Let’s talk about Hoda Kotb, the woman who left an indelible mark on her TODAY show co-hosts before stepping down in January after more than a decade as a host. Savannah Guthrie and Craig Melvin sat down with Andy Cohen during a SiriusXM TODAY Show Radio town hall on February 4 to reminisce about just how much their former colleague impacted them. It’s not just professional admiration; it’s personal, and it’s hilarious.
Hoda Kotb: The Musical Evangelist
Craig Melvin, 45, shared a story about Hoda's knack for introducing the team to new music. “Hoda’s one of these people,” he began. “She would come in on a Monday, and she’d be like, ‘Have you heard the Shaboozey song?’ and she’s like playing it nonstop. Next thing you know, you’re listening to Shaboozey. It’s like she had this magical way of making everyone fall in love with whatever she loved.”
Hoda's Suburban Recruitment Drive
And it wasn’t just about music. “She moved out to the suburbs,” Craig continued, “and she was recruiting actively, like everyone move out there just to be where she was. She was like, ‘This is the best thing; come.’ And so she comes in … it was like a Thursday…” Craig paused, letting the moment sink in before Savannah Guthrie, 53, chimed in with a laugh. “She would be an amazing cult leader,” Savannah said, her tone laced with admiration. “The best,” Craig agreed.
Read also:Tracker Season 3 What Fans Can Expect And Why Its A Mustwatch
Hoda's Holistic Influence
“Whatever it is, it’s like you have to have the …” Savannah said, trailing off as Craig jumped in. “Right. Like for a while, we were all going to her acupuncturist.” Savannah added, “Oh, we went to her acupuncturist.” The duo laughed as Craig revealed, “Like literally six people.” But it didn’t stop there. “Then we went to her shaman,” Savannah said. “Then we went to her fortune teller. Now we have to have a Toyota Sienna,” she joked, referencing the ultimate family vehicle.
The clip of their conversation was posted on the radio station’s Instagram account, sparking reactions from fans. “Cult leader Hoda! Totally!” one person wrote, while another quipped, “Sign me up for the @hodakotb cult!” One fan requested, “Share the acupuncturist please,” while another expressed their support, saying, “I am fully onboard with following Hods everywhere! She is such an inspiration!! So also are the both of you—Savannah and Craig! You’re doing really great together!”
Since stepping down from TODAY on January 10, Craig Melvin has taken over as Savannah’s early morning coanchor. But Hoda hasn’t been idle. She’s already started working on new projects, teasing an exciting collaboration with Joanna Gaines. On February 5, Hoda, 60, posted on Instagram, hinting at a “great adventure” with Joanna, 46. It seems a camera crew was on hand to capture their joint venture.
Hoda, who relocated to a new home in the suburbs last year, is also set to continue working with NBC in a different capacity. In a January 9 interview with Page Six, she revealed her new role. “I want to be a supporting character on a team that is already in place so that I’ll come in and just have a role there. And then I’m going to do my ‘Making Space’ podcast, which I enjoy and love so much,” she shared. “And for the TODAY show, I think we talked about doing something every four to six weeks, just a little something.”
