Before there was Hoda & Jenna, there was Kathie Lee & Hoda… and several glasses (bottles?) of wine.
So it only makes sense that Kathie Lee Gifford made a surprise visit to Today With Hoda & Jenna to celebrate Hoda Kotb‘s final day on the show. Gifford co-hosted the fourth hour of Today with Kotb between 2008 and 2019 until she was succeeded by Jenna Bush Hager.
Bush Hager surprised Kotb during the broadcast with a touching video message from Gifford, who wished her well on her next journey.
“So beloved Hoda, I hope you’re feeling that from everybody,” Gifford said in the message, before playfully adding, “I’m sorry to miss your big day but you know I’m very busy, very busy, very important. I love you, sweetheart.”
But it turns out that Gifford was waiting backstage to share one last glass of wine with Kotb for old time’s sake! She joined Kotb and Bush Hager on stage at the “Hoda-bration” where she reflected on their very first meeting together at the Rainbow Room in 30 Rock.
Kotb admitted she was surprised to see Gifford. “I wondered because I love you so much that I was thinking to myself, ‘I sure hope Kath comes,'” she said.
Gifford explained she was hesitant to return to daytime television after having hosted Live With Regis & Kathie Lee for 15 years with the late Regis Philbin – until she finally agreed to meet Kotb.
“My problem is, I fell in love. And I fell in love with Hoda and I said I don’t wanna leave her,” she told Kotb and Bush Hager. “Every time I was with Hoda, the one thing I had in common with you and with Regis, two very, very different people, I look forward every single day to being with you both.”
Bush Hager then asked if Griffin would lead them in a toast over an absolutely whopping glass of wine.
Gifford paused the jokes momentarily to send Kotb off with a prayer in a somber and touching moment that appeared to move Kotb to tears. “May you walk into the most joyful, prosperous, purposeful time in your life with those precious daughters,” Gifford told her former co-host. “Once those babies came, I knew it was time. She ain’t gonna be here long!”
This marks Kotb’s last official day as an anchor on The Today Show and Today With Hoda & Jenna. While it’s already been announced she will be staying on at NBC as a correspondent and contributor, Bush Hager seemed to tease the possibility of Kotb returning to guest host one day on Today With Jenna & Friends.
“I can’t imagine this place without you but I don’t have to because we already have a date on the calendar,” Bush Hager said during the broadcast. Kotb fans, keep your fingers crossed!
The fourth hour of Today will return with a brand new look and a rotating panel of guest hosts starting Monday, Jan. 13, at 10 a.m. on NBC.