and she said, ‘Miss Kotb, I’m gonna take care of your little girl and bring her home,’ " Hoda recalled on theTodayshow in May 2023.

“I remember when I placed Haley in my mom’s arms, and I thought to myself, ‘Who would have ever thought that could happen?’ From that moment there in the hospital to this moment, watching my mom hold my children. It’s like, God is good,” Hoda said during a segment on theToday show.

She’s Hoda’s fashion stylist

Sameha Kotb and Hoda Kotb on May 11, 2017.Nathan Congleton/NBCU Photo Bank/NBCUniversal/Getty

Nathan Congleton/NBCU Photo Bank/NBCUniversal/Getty

As a morning show host, Hoda has a secret weapon for looking so put together all the time: her mom. In 2020, she revealed details on E!’sPop of the Morning.

“Your mom styles you for the show,” E! host Lilliana Vazquez said on the air.

“Yeah, if I’m wearing a good outfit,she picked it,” Hoda replied. “If I’m wearing one of the other ones, somebody else — I bought it myself.”

She visits Hoda at work

Hoda Kotb, Sami Kotb and Kathie Lee Gifford on the ‘Today’ show on May 11, 2017.Nathan Congleton/NBCU Photo Bank/NBCUniversal/Getty

While she started helping Hoda at work when she was a kid with a paper route, Sameha is still showing up for her daughter at work.

“My mom’s roast is great comfort food. It always reminds me of home. And her cauliflower mash is the best,” Hoda said while cooking with her mom on theTodayshow.

“If I only had a fraction of the talent my mom has in the kitchen, I would be happy,” she added.

source: people.com