Natalie Morales leaving ‘Today’ and NBC News, reportedly headed to ‘The Talk’ at CBS

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Natalie Morales is leaving NBC News after 22 years and is reportedly headed to CBS’s “The Talk.”

In a memo to staffers, “Today” executive producer Tom Mazzarelli noted that Morales is leaving to explore another opportunity, but did not share details.

Other outlets, however, are saying she has signed on to join CBS’s “The Talk,” which has had a tumultuous year, losing and gaining co-hosts.

Morales joined the network in 2002 and worked for MSNBC initially. She would later join “Today” in 2006 as the show’s newsreader but would expand in role over the coming years.

In 2016, she relocated to Los Angeles to host “Access Hollywood” and “Access Hollywood Live” while also continuing as “West Coast correspondent” for “Today.” She replaced Billy Bush on “Access” as he moved to “Today” — but his stint was short lived after he left the network in the aftermath of the Donald Trump “Access Hollywood” tape.

She left “Access” in 2019 but continued to appear on “Dateline.” Although it appears she’s leaving the network sooner, she will continue to appear on “Dateline” through the end of 2021.

Prior to joining the network, she anchored at NBC owned WVIT in Hartford, Connecticut and worked behind the scenes at the original version of Court TV.

Morales is married to Joseph Rhodes and has two children.

Here is the note she sent out.

How do you begin to say thank you for 22 amazing years? I struggle to find the right words and there are way too many people I need to thank for a wonderful career at NBC News. I think back to my early days cutting my teeth at WVIT in Hartford, CT then taking the huge and – at the time- petrifying leap to MSNBC and alas— scoring the golden tickets to the Today Show and Dateline. Never in a million years did I imagine this when I dreamed of what I wanted to be when I grew up!

This first half of my life has been one full of adventure, challenges, travel, way too many early wake up calls, and yes opportunities to witness history unfold and to tell inspiring and impactful stories that will always be in my mind’s highlight reel. Speaking of that reel: I watched my family grow up along with so many of your own children, and as my oldest son gets ready to spread his wings and head to college soon, so too do I feel the time is right, (before the second half of my life) to spread my own wings and to pursue a new adventure.

To my Dateline and Today show families, it’s very hard to say goodbye… and we all know in this business it’s never goodbye but see you later. I’m eternally grateful for the support and deep friendships that will remain no matter where our paths lead. I have so much to be thankful for and for every one of you who helped me get here… muchísimas gracias mis amigos.

Natalie