Hoda Kotb has taken hold of the reins on the TODAY Show while regular host Savannah Guthrie steps back from the spotlight amid the search for her mother, Nancy Guthrie. Filling in as co-host on the NBC program marks a bittersweet return for Hoda, who left the show in January 2025.
Speculation continues that Hoda could eventually step into a full-time role, with regular host Craig Melvin reportedly hinting that she would be his top choice to succeed Savannah.
During the January 13 instalment of the show, Hoda delivered the Morning Boost, and Craig seemed impressed that she hadn't lost her knack for live television. "By the way you still got it," Craig said to Hoda after the segment. "There it is," she replied.
© NBCSavannah has been absent from the show since her mother Nancy Guthrie was abducted from her home in Arizona earlier this month, and the case remains unsolved.
"Hoda is joining us while Savannah remains with her family in Arizona. We are grateful to have you here," Craig said on February 9, seemingly implying that she would remain as co-anchor of the show for the time being.
"You know what, Craig, we talk about our show like it's a family, we are a family," Hoda then maintained, adding: "I'm part of the family, I am happy to be with you because we show up for each other."
© Getty ImagesBack in January 2025, Hoda said she was ready for a new chapter after nearly 30 years with NBC and told her co-hosts: "I just turned 60, and it was such a monumental moment for me when I turned 60 years old because I started thinking about that decade, like, what does that decade mean? What does it hold? What's it gonna have for me?" she said on-air.
"I had my kiddos late in life, and I was thinking they deserve a bigger piece of my time, the pie that I have," she added. "I feel like we only have a finite amount of time. And so, with all that being said, this is the hardest thing in the world."
© Getty ImagesThe NBC star spoke to us in an interview about a lifestyle change she made to help her with the stress of her demanding work schedule. "I've started meditating," she said. "Never, in my wildest dreams did I imagine that I would meditate. I can't sit still. I thought, 'this isn't for me'."
"If I want to get a little pick me up, I can meditate when my girls have ballet. It's 45 minutes when I can't watch them. So, they're in a room and I'm sat outside. All of a sudden, I was like, 'Oh my gosh. I'm doing this. I'm doing this right now.
"I can hear parents talking, and at one point there was a kid next to me, who was asking for seven snacks. Each one was not good enough. I heard the first three, and then after that, I was like, 'Goodbye'. I can now zen it out."
