She’s the beloved TV host of one of the biggest morning shows and rumored to be worth $30 million – so can you guess who she is from her EPIC college throwback photo?
She has been a fixture in households across the country for more than twenty years. She provides breaking headlines, interviews some of the biggest names in the entertainment industry and even hosts her own radio show.
The glamorous morning show host has been working as a reporter since 1988, when she joined ABC affiliate WQAD in Moline, Illinois for a year before becoming a weekend anchor and reporter at CBS affiliate WINK in Fort Myers, Florida, until 1991.
For the next six years, this broadcaster lived in New Orleans, Louisiana, where she worked as an anchor and reporter for CBS affiliate WWL, then officially joined NBC News in April 1998 as a correspondent for Dateline NBC and all NBC News platforms.
In addition to having a wildly successful television career, this Oklahoma-born star is the author of six best-selling books, has won a Daytime Emmy Award, and launched a podcast in 2021 that is still going strong.
During Friday’s edition of the popular morning show she fronts, the familiar face reminisced about her college days — and even looked a little embarrassed when a throwback snap appeared on screen.
This beloved TV host (center) is one of the most recognizable faces on morning television, but can you guess who she is in this college throwback?
This cute schoolgirl became one of the most successful TV presenters in the US
It’s the one and only Hoda Kotb! The Today host and mother of two little girls named Haley and Hope.
During Friday’s edition of Today with Hoda & Jenna, the 59-year-old opened up about her college days with her cohost Jenna Bush Hager while discussing the new Brat Pack documentary.
When Jenna, 42, asked, “How were your Brat Pack days?” Hoda responded, “I had different teams because I played different sports during the school year, so I was in those types of groups.
“And then I also had friends who were outside of the sport, so I wasn’t thinking, ‘Where’s my posse?’ During basketball season I had this team, during track season I had that team…” Hoda continued as a group photo appeared on the screen.
“Okay… yeah,” Hoda said, sounding a little embarrassed by the throwback snap as she explained, “This is college, because if it was a fancy event, it must have been then.” That was my team in college.”
Best known as the face of NBC’s Today, Hoda hosts the main show alongside Savannah Guthrie and Today with Hoda & Jenna, which airs weekdays at 10 a.m. ET.
Hoda and Savannah became the first-ever female host duo to lead the show when they replaced Matt Lauer in January 2018, after his role was terminated following allegations of sexual misconduct.
Hoda was also the first host of Today’s first four-hour weekday morning broadcast in September 2007 and was joined by Kathie Lee Gifford as her cohost in April 2008.
The TV host in question is mother of two Hoda Kotb, who currently hosts Today
The mother of two fronts Today with Hoda & Jenna next to Jenna Bush Hager
Kathie, 70, was later succeeded in April 2019 by former first daughter Jenna Bush Hager, 42, and the two women recently celebrated their five-year anniversary by flying to New Orleans and hosting the show in Hoda’s former hometown.
On February 23, 2015, the 59-year-old began hosting an hour-long live show twice a week on Sirius XM’s Today channel, discussing casual, water-cooler topics.
When she’s not super busy in front of the camera or recording an episode of her podcast, Hoda cares for her two adorable daughters, Haley and Hope, whom she shares with her former fiancé Joel Schiffman.
She started her relationship with Joel in 2013 and the couple got engaged in November 2019.
However, on January 31, 2022, Hoda announced on Today with Hoda & Jenna that she and Joel had ended their engagement and would focus on co-parenting their little girls as friends.
In recent months, Hoda has spoken openly about diving back into the world of dating and even shared some of her dating “red flags.”
And in April, Jenna seemingly confirmed that Hoda was still very much single and “looking for the one.”
Hoda was in a long-term relationship and engaged to financier Joel Schiffman, but they split in 2022
When she’s not busy working, Hoda enjoys life as a mother with her two daughters Haley and Hope
Opinion poll
Did you finally guess who this was?
The mother of three blurted it out while trying to clear up some confusion over the identity of a man who was mistaken for one of Hoda’s potential love interests, revealing that he was actually her driver, not her boyfriend.
The confusion came after Hoda mentioned the man, Eddie, during a conversation about basketball, leading some fans to think she was talking about a romantic partner.
“Wait, and we just have to say… Eddie brings you… people thought he was your boyfriend for a second,” Jenna said as Hoda giggled and replied, “No, no!”
Jenna continued, “No, they did! And I saw him yesterday and I thought, “How are you, Eddie?” and he said, “Can you believe it?”
“Eddie, do you love him?” Jenna added when Hoda responded, “I love Eddie very much, I worked with him for many years and I call him my Eddie,” as Jenna emphasized, “He’s your Eddie, but that doesn’t mean he’s your romantic Eddie is. ‘
Jenna seemed to confirm that Hoda is still single, adding, “Any of you who thought she found the one, she’s still looking,” as Hoda giggled nervously.