Hoda Kotb Reveals What She Wants from a ‘Today’ Show Replacement

Seven years later, Hoda Kotbit’s time Today is is coming to an endand she has thoughts about who should replace her.

While Kotb, 60, didn’t name names, she did reveal what qualities her replacement would need to have if they wanted to succeed with her. Jenna Bush Hager in the fourth hour of the show. Kotb joined Today How Savannah Guthriewas co-host in 2018 and became co-host of The Fourth Hour with Bush Hager in 2019.

“The person I want is someone who has great chemistry with Jenna (Bush Hager),” she said. Eh! News in an interview published on October 29. “That’s all I want. Because it’s not about any anchor, but what’s in between. So bring the chemistry.”

For Kotb, that chemistry is more important than anything she lists on her resume.

“Today” show hosts react to Hoda Kotb’s unexpected departure

“I don’t care if it’s her best friend, I don’t care if it’s someone she worked with, if it’s some celebrity,” she continued, “when she syncs, that’s it. If she has chemistry, it will be beautiful.”

Kotb, who has been with NBC News since 1998 and was a co-anchor Today since 2018, she has admitted that she has no say in who will replace her. All she could do was push Bush Hager to stand up for what “feels right.”

“I said, ‘Jenna, feel who you want to be. Feel what’s right for you,” she explained. “She will know because the only way it will work is whether they have the vibe or not. Just a fun party atmosphere. It cannot be imposed.”

Meanwhile, there are rumors that Laura Jarrett May be in the struggle for work. Jarrett, 40, co-host on Saturday Today with Peter Alexander. She appeared on the weekday show on Monday, October 28, while Bush Hager was ill.

While Monday may have been a test run, an NBC insider reported that Us weekly in September it is Jarrett is the best candidate for work.

Who will replace Hoda Kotb on Today? NBC Insider Explains

“The biggest contender that everyone online is talking about is Laura Jarrett,” the insider said on Sept. 26. “She is the host of Weekend Today; She’s a lawyer like Savannah. She’s a Today show favorite who rose to her feet very quickly.”

Jarrett is still relatively new to NBC, having joined the network in 2022 and taking over Saturday today role in 2023, replacing Kristen Welker.

The insider added that Craig Melvin, Sheinelle Jones And Carson Daly all of them can also be candidates for this position.

Kotb has not yet said what will happen to her after her escape. Today ends, but the mother of two has made it clear that she wants to spend more time with her daughtersHayley, 7, and Hope, 5. She gave one hint regarding what her next move will look like on the Oct. 25 episode of the show. Today.

“What I want to do is live in prosperity,” she said. “I want to work in this space. I want to start things. There are things seeping inside me that I hope will be fully formed soon.”