Hoda Kotb may have stepped away from her longtime role on the Today show, but she clearly hasn’t strayed far from her NBC family. 

Less than two months after her official exit, Kotb delighted fans by making a special video appearance on the 3rd Hour of Today, 

reuniting—at least virtually—with her former colleagues.

On February 28, Kotb surprised her co-host replacement Craig Melvin and meteorologists Al Roker and Dylan Dreyer, 

who were broadcasting live from New Orleans in celebration of Mardi Gras. 

The moment was teased by Roker, who excitedly hinted that a special guest had a message for them before Kotb’s pre-recorded video was played.

“Hey guys, wait a minute, are you in my city? Without me?” Kotb exclaimed in the clip, feigning disbelief. “Okay, Al, Craig, Dylan, you guys, I know what you’re going to do—eat all the food, yes you will, listen to all the music, yes you will. Enjoy what I believe is the best city on earth. Y’all have so much fun without me—wah wah! Happy Mardi Gras!”

Her former colleagues were clearly thrilled to hear from her. Dreyer affectionately referred to New Orleans as “Hoda’s city,” while Roker shared a fond memory of a past Mardi Gras experience with Kotb. “I will tell you, about 10 years ago, I got to ride with Hoda on a float in the parade,” Roker reminisced. “It was like riding with the queen of England.”

A Strong Connection to New Orleans

Before becoming a household name on Today, Kotb spent part of her early career working as a reporter and anchor for WWL, a CBS affiliate in New Orleans. Over the years, she has maintained deep ties to the city, often cheering on the New Orleans Saints and even delivering the commencement speech at Tulane University in 2016.

In a 2024 interview with Southern Living, Kotb expressed just how much New Orleans means to her. “It’s the closest to a hometown I’ve ever felt,” she said. “There’s a magnetism about New Orleans that grabs you right out the gate.”

Her love for the city was evident earlier this year when tragedy struck. Following a terrorist attack on Bourbon Street on New Year’s Day, Kotb shared her heartbreak on-air, describing New Orleans as her “second home.”

Staying Connected to the Today Show

Though she bid farewell to her Today show role on January 10 to focus on raising her daughters—Haley Joy, 9, and Hope Catherine, 5—Kotb has remained close with her former colleagues. While her name has come up numerous times on the show since her departure, this marked her first on-air appearance since stepping down.

Even off-camera, she has been making efforts to support her NBC family. Earlier in the week, Kotb stunned her longtime friend and co-anchor Savannah Guthrie by showing up unexpectedly at an event celebrating Guthrie’s latest children’s book. Guthrie later posted about the heartwarming surprise on Instagram, writing, “Happiness is… your friend surprising—no, SHOCKING you—by showing up at your book event. @hodakotb there is just no one like you. My biggest cheerleader from beginning to end 💛💛💛.”

What’s Next for Hoda Kotb?

When Kotb first announced her decision to leave Today back in September 2024, she made it clear that she wasn’t walking away entirely. “I plan to remain a part of the NBC family, the longest work relationship I’ve been lucky enough to hold close to my heart,” she stated at the time. “I’ll be around. How could I not? Family is family, and you all will always be a part of mine.”

In addition to dedicating more time to motherhood, Kotb has been teasing an exciting new venture in the wellness industry. Speaking with Kelly Clarkson in January, she revealed plans to launch a wellness brand encompassing retreats, a podcast, and a mobile app.

“I kind of got hooked in the wellness space a couple of years ago,” she explained. “I started doing stuff that I thought seemed woo-woo and weird, and then all of a sudden, as I was doing it, I was like, ‘Wait, I feel calmer, I feel better.’”

While Kotb’s next chapter is still unfolding, one thing is certain—her presence is deeply missed on Today, and her connection to the show and its audience remains as strong as ever.

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