Hoda Kotb celebrates the final Thanksgiving broadcast with flowers from Cynthia Erivo

Cynthia Erivo gives Hoda Kotb her flowers.

On Thursday, November 28th, it will take place Evil The 37-year-old actress celebrated the anniversary Today The host’s final Turkey Day with NBC was presented to her with a bouquet of white flowers during the broadcast of the 2024 Macy’s Thanksgiving Day Parade.

The 60-year-old TV personality announced her departure Today after 17 years (and a total of 25 years working for NBC) in September. She celebrated Thanksgiving one last time on the show alongside longtime co-hosts Savannah Guthrie and Al Roker.

When Erivo appeared during the show to talk about her new hit film, she came with a special gift for Kotb.

Erivo told Kotb, “Before you even start, yes, these flowers are for you because I know this is the last Thanksgiving parade you’re having.”

To an emotional Kotb, the actress continued: “I wanted to celebrate this and say we love you. Thank you for all the hard work you have done all these years.”

Last month, Kotb told PEOPLE about her decision to leave Today Early 2025 and, more specifically, the “best spot on TV” — aka her coveted role as host alongside Savannah Guthrie and co-host of the morning show Today with Hoda & Jenna with Jenna Bush Hager.

“I was kind of thinking and wondering and thinking about what I want this next phase of my life to look like when I turn 60,” she said. “And I like adventure, I like new beginnings. I’m a sunrise person, not a sunset person, and I was wondering what does it look like for me?”

As for a successor, Kotb said: “Whoever is interested in this seat, and it may be the best seat on television, I think the best advice I have is to be 1000% who you are.” is, because that really is the key.” (Craig Melvin has since been named her successor.)

“And the other thing is that sometimes part of the magic for me is enjoying the person sitting next to you,” she continued. “It’s such a small thing, but sometimes when you’re with someone, if you just let them shine.

Kotb added, “Give everyone a second, because who wants to be that person at the cocktail party who talks all the time?”

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The TV personality’s decision to leave Today A year full of personal turmoil followed. Last February, Kotb’s 5-year-old daughter Hope experienced a sudden medical crisis – the nature of which she has not made public for privacy reasons – leaving the host and her family searching for answers and long-term care solutions.

This year, Hope’s situation stabilized and Kotb moved her and her older sister Haley Joy to Westchester, where they can now spend time “barefoot” in her backyard, she told PEOPLE.

“We are in a place where Hope thrives. She’s doing better, we’re monitoring her, and I think over time we’ll get a better handle on it, but we’re already seeing a big difference,” she said. “We have really excellent care, I have people helping us. I feel like she’s finding her footing.”