NEW YORK - Meredith Vieira of ABC's "The View" will replace Katie Couric on the "Today" show.
Couric announced Wednesday that she will go to CBS to solo anchor the evening news.
On Thursday's show, Vieira made the teary announcement during the show's Hot Topic segment.
Vieira said she believes in change.
Vieira's Announcement
"I believe in growth, but right now I'm feeling terrific growth pains," she said to an applauding audience that gave her a standing ovation.
Vieira has been a co-host on "The View" for nine years.
Although there were many tears shed, the co-hosts shared memories that caused laughter and smiles.
Vieira said her breast once fell out of her dress and no one noticed.
Star Jones Reynolds interjected, saying that she put her breast back in her dress.
Reynolds added that she and Vieira can often finish each other's sentences and she will miss that.
Joy Behar jokingly called Vieira a skinny B.
"I'm miserable that you are leaving -- I have to say. I'm miserable," Behar said. "I feel like I am losing a sister. I feel like I'm losing a friend."
Elizabeth Hasslebeck compared the feeling of Vieira leaving to news about a girlfriend who says she's getting married, and moving to another city.
Hasslebeck said she considered Vieira as her sister and will still continue to call her for advice.
The View Master who doesn't talk often on the show chimed in as well.
"They are incredibly lucky to get you," said Bill Getty, the show's executive producer who is also known as the View Master. " They don't know how lucky they are but they will."
"She is irreplacaeble," Barbara Walters said, promising that "The View" would continue to be new and fresh.
