Amid her two-week absence due to a “family health matter,” Hoda Kotb made a brief appearance on Friday’s episode of the “Today” show in a pre-taped interview.
Al Roker, Craig Melvin, Sheinelle Jones and Carson Daly — who have all been filling in for the Kotb, 58 — introduced a clip of her “recently” filmed interview with Chloe Lattanzi and John Easterling, daughter and husband of the late Olivia Newton-John.
In the interview, which first aired on Kotb’s final live broadcast on Feb. 17, the broadcaster discussed the actress’ “beautiful legacy” with Lattanzi and Easterling.
“My mom is a pioneer, a rebel in a good way. A healer,” Lattanzi, 37, said during the emotional interview discussing Newton-John’s sudden death on Aug. 8, 2022.
The interview marked the first time that Kotb has physically been on TV screens since Feb. 20 — during a pre-taped show for “Today with Hoda & Jenna.”
Amid growing concern from fans over Kotb’s two-week absence, fellow “Today” show anchors revealed that Kotb had been gone due to a “family health matter.”
“We know a lot of you have been wondering how she’s doing. We can tell you that Hoda is OK, [but] she’s got a family health matter that she’s been dealing with,” Melvin said on Wednesday’s live broadcast.
Melvin teased that Kotb will be “back here at the desk very, very soon.”
“We love you both,” Roker concluded as he blew a kiss at the camera.
Kotb’s “Today with Hoda & Jenna” co-host, Jenna Bush Hager, also addressed her friend’s leave.
“Willie [Geist] is in for Hoda, and we just want to let you all know that we heard you, and Hoda is OK,” Bush Hager told viewers on Wednesday. “She just has a family health matter she is dealing with.”
Bush Hager, 41, and Geist, 47 — who has been filling in for Kotb along with Jones — both added that they “love” and “adore” Kotb and can’t wait for her return “very, very soon.”
In the midst of Kotb’s absence, her “Today” co-anchor, Savannah Guthrie, also fled the show mid-broadcast after discovering she had tested positive for COVID-19.
Guthrie — who has given up Instagram for Lent — has not shared when she’ll be returning to the NBC morning show.
Kotb has also not addressed her absence or when she’ll be back at the anchor desk.
