Hoda Kotb is both feeling and spreading the love upon her return to the TODAY Show's fray.
The former NBC mainstay, 61, made her departure from the morning show in January 2025 after seven years hosting beside Savannah Guthrie.
© NBCWhile she remained close with her former colleagues and the NBC family, beyond sporadic appearances, she remained off the show…until February of 2026, when she returned to co-anchor with Craig Melvin in Savannah's absence.
Hoda supported Craig on the air in the midst of Savannah's mother Nancy Guthrie's disappearance, and now she's back beside Savannah, 54, for the entire week while Craig, 46, enjoys a well-earned spring break. You can watch that moment below...
And Hoda is taking it all with a lot of joy. "It's been fun holding her hand," she told People of her reunion with Savannah. "I mean, that's been my favorite part."
She chokes up speaking fondly of her former co-host, adding: "Just sitting next to her. That's it. It's been really beautiful and I feel privileged to be able to sit there for a little while."
In response to Savannah saying Hoda was "helping me out" by being there, she asserted: "I don't feel that. I feel like I get to be in the seat to watch what strength looks like. There's nobody like her."
© Getty ImagesHoda returned to the show starting Monday morning, with Savannah straight away saying: "Nice to have you with us on a Monday morning," before turning to Hoda. "So glad to have you here Hoda," she continued.
"So glad to sit next to you in this chair again," Hoda replied. "Yes it's good, it's like the old times," her co-host responded.
© TODAYHoda has remained a strong support system for Savannah during her family's trying time, even interviewing her last month, her only sit-down interview since Nancy's apparent kidnapping.
In it, Savannah emotionally tells her friend: "To think that I brought this to her bedside. That it's because of me, and I just say, 'I'm so sorry mommy. I'm so sorry. I'm sorry to my sister and my brother and my kids and my nephew and Tommy, my brother-in-law. I'm just so sorry. I'm so sorry if it is me, I'm so sorry. I'm so sorry.'"
© NBCWhen the news of the interview was first shared, Hoda told her co-anchors on TODAY: "There is a desperation and also a steeliness about Savannah, who is hoping that somebody, whoever this person is, will see something and say something."
"I was, sort of, marveling," she continued, "that she was able to sit there with an outfit on, have a conversation, and also have just direct thoughts about what she sees going forward."
© Getty ImagesA visibly tearful Carson Daly added to her point: "It's gut-wrenching to watch someone you love so much be still post-50 days of this tragic event in this tortured limbo state… yet, to still show so much resilience and grace among it all."
