Hoda Kotb’s sudden departure from the Today Show left a noticeable gap, but as the saying goes, the show must go on. Her segment, Today with Hoda & Jenna, has been rebranded as Today with Jenna & Friends. While Jenna Bush Hager will be hosting the segment by herself, celebrity guests will join her in rotating appearances to keep things fresh and exciting.
Bush Hager recently shared some of the names lined up to join her, teasing that stars like Taraji P. Henson, Eva Longoria, and Keke Palmer would be featured. She called it the “month of wonder women” and told viewers on January 6 to expect a lineup of strong, inspiring women.
Kotb has shown her support for the new format, praising the guest list and saying, “You know what that says? Heavy hitter. Home run. Wow. This is a big week.”
Henson will kick things off with Bush Hager on January 13, and Longoria and Palmer will follow later in the week. Some of the guest hosts will likely stay for a week, while others might join for a few days at a time.
In September 2024, Kotb decided to take a step back from her role as one of the main hosts. Her relationship with NBC dates back to 1998, and she became a staple on Today as a co-host in 2007. Kotb had been co-hosting alongside Savannah Guthrie since 2018, but in November, NBC announced that Craig Melvin would be joining Guthrie as her new co-host.