Hoda Kotb made a surprise return to the Today show on February 28, much to the delight of viewers and her co-workers. 

The beloved anchor, who had stepped down from her role in January to focus on her family, 

appeared on the 3rd Hour of Today to share a heartfelt message with her colleagues, 

including Craig Melvin, Al Roker, and Dylan Dreyer. 

The trio was reporting live from New Orleans in celebration of Mardi Gras when they received a fun video message from Kotb, 

adding a touch of humor and excitement to the broadcast.

“Before we go any further, I think we’ve got a very special person who knows this city well,” 

Al Roker teased, setting the stage for Kotb’s surprise cameo. The video message quickly followed, with Kotb making her presence felt from afar. “Hey guys, wait a minute, are you in my city? Without me?” she quipped, playfully calling out her colleagues. “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 without me, wah wah, happy Mardi Gras!”

Her cheerful message instantly resonated with the team, as Dreyer noted that New Orleans is “Hoda’s city,” a sentiment Roker echoed. “I will tell you, about 10 years ago I got to ride with Hoda on a float in the parade. It was like riding with the queen of England,” Roker fondly recalled, showing just how much Kotb is ingrained in the fabric of New Orleans’ culture.

Before becoming a household name on the Today show, Kotb worked as an anchor and reporter for the local CBS affiliate WWL in New Orleans. She has often spoken about her deep connection to the city, which she considers a second home. In an interview with Southern Living in June 2024, she shared, “It’s the closest to a hometown I’ve ever felt. There’s a magnetism about New Orleans that grabs you right out the gate.” Her ties to the city are so strong that she gave the commencement speech at Tulane University in 2016 and has been a passionate supporter of the New Orleans Saints football team.

Her surprise return also comes on the heels of a difficult moment for the city. After a terrorist attack on Bourbon Street on New Year’s Day, Kotb expressed her sorrow live on-air, saying, “New Orleans is my second home and my heart broke this morning.”

Although Kotb officially exited her role on Today on January 10 to spend more time with her daughters, Haley Joy and Hope Catherine, she has continued to be a part of the Today family in spirit. Despite her absence from the morning show, Kotb’s presence has been felt as her name has come up on-air multiple times. Her surprise video appearance marked her first real return to the show since her exit, which came after 14 years of working alongside Savannah Guthrie, Kathie Lee Gifford, and others.

However, Kotb has remained active in other aspects of her life. Earlier this week, she surprised her close friend and former co-anchor, Savannah Guthrie, at a New Jersey event for Guthrie’s new children’s book. The touching moment was shared on Instagram, with Guthrie 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.”

When Kotb made her exit from Today, she expressed her desire to remain close to her NBC family, promising she would stay involved in the network’s activities. “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 shared in her announcement. “I’ll be around. How could I not? Family is family and you all will always be a part of mine.”

Alongside spending more time with her family, Kotb has been working on a new wellness project. She opened up about her new venture on The Kelly Clarkson Show, explaining that she had become passionate about wellness practices over the past few years. “I kind of got hooked in the wellness space, like a couple of years ago. 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,’” Kotb shared. She teased that she plans to launch a wellness app and company, which will include retreats and a podcast, furthering her commitment to holistic health.

While Kotb’s return to Today was a welcomed surprise, it’s clear that she remains deeply involved in her personal and professional life, balancing family time with new projects. Her infectious energy and presence continue to shine, even as she takes a step back from her regular role on the morning show. Fans of Kotb can rest assured that, despite her departure from the show, she’ll continue to share her warmth and enthusiasm in many new ways.

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