What To Know
- Hoda Kotb reunited with Jenna Bush Hager on November 9, filling in for Sheinelle Jones on Today With Jenna & Sheinelle.
- Fans praised Kotb and Bush Hager’s chemistry and called for Kotb to return to the show in some capacity.
- Since leaving Today in January 2025, Kotb has written a book, launched a wellness company, and made other guest appearances on the show.
Fans were so happy to see Hoda Kotb back on Today that they want her to return to the NBC morning show full time.
Kotb returned to her former role as Jenna Bush Hager‘s Today co-host on Monday, November 9, filling in for Sheinelle Jones on Today With Jenna & Sheinelle. “I walked in here, and I saw you walk into my little dressing room, and it was like not a day had passed,” she gushed. “That’s how life works, and it is true. Anybody who has a true, real friend knows this feeling. I used to think you had to see people daily, otherwise, what happens to a friendship. But a real friendship can be there in the middle of it.”
Kotb helped launch the fourth hour of Today in 2007, and co-hosted the series with Kathie Lee Gifford and Bush Hager before stepping away from Today and NBC in January 2025. Bush Hager continued to lead the show with a variety of celebrity guest hosts under the title Today With Jenna & Friends. Jones officially took over as her new, permanent guest host in January.
After Monday’s episode, fans took to the internet to share their thoughts on Kotb’s latest Today guest-hosting gig. “Omg I missed her SO much. Jenna and Hoda are the dream team! I love Sheinelle but her and Jenna just don’t have chemistry,” one Reddit user wrote.
A different person posted, “The pro is back! Hoda makes it looks easy. Sheinelle tries too hard with her squinting eyes, chair squirming, fake laughs, and using 5 paragraphs to ask a question as the guest’s eyes glaze over waiting for the ramble to stop.”
NBC
Speaking of Bush Hager and Jones, someone else said, “People bashing one over the [other] don’t get it. It’s the match that is just okay. Doesn’t bring out the best in both of them. Hoda and Jenna ultimately became a better match than the original Hoda and Kathie Lee.
Over on Instagram, one fan commented underneath a clip from the show, “It was sooooo much fun for her being back today. I feel we should ask Hoda to be the guest cohost when someone needs time off.” Another added, “Go hoda goo!!! I miss you and Jenna together so much!”
Someone else gushed, “I have died and gone to heaven that these two were together again today!!” A separate commenter stated, “I love Hoda so so so much and I miss her in today show.” Another declared, “BRING BACK HODA EVEN PART TIME.”
Kotb has been booked and busy in the nearly two years since her Today exit. In addition to spending more time with her daughters, Haley and Hope, Kotb has released her latest book, Jump & Find Joy, launched her wellness company, Joy 101, and recently kicked off her Friendship Tour with Maria Shriver.
Kotb previously guest-hosted Jenna & Friends with Bush Hager in May 2025. Earlier this year, she returned to the Today anchor desk to fill in for Savannah Guthrie as she took time off in the wake of her mother Nancy Guthrie‘s disappearance. Kotb also sat down with Savannah for her first interview about her mother’s abduction. (Nancy was reported missing in February, and authorities have yet to name any suspects in the ongoing investigation.)
Today With Jenna & Sheinelle, Weekdays, 10 am, NBC