Hoda Kotb’s First Replacements On ‘Jenna & Friends’ Named

Jenna Bush Hager | YouTube

Hoda Kotb is leaving The Today Show after the end of the week. Her final episode will be the “Hoda-Bration,” with special guests and a celebration of her work. However, next week starts a new era. The show has already announced that Craig Melvin will replace Hoda as a main co-host for the main show. However, there is a segment that Hoda was a part of that will not feature Melvin.

Jenna Bush Hager will still be part of her segment of The Today Show but will rename it Jenna & Friends. She has now announced the first few co-hosts that will be part of her rotating cast of co-hosts.

Who Will Replace Hoda Kotb Beside Jenna Bush Hager On The Today Show?

Hoda Kotb used to partner with Kathie Lee Gifford on The Today Show. When Kathie Lee left the show, they replaced her with Jenna Bush Hager, and the two women have been partners ever since. However, with Hoda leaving, Jenna needed a new partner. Instead of replacing Hoda with a new co-host, they will have a rotating cast of co-hosts.

Today: Hoda Kotb
Today: Hoda Kotb

The network has mostly kept this under wraps, but now, Jenna has revealed the first co-hosts that will replace Hoda Kotb on the newly titled Jenna & Friends. Jenna said she would start running and present “our month of wonder women.”

She said that during the first week of Jenna & Friends, three actresses will join her on The Today Show. The three women will be Taraji P. Henson, Eva Longoria, and Keke Palmer.

“You know what that says? Heavy hitter, home run, wow,” Hoda said proudly. “This is a big week.” Jenna said she loves these women and that Hoda helped make this happen. She stated, “Nobody will ever fill this chair, but the three of them sure can try.”

The good news is that all three women have appeared on The Today Show multiple times before. This means that their work as guests allows them to know a little bit about how the show operates.

What To Know About Jenna & Friends After Hoda Kotb Leaves

The official full title of the new part of the show is Today with Jenna & Friends. The first episode without Hoda Kotb airs on January 13 and it will have rotating co-hosts until the network and Jenna pick out one to become the permanent replacement for Hoda.

Today: Hoda Kotb - Jenna Bush Hager
Today: Hoda Kotb – Jenna Bush Hager

“I was picturing you and how proud I’m going to be of you, walking right here from that wall to this desk with that song,” Hoda told Jenna. “It’s going to be awesome. It’s going to be amazing.”

What are your thoughts about the first guest hosts for Jenna Bush Hager after Hoda Kotb leaves The Today Show? Let us know in the comments below.

Shawn Lealos
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