At a Glance
- Hoda Kotb says watching Jenna Bush Hager and Sheinelle Jones launch “Today with Jenna & Sheinelle” feels like seeing her kids ride solo
- The new hour debuted January 12, with surprise cameos from Kotb and Kathie Lee Gifford
- Kotb hosted the fourth hour for 17 years, first with Gifford (2008-2019) then with Bush Hager (2019-2025)
- Why it matters: The hand-off marks the end of one franchise and the start of another, and Kotb says she’s “proud mom” confident the show will thrive
Hoda Kotb is not walking away from the “Today” fourth hour-she’s cheering from the sidelines. In her first interview since the anchor change, the 61-year-old tells News Of Los Angeles that watching Jenna Bush Hager and Sheinelle Jones front the revamped hour sparks the same pride as seeing a child pedal without training wheels.
The Bike-Ride Moment
“It’s like, you know when you watch your kid ride a bike? You’re like, ‘Oh my God, they can do it all on their own,'” Kotb said during the joint cover shoot with Jones for this week’s issue.
Kotb’s metaphor captures how she views the legacy she helped build. From 2008 until her departure in January 2025, she co-hosted the champagne-fueled, high-energy hour that became a daytime staple. The first 11 years came beside Kathie Lee Gifford; the next six paired her with Bush Hager.
Surprise Toast on Day One
When “Today with Jenna & Sheinelle” premiered on January 12, producers staged a stealth reunion. Kotb and Gifford strolled on set, clinking glasses to usher in the new team. Jones greeted Gifford on air: “First of all, you invented the genre, you really did.”
Kotb seconds the emotion, adding that the fourth-hour format-lightning-round interviews, lifestyle segments, and viral games-owes its DNA to the Gifford-Kotb era. “All you want is for the show to continue to be wildly successful. And by the way, I have not a shadow of a doubt that it is going to be wildly successful,” she said.
From Mentor to Proud Parent
The veteran anchor traces Bush Hager’s growth from rookie to reliable lead. “I watched Jenna as kind of a baby learn the ropes, and now, as a proud mom, I’m watching her, number one, carry [the show] for an entire year,” Kotb explained.
That year-long trial run-formally called “Jenna & Friends”-featured more than 60 celebrity guests and served as a test balloon for a permanent partner. Enter Sheinelle Jones, the “Today” news anchor known for quick wit and warm rapport.
Why Kotb Stepped Away
Kotb’s exit last winter was deliberate. She left to spend more time with daughters Haley Joy, 9, and Hope Catherine, 6, and to scale her wellness start-up, Joy 101. The app, which launched shortly after her sign-off, packages daily mindfulness routines and parenting advice.
The scheduling change ended a 17-year run that began when NBC tapped Kotb to replace Ann Curry in the 10 a.m. slot. Gifford soon joined, and the duo turned what had been a traditional news hour into a freewheeling talk show famous for day-drinking, birthday cake, and celebrity cameos.
Ratings and Reboot
NBC has not released Nielsen numbers for the first week of “Jenna & Sheinelle,” but Kotb predicts the chemistry will translate. “To have a gentle place with such a pro like Sheinelle is going to be next level,” she said.
Jones, 47, already co-hosts “Weekend Today” and has filled in on the fourth hour for years. Producers paired her with Bush Hager, 43, after testing multiple configurations last fall.
Passing the Torch-Literally
During the inaugural broadcast, Kotb and Gifford handed the new team a symbolic object: the same silver wine goblet the original co-hosts clinked daily. The moment drew whoops from the studio crowd and underscored the lineage Kotb celebrates.
“First of all, I feel honored to have been one of the stewards of this show. Honored,” Kotb said. “And now, to watch Jenna and Sheinelle have a place where magic is reigniting again, to me, is one of the most satisfying feelings.”
What’s Next for Kotb
Although off the daily grind, Kotb remains under contract with NBC News. She will headline primetime specials and contribute to major event coverage, including the upcoming Paris Olympics. Her focus, however, is Joy 101 and family mornings in her Manhattan apartment.
She insists she will not hover. “I feel like a proud mom going, ‘Look at my girls. Look at them. They’re doing it,'” she laughed.
Key Takeaways
- Kotb hosted the fourth hour for 17 years, making it a cultural touchstone
- The new iteration keeps the same time slot and loose format, but with refreshed branding
- Jones and Bush Hager have already logged chemistry-building rehearsals and promotional shoots
- NBC hopes the hand-off stabilizes a day-part that saw ratings dip in late 2024
For fans wondering whether Kotb might drop by again, she offers a smiling noncommittal: “Never say never, but right now I’m loving the view from the sidelines.”
