Hoda Kotb and Savannah Guthrie have given viewers some insight into their high school days, admitting to Today viewers that they were both huge “nerds.”
Speaking to guest Mindy Kaling on Monday’s episode of the morning show, the co-hosts revealed that neither of them attended their proms — with both Savannah, 51, and Hoda, 59, claiming no one ever asked them to attend .
The admissions came after Hoda started jokingly grilling Mindy, 44, about what kind of teenager she was during her high school years.
‘Were you a little nerdy in high school? What was your vibe?’ Hoda, who attended Fort Hunt High School in Virginia, asked the actress, who jokingly responded, “How dare you?”
“I was popular and cool,” Mindy continued with mock outrage, before admitting, “I was a huge nerd. Books were my escape.”
Hoda Kotb and Savannah Guthrie have admitted neither of them went to prom, while confessing they were ‘huge nerds’ when they were in high school
Both Hoda, 59, and Savannah, 51, insisted they were part of the “nerdy” crowd during their high school days after asking guest Mindy Kaling what she was like as a teenager
The Today presenters left Mindy, 44, stunned with their revelation that they hadn’t been to prom, with the Office star admitting she had been to her high school dance twice
The Office alumnus then assured the Today hosts that she didn’t think any of them would have been nerdy – a misconception they immediately refuted.
After a chorus of “we were!” Savannah joked, “I didn’t go to the prom!”
Hoda then made the same revelation, leaving Mindy stunned and silent, before admitting that despite considering herself a nerd, she had attended her own prom not once, but twice.
“We beat you in the nerd department,” joked Savannah, who graduated from Amphitheater High School in Tucson, Arizona.
Mindy explained that she had been to the junior prom and the senior prom – and confirmed that she had indeed been asked by someone.
“Did he ask or did you ask him?” Hoda asked, as Mindy jokingly fired back, “How dare you.”
“I didn’t get a date until I asked, that’s why I’m asking,” Hoda replied, while Savannah interjected with, “Me too.”
“I was asked to do both,” The Mindy Project Star confirmed.
Hoda (seen as a teenager) admitted she was a nerd in high school and said no one asked her to her prom
Savannah, pictured in ninth grade, said she wasn’t invited to hers either
Her news surprised the Today show presenters, who thought the 44-year-old was ‘cool’.
“I love this role reversal that’s happening, where somehow I have a lot of status here,” Mindy joked.
Although Hoda’s high school experience was difficult for her in some ways, she certainly harbors no ill will toward the institution now — and even returned to Fort Hunt High School this weekend to celebrate its 60th anniversary.
To mark the occasion, Hoda shared on Instagram a moving tribute to the sports teachers at the school: ‘What a fun day to celebrate 60 years of #forthunthighschool!
Hoda returned to Fort Hunt High School this weekend to celebrate its 60th anniversary — and even brought along her four-year-old daughter Hope Catherine
“Coach Creneti led the Federals to so many championships… Mr. Dietze was the extraordinary athletic director. And those Novogratz’s… Fort Hunt has a lot to be proud of! Gooooo federals!!!’
The Today star even took her youngest daughter Hope along on the trip, sharing a touching image of herself posing with the four-year-old who proudly wore a Fort Hunt Federals cheerleading ensemble.
Both she and Savannah have come a long way since not being asked to the high school prom – with the women building successful careers in front of the camera while also building families of their own.
Savannah tied the knot with husband Mike Feldman, 54, in 2014, and the couple now has two children; daughter Vale, nine, and son Charley, six.
Hoda shares two daughters with her former fiancé, financier Joel Schiffman. Despite splitting in 2022, the ex-couple continues to co-parent their daughters.
The couple adopted first daughter Haley, six, in February 2017, and Hope, four, two years later.
This isn’t the first time the Today show hosts have talked about their high school prom — or their absence.
The broadcaster shares both of her daughters with her ex-partner Joel Schiffman
Savannah shares daughter Vale, nine, and son Charley, six, with her husband, communications consultant Mike Feldman (pictured)
In 2020, co-host Al Roker asked his colleagues if they had any special memories of their high school prom.
Craig Melvin, 44, remembers staying out “later” than “he was supposed to,” leaving his mother “not too happy.”
However, it turns out that Craig was the only Today show host to attend the ball. Alan, 69, then revealed he hadn’t actually gone – because he ‘couldn’t get a date’.
“I didn’t go to mine either, Al,” Hoda sympathized. ‘I know. I didn’t do that!’
Carson Daly, 50, also admitted not attending.
‘I’ll tell you what. For those of you watching, if you ever want to be part of the Today show, condition number one: don’t go to the ball. “I didn’t go either,” he joked. “We’re a bunch of losers!”
“I stayed home and watched 60 Minutes with my dad and played golf early the next day,” he added.