TV
March 1, 2023 | 10:24 a.m
Jenna Bush Hager addressed the mysterious absence of her “Today” co-host Hoda Kotb after the show revealed the veteran journalist was dealing with a “family health matter.”
“Willi [Geist] is for Hoda, and we want you all to know that we heard you and that Hoda is okay,” Bush Hager told viewers Wednesday at the start of Today with Hoda & Jenna.
“She has only one family health concern to deal with,” the author added.
Bush Hager, 41, and Geist, 47, both stressed that they “love and adore” Kotb, 58, and look forward to her return to work.
Jenna Bush Hager addressed Hoda Kotb’s absence from Today with Hoda and Jenna on Wednesday. Today
“Today” first addressed Kotb’s nearly two-week absence from her two usual slots on the NBC morning show and the fourth hour earlier Wednesday, around 7:30 a.m. ET.
“We know many of you have been wondering how she is doing. We can tell you that Hoda is fine, [but] she has a family health issue that she is dealing with,” revealed 3rd Hour of Today co-host Craig Melvin, who filled in for Kotb in the wee hours of the show.
3rd Hour co-host Craig Melvin, who stood in for Savannah Guthrie and Kotb on Wednesday, previously announced that Kotb has been addressing a “family health matter.”
Melvin, 43, emphasized that they “look forward to seeing Hoda and Savannah [Guthrie] back at this desk very, very soon” — referring to Guthrie, 51, who suddenly left the live show mid-air on Tuesday upon learning she had tested positive for COVID-19.
“We love you both,” Al Roker concluded while blowing a kiss at the camera.
Several fans have expressed concern about the Today stack, which has not hosted a live show since February 17. (She appeared on the February 20 episode, but she was taped for Presidents’ Day.)
Kotb has been absent from “Today” and “Today with Hoda & Jenna” since her last live show on February 17. Nathan Congleton/NBC via Getty Images
Kotb herself has yet to take care of her vacation, but fans were beginning to get “concerned” after she transitioned from posting photos with her family to sharing inspirational quotes on Instagram.
“Choose hope,” read Monday’s most recent post, while another said, “Sometimes miracles are just good people with kind hearts.”
Kotb’s February 20 episode was pre-taped. Nathan Congleton/NBC via Getty Images
She also shared sentiments about “strong” and “brave” people finding the light through the “dark clouds.”
Kotb has had thousands of fans leaving comments wishing her well since her absence became increasingly apparent.
Kotb is a mother to two daughters, Haley and Hope.Hoda Kotb/Instagram
In the midst of her vacation, Geist and 3rd Hour co-host Sheinelle Jones have shut down to fill in for Kotb for the past week and a half.
Jones has also represented her on the Today show, along with her 3rd Hour co-host Melvin, weatherman Roker, World News Tonight’s Tom Llamas and Carson Daly.
Kotb shares two daughters – Haley Joy, 5, and Hope Catherine, 3 – with her ex-fiancé Joel Schiffman.
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