Setting the Record Straight: Hoda and Eddie Are Just Friends
Let’s set the record straight right off the bat—Hoda Kotb and her driver Eddie are not romantically involved. If you’ve been following the buzz around the Today show, you might have heard some chatter about Hoda and Eddie being an item. But here’s the scoop: It’s all just a big misunderstanding. Jenna Bush Hager, Hoda’s cohost, took a moment on the show to clarify things once and for all. Hoda, at 59 years young, is still on the lookout for love, and Eddie is just her ride to work.
During a light-hearted moment on the show, Jenna playfully addressed the rumors. “We should just say, Eddie drives you [to work],” Jenna, 42, said when Hoda recalled chatting about the WNBA draft with Eddie on the morning of Tuesday, April 16. “People thought he was your boyfriend for a minute.” It was all in good fun, but it’s clear that these two share a close, platonic friendship.
Hoda and Eddie: A Bond Beyond Romance
Even Eddie himself has heard the buzz. “I saw him yesterday and I was like, ‘What’s up, Eddie?’ And he was like, ‘Can you believe it?’” Jenna recalled, laughing it off. “And you love him, you’ve worked with him for many years.” Hoda chimed in, sharing that she affectionately calls her driver “my Eddie,” but Jenna was quick to clarify for the audience. “He’s your Eddie, but that didn’t mean he’s your romantic Eddie,” Jenna said. And with that, she reminded everyone that Hoda is still on the hunt for “The One.”
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Now, how did this rumor even start? It all began when Hoda shared a fun video of Eddie playing Beyoncé’s “YA YA” in the car on the way to work. Hoda couldn’t help but gush about Eddie’s playlist. “Eddie picks me up every day … And he just made my day,” Hoda wrote alongside the post on April 9. “Check out my experience this morning. This happened five minutes ago … Lucky me. I love you eddie xo.”
Hoda followed up the video with a selfie of the two, which sent fans into a whirlwind of romantic speculation. But as Jenna pointed out, it’s all just a friendly relationship. Hoda loves her Eddie, but not in the way some fans assumed.
Hoda's Journey in the Dating World
That said, Hoda isn’t sitting on the sidelines when it comes to dating. She revealed to Kelly Clarkson during an appearance on her show in March that she went on her first date in two years. The identity of her mystery date remains private, but it’s clear that Hoda is putting herself back out there. Fans of Today know that Hoda has been single since she and her ex-fiancé Joel Schiffman called it quits in January 2022 after eight years together. She shared the news on the fourth hour of Today, explaining that she and Joel realized they were better off as friends.
“We decided we are going to start this new year on our new path as loving parents to our adorably delightful children and as friends,” Hoda said at the time. Hoda and Joel share daughters Haley, 7, and Hope, 4. While their romantic relationship didn’t work out, their bond as co-parents remains strong.
