Meredith Vieira Announces ‘Today’ Exit; Ann Curry to Replace Her

Vieira will still contribute to NBC News; Savannah Guthrie joins third hour of “Today” | VIDEO

Meredith Vieira, near tears, announced her exit from NBC's "Today" Monday after five years of co-anchoring with Matt Lauer. Ann Curry will replace her as co-anchor.

The changes had been expected for months at the top-rated morning show. Vieira has wanted to spend more time with her family, and will remain with NBC News.

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Curry, who joined "Today" in 1997, will be replaced as its newsreader by Natalie Morales. White House correspondent Savannah Guthrie, a frequent "Today" fill-in, will join the show as a co-host in its third hour.

"I'm going to try to hold myself together here. But after months of personal reflection and private conversations with my family and my friends, I've decided to leave 'Today' in June," Vieira said. "And even as I say this and I know that it is the right thing, I'm really sad because for the past — I like to say 10 years but it's only been five — this has been my second home."

Curry said after Lauer announced her promotion, "I feel like the high school computer nerd who was just asked to the prom by the quarterback of the football team."

Vieira replaced Katie Couric, who left the show to host the "CBS Evening News."

Watch the announcement:

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