Oprah Winfrey, Simone Biles, Kermit the Frog and More Stars Surprise Hoda Kotb on Final “Today” Broadcast

In honor of Hoda Kotb's last day on Today, a slew of special celebrity guests sent the NBC anchor well wishes.

Keith Morrison, whom Kotb worked with on Dateline, where she began her NBC career in 1998, kicked off the starry tributes as he recalled his first impression of the Today co-anchor: "Wow, this is somebody different."

"She asked me a question. 'Could you help me learn to narrate, to be a storyteller?' As if she needed my help," Morrison, 77, recalled. "She was very kind. She listened. Over the years, I've seen her be kind to all kinds of people and that makes me feel very happy. We will miss our Hoda."

Related: Jamie Lee Curtis Brings Hoda Kotb to Tears with Sweet Note Before Today Anchor's Exit: 'We Are All Going to Miss You'

Morrison's tribute began a lengthy series of sweet memories and messages from celebrities that played throughout the Today broadcast for Kotb, 60.

Dwyane Wade, Jamie Lee Curtis and Kristin Chenoweth were next up, with the Wicked star saying in a recorded video, "You have put definitely a handprint on my heart and the world’s heart. Congratulations and don’t say ‘goodbye,’ say ‘see ya later.'"

A video of Wade, 42, played next, as he thanked Kotb for "everything that you provided over the airwaves for all your fans, all the families, all your supporters."

"But most importantly, thank you for what you’ve done and what you’re building and what you’re gonna go do," he said.

Curtis, 66, then shared a message. "We send you off with a warm aloha and thanks for all of these beautiful Todays that have added up to your career."

Savannah Guthrie then gave Kotb a gift on the actress' behalf and said Curtis was planning to surprise her in-person but headed home to L.A. due to the wildfires.

"I did have something made for you by Moy Thompson, and it’s one of my orbs, and it says, 'Every today with you is a better day' and the dates of your time at Today," Curtis said in a pre-recorded message, explaining her gift.

"So from all of your fans, your friends — me included — thank you for being such a shining example to all of us of what’s really important, and the reason that you’re stopping is the most important. God bless you and thank you!"

Related: Hoda Kotb's 10 Most Memorable Moments on Today

The next star to pay tribute to Kotb was none other than Oprah Winfrey, who told the journalist, "I know what making this decision feels like."

"Yes, you have made the right move although it has been very hard to do. and I know that Haley and Hope are going to benefit so much from this decision and whatever you decide to do in your next chapter, in your next adventure, it will be the best decision for you and for your family."

Simone Biles then surprised Kotb, who was emotional immediately when the Olympian arrived.

"I watched you grow up, I watched you go to the mountaintop," Kotb told Biles, 27. "When I think about all the things I've done here, over all the 26 years, you're at the top of my list."

Biles said Kotb is "like our Olympic mom" as she thanked the anchor.

Kotb said that before she had daughters Haley and Hope, she would often wish that, should she have kids, they would be "a lot like Simone."

Biles' appearance also came with an exciting tease about her potential plans for the Los Angeles Summer Olympics in 2028. "Hopefully we'll be in L.A. together, whatever that means," Biles teased. "Whatever that means for the both of us."

"We broke news on my last day!" Kotb said excitedly. Adding, "Simone, however you end up in L.A. and whatever you do, I'm going to be there too with you. I love you."

Related: Hoda Kotb Looks Back on the Good Times from Working at Today as She Reveals the 1 Thing She 'Will Not Miss'

Kermit the Frog closed out the 8 a.m. hour of surprises for Kotb, as her daughters joined her on the show, and the Muppet performed "Rainbow Connection" as Kotb and her daughters sang along.

He also praised Kotb as he said his "favorite thing" about her was her smile.

"You've got such a great smile. It really lights up a room, doesn't it?" he said. "Hoda, you truly do make every day as beautiful as a rainbow."

Kotb announced her decision to leave Today after 17 years on air in late September, as she admitted in a letter to staff of the NBC morning show that her daughters "need and deserve a bigger slice of my time pie."

Despite her exit from the Today show, the journalist will still remain at the network in some capacity.

"Happily and gratefully, I plan to remain a part of the NBC family, the longest work relationship I’ve been lucky enough to hold close to my heart," she shared. "I’ll be around. How could I not? Family is family and you all will always be a part of mine."

While speaking with PEOPLE for her October cover story, the longtime broadcaster opened up about a new project she was looking forward to pursuing after her time on Today comes to an end.

"It's a whole wellness situation, and I got lit up by that just from stuff I've been working on and doing on myself," she shared. "I've learned to do a bunch of different things with breath works and what not through friends, through Jenna [Bush Hager], through Maria [Shriver], through all these different people, and I've been loving it."

The television personality noted she's "still early on in the stages" of getting a "really good wellness app together and do wellness retreats and things like that."

"I think it would be, number one, fun, and number two, helpful," Kotb added.

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The Today show airs weekdays on NBC beginning at 7 a.m. ET.

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