Natalie Morales: ‘NBC Today’ Host To Leave For ‘Access Hollywood’ — Will Billy Bush Fill Her Role?

NBC Today’s host, Natalie Morales, will head to Los Angeles to host Access Hollywood. The LA Times reports that the veteran Today Show host, Morales, will be relocating to LA for that purpose.

Natalie Morales of "Today" is moving to L.A. to anchor "Access Hollywood" https://t.co/qeDiUxmyQP

— Los Angeles Times (@latimes) May 5, 2016

#Today star Natalie Morales to co-host #AccessHollywood Live following Billy Bush exit https://t.co/XRYaFjTc9T pic.twitter.com/N2uiWsUwxH

— People (@people) May 5, 2016

The NBC Today staff was notified of her departure late on Wednesday. Morales will be the west coast anchor and host for the syndicated Access Hollywood and Access Hollywood Live.

Natalie Morales’s move to host Access Hollywood is slated to be the first of many upcoming changes regarding the hosts of NBC’s Today show.

Morales’s longstanding co-hosts, Al Roker, Tamron Hall, and Willie Geist may be making a move someplace else, as well, according to sources.

Morales is to host Access Hollywood after being with Today for 10 years and part of the 9 a.m. hour for five of those years. Morales will, however, stay somewhat affiliated with the East Coast by continuing to appear on Dateline.

Natalie is expected to head for Los Angeles this summer to host Access Hollywood.

Senior vice president and executive of Today said that the program’s increased coverage of West Coast stories led him to believe that “having a permanent anchor presence in L.A. would be of enormous value.”

Oppenheim noted that Access Hollywood wanted Morales as part of the program after learning that a Los Angeles assignment was being considered for her.

“They immediately jumped at the opportunity to have her host Access Hollywood and Access Hollywood Live.”

NBC News currently doesn’t know who will replace Morales’ time slot on Today alongside Matt Lauer, Savannah Guthrie, and Roker. However, there are rumors of an expanded role for Hoda Kotb, who co-hosts the 10 a.m. hour with Kathie Lee Gifford.

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The Hollywood Reporter notes that Morales has been spending a lot of time in Los Angeles as she prepares to be the new host for Access Hollywood. The celebrity news site states that Morales spends about a week each month in the city to be precise.

Perhaps a trade of sorts, as Access Hollywood host, Billy Bush, is expected to join Today this summer while Natalie Morales does the opposite — heading west to host Access Hollywood.

NBC News altogether is expected to get a huge ratings burst on August 5, for the beginning of the Rio Summer Olympics, which they will exclusively broadcast. Morales and a change of staff are expected to aide in these efforts.

Natalie Morales leaving the Today show to host Access Hollywood seems sudden and builds on the current trend facing day-time talk show hosts: abrupt departures.

Natalie Morales will host Access Hollywood at a time where a power vacuum is still looking to be filled left by Michael Strahan and his departure which left co-host, Kelly Ripa in fumes.

Regarding Mike and Kelly, rumors are still spiraling as the Inquisitr reports that everyone from Neil Patrick Harris to Anderson Cooper, and even potential for a female counterpart for Ripa, could fill the role.

What do you think of Natalie Morales leaving the Today show for Access Hollywood?

[Getty Images/Tommaso Boddi]