The Real Story: 5 Shocking Reasons Why Tamron Hall Left The Today Show (And Her $2 Million Contract)

The abrupt departure of Tamron Hall from NBC's Today Show in February 2017 remains one of the most controversial and talked-about shakeups in morning television history. While the network issued a brief statement confirming her exit, the real story behind the cancellation of her top-rated hour, Today’s Take, and her decision to walk away from a multi-million dollar contract, is a complex narrative of corporate maneuvering, a high-profile rival hire, and the ultimate vindication of an Emmy-winning journalist.

As of late 2024, Hall has not only overcome the professional setback but has successfully launched her own syndicated daytime talk show, proving that her value extended far beyond the walls of NBC. This deep dive uncovers the definitive reasons for her exit, the dramatic aftermath, and how the journalist turned a painful professional loss into a major career victory.

Tamron Hall: A Broadcast Journalist's Profile and Career Timeline

Tamron Hall's journey from a local news reporter to a syndicated talk show host is a testament to her dedication and resilience. Her profile provides essential context to the professional heights she achieved before her sudden Today Show exit.

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• Full Name: Tamron Hall
• Born: September 16, 1970
• Birthplace: Lufkin, Texas, U.S.
• Education: Temple University (B.A. in Broadcast Journalism)
• Early Career (1990s): Began her career as a general-assignment reporter for KBTX in Bryan, Texas, before moving to KTVT in Dallas.
• National News (2007–2017): Joined MSNBC and later became a co-host of NewsNation with Tamron Hall.
• The Today Show Era (2014–2017): Became the co-anchor of the 9 a.m. hour, Today’s Take, alongside Al Roker, making her the first African-American woman to co-anchor the Today Show.
• Departure from NBC: February 2017. She chose to leave the network rather than accept a reduced role.
• Current Role (2019–Present): Host and Executive Producer of the Emmy Award-winning syndicated daytime talk show, Tamron Hall Show.
• Net Worth: Estimated to be around $7 million to $8 million (as of 2024).

The 5 Definitive Reasons Behind Tamron Hall's Departure

Hall’s exit was not a simple contract dispute. It was a multi-layered decision driven by a significant corporate move that effectively dismantled the highly successful 9 a.m. hour she co-hosted with Al Roker, known as Today’s Take.

1. The Megyn Kelly Factor: A High-Stakes Corporate Hire

The primary catalyst for Hall’s departure was the arrival of former Fox News host, Megyn Kelly. NBC News, under then-chairman Andrew Lack, made a massive, high-profile investment to lure Kelly away, reportedly offering her a multi-year, multi-million dollar contract (estimated at $23 million per year).

The network decided to use the 9 a.m. hour—Hall and Roker’s time slot—as the launching pad for Kelly’s new daytime show, Megyn Kelly Today. This meant the immediate cancellation of Today’s Take, leaving Hall and Roker’s futures at the network uncertain and effectively ending their run.

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2. The Cancellation of The Top-Rated 'Today's Take'

The decision to cancel the 9 a.m. segment was particularly controversial because Today’s Take was performing well in the ratings. The show, co-hosted by Tamron Hall and Al Roker, was often a vibrant, high-energy hour that provided a much-needed boost to the Today Show’s overall viewership.

The cancellation, which was officially announced just days before Hall’s departure, signaled a clear prioritization of the new talent (Megyn Kelly) over the established, successful, and diverse team of Hall and Roker.

3. Hall’s Refusal of a Demoted Role and Contract Offer

When the network decided to cancel her show, Tamron Hall was reportedly offered a new multi-year contract with NBC News that would have involved a different, likely reduced, role. However, Hall chose to walk away from the network entirely rather than accept a demotion or a less prominent position.

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Her decision was a powerful statement about her professional value. As one source noted, she decided to leave NBC instead of taking a new role at Today, a clear indication that the alternative offered did not match her status as a co-anchor and an exceptional journalist.

4. Feeling "Written Off" and the Desire to Prove Her "Value"

In later interviews, Tamron Hall opened up about the emotional toll of the exit. She admitted that she felt "written off" by the network, suggesting a feeling of being undervalued despite her contributions.

This feeling of being discarded fueled her motivation. Hall stated that after leaving, she wanted to prove her "value," which became the driving force behind her next career move: creating her own platform. This personal drive transformed a professional setback into a launchpad for her independent success.

5. The Lack of a Proper Farewell

The abruptness of the situation was emphasized by the manner of her exit. There was no farewell celebration, no final episode, and no on-air announcement from Hall herself. News of her departure broke only after NBC issued a terse statement on February 1, 2017.

This sudden, quiet exit after a decade of service to the network, and three years as a groundbreaking co-anchor, further solidified the perception that the move was an unceremonious corporate decision rather than a mutual, amicable parting.

The Ultimate Irony: Megyn Kelly's Short-Lived Tenure and Tamron's Triumph

The most compelling part of the Tamron Hall story is the dramatic, almost immediate reversal of fortunes that followed her exit, which ultimately validated her decision to leave.

The Ratings Disaster and Cancellation

The network's expensive gamble on Megyn Kelly failed spectacularly. Megyn Kelly Today struggled in the ratings almost immediately. In its first week, the show's viewership was down significantly compared to the performance of Hall and Roker’s previous segment.

Over the next year, Kelly's ratings continued to tank, often performing 24% lower in key demographics compared to the numbers Hall and Roker had delivered. The corporate decision to replace a successful, diverse show with a high-cost, underperforming alternative proved to be a major miscalculation for NBC.

The Blackface Controversy and Kelly's Exit

Megyn Kelly's tenure came to an abrupt end in October 2018—just over a year after her debut—following controversial comments she made defending blackface as part of a Halloween costume. The ensuing outrage led NBC to cancel Megyn Kelly Today.

This cancellation resulted in a costly separation agreement, with reports suggesting Kelly received a massive payout, potentially in the range of $50 million to $69 million, to buy out the remainder of her contract. The entire episode became a highly publicized and expensive blunder for NBC News.

Tamron Hall's "North Star" Era: Finding Success After NBC

Tamron Hall did not stay out of the spotlight for long. She used the time after her NBC exit to focus on her personal life—getting married and having a child—and to plan her next professional move.

In 2019, she debuted her own syndicated daytime talk show, Tamron Hall Show. The show, which she hosts and executive produces, was an immediate success and was quickly renewed.

Hall has referred to the show's current run as her "North Star" era, a time where she is finally in control of her narrative and proving her worth on her own terms. Her success has provided a powerful narrative of resilience, showing that being "written off" by a major network can lead to a more fulfilling and profitable independent career.