Hoda Kotb Breaks Down in Tears Over Her Touching PEOPLE Cover: “It Was a Moment of Pure Perfection” — Here’s Why This Was a Milestone in Her Career and Personal Life.

Hoda Kotb is opening up about the impact of her most recent PEOPLE cover story — and her sixth time gracing the cover.

Kotb, 60, tells PEOPLE exclusively at the launch of her wellness platform Joy 101 on Wednesday, May 28, “That was such a beautiful picture. I literally saw the cover and almost wept.”

And, like any mom of two small children, Kotb knows what a true feat it is to get just the right shot. “I mean, both of my girls weren’t crying!” she added of appearing on the cover with her daughters Haley Joy, 8, and Hope Catherine, 6. “It was amazing. It was a perfect moment. I loved it so much. I loved everything about it,” she said.

As the former Today show anchor embarks on her newest venture, she also opened up about the inspiration that went into crafting Joy 101 at its launch, which was held at Current at Chelsea Piers in New York City.

Al Roker, Hoda Kotb, Craig Melvin, Jenna Bush Hager, Savannah Guthrie, Dylan Dreyer and Gayle King at the Joy 101 launch event.Craig Barritt/Getty

“It was always Joy 101 because you know what, it’s the basics. It’s like joy is in you when you’re a baby, but then you forget about it. You bury it as you get older with worries and all your junk and then you know, boom, then all of a sudden you know, and you realize you have to uncover it,” Kotb tells PEOPLE.

Also present at the event were Kotb’s former Today co-anchors Jenna Bush Hager and Savannah Guthrie, as well as Al Roker, Craig Melvin and Dylan Dreyer. Gayle King also joined the launch event to celebrate Kotb’s new platform.

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Ahead of the launch event, Kotb shared a post on her Instagram of the handwritten signs her daughters had left for her around the house in honor of Joy 101 on Wednesday.

“Happy Launch Day Mom!” one big sign written in rainbow letters read.

She also included a photo of a sign hung on a different door, which had a heart and the word “Mom” on it. “Lucky me ❤️,” Kotb wrote in her caption.

In her PEOPLE cover story, Kotb opened up about her daughter Hope’s health journey as she shared that she’d been diagnosed with type 1 diabetes in 2023.

“It’s kind of constant care for Hope. We’re monitoring her 24/7,” said Kotb, who called her daughter a “trouper” for the way she is coping with medical treatment.

To read more about Hoda Kotb’s life after Today, pick up the newest issue of PEOPLE on stands now.

“She was getting shots — four or five a day — every day for a year. Now she is getting them less frequently because we have some other means to get her what she needs, but there’s a lot to it,” she added. “Some kids can have sweets, and she can’t. If she’s up in the night, we have to take care of her at night.”

Amid the challenges and her exit from Today, Kotb is enjoying reconnecting with the joys of her own life. She told PEOPLE for her cover story, “It’s really cool to just realize that there’s so much more to life.”

She continued, “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.”

Hoda Kotb’s latest milestone, gracing the cover of PEOPLE for the sixth time, is a testament to her resilience and growth both personally and professionally. The 60-year-old broadcaster, known for her heartwarming presence on The Today Show, shared an emotional moment with her audience at the launch of her wellness platform, Joy 101.

“I literally saw the cover and almost wept,” Kotb admitted, reflecting on the powerful connection she felt with the image. Capturing the perfect moment on the cover was especially significant for Kotb as it featured her two daughters, Haley Joy and Hope Catherine. “I mean, both of my girls weren’t crying! It was amazing,” Kotb quipped, recalling the joy of a rare moment of calm with her young children. The image symbolized not just the love she shares with her family, but also her dedication to embracing life’s simple, beautiful moments.

As she enters this new chapter, Kotb is deeply focused on spreading the message of joy, which has become the cornerstone of her new venture. “Joy is in you when you’re a baby, but as you get older, you bury it with all the worries and life’s ‘junk,’” she explained during the Joy 101 launch event. The platform is designed to help people reconnect with the happiness they often lose track of as they grow older, something Kotb believes is crucial to living a fulfilling life.

Her personal life, especially her daughter’s health challenges, also adds to the depth of Kotb’s message. Hope’s diagnosis of type 1 diabetes in 2023 has been a life-changing experience for the family. Kotb spoke about the ongoing care her daughter requires, including daily injections, and the emotional toll of managing such a diagnosis. “Hope is a trooper,” Kotb said, admiring her daughter’s strength in the face of daily struggles.

Yet, amid the difficulties, Kotb finds solace in the quiet moments that often go unnoticed. “I used to think life was about the big things, but it really is all the stuff that happens in between,” she shared, reflecting on how her time away from Today has allowed her to be more present for her family.

With Joy 101, Kotb is inviting others to rediscover their own joy, just as she has, and the cover of PEOPLE is a poignant reminder of how far she has come.