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Hoda Kotb’s Farewell Show: Oprah Winfrey, Simone Biles and More Emotional Surprises
Hoda Kotb knows Jenna Bush Hager deserves magic.
Which is why the veteran journalist has some advice for whoever joins Today’s fourth hour—previously known as Hoda & Jenna—to helm the program alongside Jenna.
“I would say to that person that they should be 100 percent themselves,” Hoda told E! News in an exclusive interview. “They should not try and force or do anything other than be authentically, 1,000 percent who they are. If they want it so deep down, it will come.”
She continued, “And what's going to work is not that one person’s super talented and another person is super talented—Jenna and whomever. Instead, it's whatever that space between is. Once you get magic, you know it from day one. You're like, ‘That's it. It's there.’ And from that day forward, it's off and running.” (For more with Hoda, tune into E! News tonight, Jan. 13 at 11 p.m.)
The 60-year-old—who also co-anchored the first hour of the NBC morning show alongside Savannah Guthrie—also acknowledged the challenges that come with the role.
“Look, it's hard work because you got to be yourself on Monday and Tuesday and Wednesday and Thursday and Friday,” she noted. “It's not like, ‘I'll be funny today, but I'm in a bad mood today.’ You just got to bring it. Maybe you're not having the best day. So what? It's not about you today.”
She continued, “So, I think all of those things will come together. Whoever that lucky person is, it's the job of a lifetime. It really is. There's nothing better than that job. Nothing.”
Helen Healey/NBC via Getty Images
In fact, while Jan. 13 marked the first Monday of Hoda’s next step—and all the sleeping in and time with her kids Haley, 7, and Hope, 5, that comes with it—she noted she’d be turning her TV on come 10 a.m. to see Jenna in action.
And right now, the fourth hour—currently named Jenna & Friends—sees the author hosting alongside Scarlett Johansson, who is temporarily filling in for Hoda as they land on a permanent replacement.
“I love Jenna so deeply and dearly, and I want to witness her success, because she's going to kill it,” Hoda said. “I want to watch her. I hate to say it's like watching your kid, but it kind of is. It's like going to the school play. Like I'll be mouthing the words, ‘Hi everybody, I’m Jenna.’ But I want her to be as wildly successful as she already is.”
She continued, “So, I will watch her because I just want to watch her step into her moment. Like step in both feet. And I want to bear witness to it because I think it's going to be magic. So, 10 to 11 I'm gonna block off.”
Otherwise, the beloved anchor is looking forward to slower mornings, and the two extra hours of sleep she’ll get now that she’s able to turn off her 3:15 a.m. alarm.
“I've actually found a 5:45 Soul Cycle class,” she added. “So if I get up at 5:15, I'll go to the class, come back, kids will just be getting up. I'll make the breakfast, have the coffee and do the whole thing. Get a workout in, feel refreshed and feel rested.”
And she’ll be able to spend every extra moment she has with her daughters—who she shares with ex Joel Schiffman—whom she’s said were the biggest reason she decided to embark on this journey and leave Today behind.
“I want them to know that they are the most important part of my life,” Hoda explained of her daughters. “They ride front seat. They ride sidecar. They don't ride in the back. Nothing else gets this seat. Career doesn't get this seat. Time doesn't get this seat. They get this seat.”
She added, “I want them to know that they are worth everything in the world and that I want them to know what hard work looks like. I want them to know what love looks like. I want them to know all those things, but I want them to know that I chose them.”
For more of Hoda’s sweetest moments with Hope and Haley, keep reading.
(E! and Today are both part of the NBCUniversal family.)
Instagram/Hoda Kotb
Halloween 2024
After announcing she's leaving Today, Hoda celebrates her first Halloween in the New York suburbs with her kids.
Instagram/Hoda Kotb
Cheer-Worthy
Haley and Hope match in cheerleader costumes.
Mother's Day Surprise
Hoda got emotional as Haley and Hope surprised her with an early Mother's Day gift.
Birthday Celebrations
Joined by her siblings Hala and Adel, nieces Hannah and Ella, mom Sami, daughters Haley Joy and Hope Catherine and fiancé Joel Schiffman, Hoda Kotb described the celebration as "my kinda birthday."
I <3 NY
Hoda enjoys a day with her daughters Haley Joy and Hope Catherine around New York City together.
Queens of Halloween
Another Halloween in the books! Hoda and her first daughter spend their another Halloween together as their Sesame Street alter egos.
Family Forever
The Today show momma spends time with her own mom (and Haley's grandma!) in this cute group shot on Halloween 2019.
Party Time
The host shared this pic of her and her little one at a Sesame Street party in Oct. 2019.
Suns Out, Funs Out
The daytime talk show host spends a day splashing around the beach in Aug. 2019.
Gift for Mama
Haley Joy looks cute as a button celebrating her mom's 55th birthday this past August.
Sweet Sister
"Look who is feeding Hope!" Kotb wrote on her Instagram in May 2019, showing off Haley feeding her newborn Hope.
Friends for Life
Kathie Lee Gifford, Hoda's close friend and long-time former co-host at Today, met Hope in early May and they were all smiles all day.
A Full House
In April, the 55-year-old host shared a photo of her full family for the first time on Instagram writing, "This is us xo."
Welcome Hope Catherine!
It's a girl! Hoda introduced Hope to the world after surprising her Today show family on-air revealing that she had secretly adopted her second child.
Birthday Girl
On Valentine's Day, the TV host celebrated Haley's second birthday and shared on Instagram how she felt saying, "So much love today."
Ho Ho Home
The beaming TV personality spent Christmas with her mother, sister and daughter.
Queen Bees
Haley celebrated her second Halloween by twinning with her mom in matching bee costumes.
Apple of Her Eye
In August of 2018, the mother-daughter duo spent an autumn day together picking apples.
Splashing Around
"I can't believe I get to do this .. #grateful" she wrote on her 54th birthday.
Proud Mama
On Mother's Day, Today co-anchor Hoda posed with her one-year-old cutie, Haley, as she sported a cute tee with the word "mama."
Mother's Day Duo
"Pre dawn photo shoots in bed are a blast," gushed the happy mom in a cute Insta selfie early on Mother's Day.
Sixtieth Surprise
On March 2018, the Oklahoma-native celebrated partner Joel Schiffman's 60th birthday with their baby girl and a homemade cake.
Post-Olympic Bliss
"Home!!!!!" announced the TV host on Instagram after spending two weeks covering the 2018 Winter Olympics in Pyeongchang, South Korea.
Pre-Olympics Shenanigans
The day before arriving in Pyeongchang for the 2018 Winter Olympics, the TV personality had some fun with her little sweetheart and her USA beanie.
Football's Cutest Fan
Gooo Saints! Hoda and her little sport's fan cheered on the New Orleans Saints in their game against the Minnesota Vikings on January 14.
Christmas Stripe Stars
"Santa we are ready!!!" the journalist wrote on this Christmas selfie with her mom, her partner and her little angel.
Turkey Time
On November 23, Hoda posed with her partner and her baby girl for the Macy's Thanksgiving Day Parade.
Hoppy Halloween!
For her first Halloween, Haley wore an adorable bunny costume as she enjoyed trick-or-treating in a stroller driven by her mom and her mom's long-term boyfriend.
Lil Pumpkin
On October 26, Hoda dressed Haley in a jack-o-lantern costume writing on Instagram, "I couldn't wait !!"
Selfie Stick Pic
During a Labor Day weekend beach trip, Hoda snapped a selfie with six-month-old Haley and the rest of the family, including her mom (left), sister (top right) and brother (right).
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