NBC hosts Savannah Guthrie, Hoda Kotb, Kathie Lee Gifford and Chuck Todd shared their excitement on Twitter after the news that Kelly was hired

Kelly decided not to re-up with Fox News despite their offer of a $20m annual contract to keep hosting The Kelly File, which premiered in October 2013

She will have a triple role at NBC with a daytime news program, a Sunday night news show and will also be part of the network's political coverage

'We hope she enjoys tremendous success in her career and wish her and her family all the best,' said Rupert Murdoch

'I remain deeply grateful to Fox News, to Rupert, Lachlan and James Murdoch, and especially to all of the FNC viewers,' Kelly said in a statement

She will continue to host The Kelly File through the week, with Friday being her last day at Fox News

blow for Fox News, where Kelly, 46, was seen as the future of the network

among a number of networks to sign the Fox News host

Megyn Kelly has taken a job with NBC after a heated

Megyn Kelly is set to host her popular Fox News show on Tuesday night, just hours after NBC released a statement announcing that she would be joining the network in a broad role.

A publicist for the host of The Kelly File told CNN Money that Kelly's final day at Fox News will be Friday, though she will not be able to move over to NBC until her current contract expires in July.

There has been no word yet from Fox News about which host will replace Kelly next week and if there will be a new program or the show will be renamed The File.

News Corp CEO and Chairman Rupert Murdoch released a statement with some kind words for Kelly after learning the news, saying: 'We hope she enjoys tremendous success in her career and wish her and her family all the best.'

Kelly also released a rare public statement on Tuesday after news of the NBC deal broke in which she spoke about her new position and gave thanks to everyone at Fox News.

'While I will greatly miss my colleagues at Fox, I am delighted to be joining the NBC News family and taking on a new challenge,' wrote Kelly on Facebook.

'I remain deeply grateful to Fox News, to Rupert, Lachlan and James Murdoch, and especially to all of the FNC viewers, who have taught me so much about what really matters.'

That same statement was also posted on her Twitter account, with Kelly writing: 'An ending, and a new beginning...'

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Game over: Megyn Kelly (above in portrait from May) has taken a job with NBC after a heated battle among a number of networks to sign the Fox News host

New friends: Savannah Guthrie shared her excitement about NBC hiring Kelly despite being out on maternity leave, posting a pic from November (above)

Booze cruise: Today host Hoda Kotb invited Kelly to join her and Kathie Lee Gifford for a boozey celebration (above)

DC buds: Meet the Press moderator Chuck Todd was also quick to tell Kelly how excited he was to work with her at NBC (above)

In a statement released on Tuesday, NBC revealed that Kelly will anchor a one hour daytime program running Monday through Friday on the network, along with a Sunday evening news magazine show.

She will also be involved in the network's political and breaking news coverage

'Megyn is an exceptional journalist and news anchor, who has had an extraordinary career,' NBC Chairman Andrew Lack said of his high-profile hire.

MEGYN'S FAREWELL TO FOX NEWS ' Over a dozen years ago I started at Fox News in a job that would change my life. 'Now, I have decided to end my time at FNC, incredibly enriched for the experiences I've had. 'I have agreed to join NBC News, where I will be launching a new daytime show Monday through Friday, along with a Sunday evening news magazine program. 'I will also participate in NBC's breaking news coverage and its political and special events coverage. 'While I will greatly miss my colleagues at Fox, I am delighted to be joining the NBC News family and taking on a new challenge. 'I remain deeply grateful to Fox News, to Rupert, Lachlan and James Murdoch, and especially to all of the FNC viewers, who have taught me so much about what really matters. 'More to come soon. 'Happy New Year, and God bless.' Advertisement

'She’s demonstrated tremendous skill and poise, and we’re lucky to have her.'

Kelly's decision to not re-up her contract with Fox News, where she has worked for the past 12 years, is a devastating blow for the network.

She was reportedly offered an annual salary of over $20million to stay on at the channel, where her program The Kelly File has been a massive ratings success ever since it debuted back in October 2013.

Kelly's new colleagues also seem excited about the new addition to their team, with Meet the Press moderator Chuck Todd writing on Twitter: 'Welcome @MegynKelly! No disrespect to others, but hope you are already realizing, there's no place like NBC. Can't wait to work together.'

Savannah Guthrie also shared her excitement despite being out on maternity leave, posting a photo of herself and Kelly on Twitter and saying: Big welcome to @MegynKelly - awesome get for @NBCNews !! May I not be nine months pregnant in the next picture we take side-by-side!'

Today host Hoda Kotb also voiced her joy and offered her signature warm welcome to Kelly, writing: '@MegynKelly !!!! So excited you are heading to NBC! Pls stop by and have a glass of Chardonnay wth me and @KathieLGifford xo #welcome !!'

Kathie Lee Gifford then retweeted her co-host on the fourth hour of the NBC morning show.

There has been no comment from any of Kelly's Fox News colleagues however, including her two closest friends at the network, Dana Perino and Bill Hemmer.

The New York Times, who first broke the news, said that it was the triple role that Lack offered Kelly at the network which persuaded her to sign with NBC.

She will also be working with the NBC News teams to help develop her weekday news program ahead of its premiere.

There is no word on how much money Kelly will be making in her much broader new role at NBC, but it will be less than her Fox News offer.

She is currently making $15million for what is now her final year with Fox News according to the Wall Street Journal.

Meanwhile, Kelly's move to NBC will not happen until later this summer at the earliest as Kelly's contract with Fox News runs through July of this year.

It will also be a relatively easy office move for Kelly, as Fox News headquarters is just two blocks away from Rockefeller Center, which is the home of NBC.

It was Vanity Fair that first reported Kelly was in talks with NBC in a story published last month about the 'last-minute suitors' looking to hire Kelly.

Uptown girl: Kelly will be moving just two blocks to Rockefeller Center from Fox News Headquarters. She was there in February with husband Doug Brunt for a Fallon appearance

The other networks chasing Kelly included ABC and CNN they claimed, along with the news that money was 'less of an issue' for Kelly.

CNN President Jeff Zucker was said to be 'moving the Himalayan mountains to get [Kelly]' on the network at the time but could not match the $20million Fox News already had on the table.

And while Fox News executives were eager to keep Kelly, others at the network were apparently less fond of the network star.

Her non-stop press appearances to promote her memoir Settle For More in November and December reportedly earned Kelly a new nickname at work - 'Me-again.'

The news of Kelly's departure from Fox News for a post at NBC now puts to an end months of speculation about the future of the popular host.

It also marks a remarkable ascent for Kelly, who got into the field later in life after becoming disillusioned with her career as an attorney.

She began shooting up the ranks at Fox News soon after she landed a role as a contributor for the network back in 2004, at which time she was working in their Washington DC office.

Kelly began appearing on the network's most popular shows, and by 2007 she was already hosting her own program on the network, America's Newsroom.

Three years into that job she got another big promotion, leaving behind Newsroom and her co-host Bill Hemmer for a solo hosting gig on America Live.

And after three years in that role Fox News made the announcement that Kelly would be given her own primetime news program.

Polite farewell: 'I remain deeply grateful to Fox News, to Rupert, Lachlan and James Murdoch, and especially to all of the FNC viewers,' Kelly said in a statement (l to r: lachlan, Rupert and James Murdoch in March)

Battle of the blondes: Donald Trump spent much of the election going after Kelly, but the two made nice in April (above Trump and Kelly shooting her May primetime special)

Kelly helped to develop The Kelly File before its premiere at Fox News, and has easily won her time slot over the past three years.

Kelly consistently has the number one news program in overall viewers as well as the critical 25 - 54 demo across cable news.

News Corp CEO and Chairman Rupert Murdoch made it clear however in October that he believes it would be easy to fill Kelly's spot if she decided to jump ship.

'[W]e have a deep bench of talent, many of whom would give their right arm for that spot,' Murdoch told the Wall Street Journal.

Kelly largely refused to speak or even comment about her future at Fox News over the past few months.

She did however confirm some reports about what Fox News was offering her last month in an interview with The Washington Post.

Kelly stressed how happy she was to be at Fox News in that interview, and confirmed that her new boss Lachlan Murdoch did provide her with a 'generous offer' to continue hosting The Kelly File.

And while that praise made it appear as if Kelly was likely to say, she also made a point of saying there were 'great options' to consider' later on in the interview.

Kelly said that after Murdoch presented her with what the network was prepared to offer her come July, she told him that she wanted time to think things through and make the best decision for herself and her family.

'Oh, my next deal is all about greater balance. I mean, that’s - I had professional success, right? Thankfully,' said Kelly.

'And I feel like I’m at a level in my business where I’ve established myself as a professional. And the one thing I haven’t managed to do is find a way to achieve a better balance.'

She then explained that she would like to have a schedule that allowed her to spend more time with her children at the end of the day and not come home from hosting a live program at 9pm to find the three asleep in bed, as is the case most evenings.

Kelly and her second husband, writer Douglas Brunt, have three children - sons Edward Yates, 7, and Thatcher Bray, 3, as well as a 5-year-old daughter, Yardley Evans.

Brunt's third book, Trophy Son: A Novel, will be released this May.

Family outing: Kelly and her second husband, writer Douglas Brunt, have three children - sons Edward Yates, 7, and Thatcher Bray, 3, as well as a 5-year-old daughter, Yardley Evans (above in October)

Thoughts: Kelly posted her statement on Twitter with a bittersweet message about the future (above)

This has been a tumultuous year for Fox News, who are now number one in total viewers across all cable.

The network stole the top spot away from ESPN thanks in no small part to the recent election.

Kelly also became a big past of the election after being attacked multiple times by the Trump campaign, most notably after the first Republican primary debate last August.

The attacks on Kelly began after she grilled him about his controversial comments about women.

'You've called women you don't like 'fat pigs,' 'dogs,' 'slobs' and 'disgusting animals,'' Kelly said.

'Does that sound to you like the temperament of a man we should elect as president?'

Trump replied: 'Honestly, Megyn, if you don't like it, I'm sorry . . . I've been very nice to you, although I could probably not be, based on the way you have treated me.'

He then said of Kelly the following day: 'You could see there was blood coming out of her eyes. Blood coming out of her ... wherever.'

Kelly will have a triple role at NBC when she starts later this year

The attacks by Trump against Kelly continued for months, and he took to Twitter countless times to lash out at the host or retweet criticisms of her and her show, The Kelly File.

He even backed out of a Fox News-sponsored debate in Iowa that she was moderating earlier this year.

The two eventually made amends and in May, and Trump appeared on Kelly's primetime special which aired across Fox platforms that same month.

Trump was back to his old ways however in late October when he voiced his support for Newt Gingrich after the former Speaker of the House went off on Kelly while appearing on her show.

Kelly has continued to not get involved for the most part and usually refuses to engage with Trump.

She also urged the audience at a Women in Hollywood event last month to give Trump a chance.

That comment came despite the fact that she and her children still have to travel with armed guards due to the threats being made against the host and her family by some Trump supporters.

That was not the only big story Kelly found herself a part of either this year, though the other represented a shocking low point for Fox News.

She played a crucial role in the ousting of Ailes' as CEO of the network after speaking with a team sent to investigate possible sexual harassment at Fox News following a lawsuit filed by fired host Gretchen Carlson.

Kelly did not speak about the ongoing turmoil at the time, deciding to instead save it all for her book.

In her memoir Settle For More, Kelly claims that Ailes tried to kiss her against her will, made inappropriate sexual comments in her presence and even told her about some 'very sexy bras' he would like to watch her wear.

Kelly also claims that Ailes offered to advance her career soon after she was hired as a legal correspondent for the network in 2005 in exchange for sexual favors.

Kelly's decision to go back and add a section detailing Ailes' harassment was made after her book had already been completed and sent off to her publisher.

Ailes had already left Fox News by that point as well, with a reported $42million severance package.

Key player: In addition to her own show Kelly was involved in special event coverage for Fox News and moderated debates for the network (above with Chris Wallace and Bret Baier in August 2015)

Reports had been circulating for months as well claiming that there is little chance that both O'Reilly and Kelly would re-up their contracts, though neither of the two said anything to confirm that claim.

The uncertain relationship between the pair made headlines in November after comments O'Reilly made about Kelly during an appearance on CBS This Morning.

O'Reilly was asked during his appearance on the morning news show if Kelly might appear on his Fox News program to promote her book, to which he replied: 'I don't know. We'll see if she's going to be on the show or not. I want to be that candid. I'm not that interested in this.'

That is when anchor Norah O'Donnell, a longtime friend of O'Reilly's, cut in and asked: 'You're not interested in sexual harassment?'

Fox News is the most watched network on cable this year, overtaking ESPN

A clearly annoyed and angry O'Reilly replied to this by saying: 'I'm not interested in basically litigating something that is finished that makes my network look bad. Okay?

'I'm not interested in making my network look bad at all. That doesn't interest me one bit.'

O'Reilly seemed to be referencing the chapter in Kelly's book where she details former Fox news CEO Roger Ailes' sexual harassment of her and her decision to cooperate with the company's investigation into its CEO this past July.

The preternaturally cool and collected Kelly responded to O'Reilly's comments the very next day, during her own appearance on CBS This Morning.

'Well I will say this, I am very proud of the fact that I discussed this with Rupert and Lachlan Murdoch before I wrote this chapter in my book, and we were all on the same page,' she said.

'And it was an important chapter to include and I am proud of them that they feel as I do, that sunlight is the best disinfectant.'