Tamron Hall has publicly revealed for the first time that she turned down a $2 million per year contract with NBC after the network replaced her third-hour Today Show slot with Megyn Kelly in 2017.
Hall told People magazine she wrote back to her agent simply: “I’ll pass.” The offer came after NBC removed her 9 a.m. hour, which she co-hosted with Al Roker, to launch Megyn Kelly Today.
Why Tamron Hall Walked Away from NBC’s Today Show in 2017
Hall departed NBC after 10 years without an on-air farewell. Reports surfaced in late January 2017 that Kelly was being considered for her own hour, either taking Hall’s 9 a.m. slot or the 10 a.m. hour hosted by Kathie Lee Gifford and Hoda Kotb.
Hall decided to leave just days after rumors about Kelly emerged. She said she had to “pray not to be broken” but refused to bow her head. She later stated NBC made the “wrong choice” by giving her hour to Kelly.
Her exact words on the decision:
“All money ain’t good money.”
She turned down the lucrative deal because staying would mean accepting being replaced without respect or closure.
The $2 Million Offer: What NBC Wanted Tamron Hall to Do
NBC offered Hall $2 million annually to remain with the network after removing her time slot. Though the exact role wasn’t fully detailed, the contract would have kept her employed by NBC without her original 9 a.m. hosting position.
Hall rejected the offer despite financial pressure, choosing to leave entirely rather than accept a diminished role.
The conversation got REAL with @tamronhall about what she says was at stake regarding her departure from the today show. pic.twitter.com/3L7g2ulpJi
— Scott Evans (@iamscottevans) May 8, 2026
Tamron Hall’s Emotional Reflection on Leaving Today Show
Hall described the experience as emotionally devastating. After a decade at NBC, she walked away quietly. She said she had to pray not to be broken but stayed proud.
In 2019, she told USA Today:
“NBC, Today made the wrong choice.”
She emphasized that her departure wasn’t about bitterness but about self-respect and knowing her value.
Megyn Kelly’s Short-Lived Today Show Run After Tamron Hall
Megyn Kelly Today launched in fall 2017 but faced immediate controversy, including a September 2018 incident where Kelly defended blackface costumes on air. NBC cancelled the show less than a year later.
Kelly departed NBC in July 2017 before the show even launched, but her replacement of Hall remained a defining moment in NBC’s morning programming history.
Hall didn’t wait for Kelly’s failure to recognize NBC’s mistake—she left immediately and built her own path.
Tamron Hall’s Career After NBC: From Daytime Talk Show Host to New Success
After leaving NBC, Hall launched The Tamron Hall Show in September 2019. The daytime talk show was immediately successful, earning Daytime Emmy Awards and strong ratings.
Key milestones post-NBC:
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2019: Debut of The Tamron Hall Show
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2020–2024: Multiple Daytime Emmy wins for Outstanding Talk Show Host
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2025: Show renewed through 2027, solidifying her status as a top daytime host
Her career rebound proved her decision to walk away was strategic, not just emotional.
Key Facts & Important Updates
What Happens Next
Hall’s show continues to thrive in 2026 with strong ratings and critical acclaim. Her revelation about the $2 million contract has reignited public discussion about workplace respect, gender, and race in media.
NBC has not commented publicly on Hall’s latest remarks.
FAQ: Google People Also Ask Optimization
Why did Tamron Hall leave the Today Show in 2017?
She was replaced by Megyn Kelly, and NBC removed her 9 a.m. hour. Hall chose to leave rather than accept a diminished role.
How much money did Tamron Hall turn down from NBC?
Hall rejected a $2 million per year contract after being replaced.
What did Tamron Hall say about the NBC contract?
She said, “All money ain’t good money,” and told her agent, “I’ll pass.”
Did Megyn Kelly’s Today Show succeed after replacing Tamron Hall?
No. Megyn Kelly Today was cancelled less than a year after launching due to controversies and declining ratings.
What is Tamron Hall doing now?
She hosts The Tamron Hall Show, which won multiple Daytime Emmys and remains on air in 2026.
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