By Cara Sprunk
5:04am PDT, Aug 5, 2019
When you let someone in your house every day, like millions do when they watch the "Today" show, you come to love them — and Hoda Kotb is no exception. In honor of Hoda's 55th birthday on Aug. 9, 2019, Wonderwall.com is taking a look at all the things we adore about the NBC morning show anchor and mom of two. Keep reading to find out why we can't get enough of her!
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No. 1: She's smart and determined
We love a smart, powerful woman, and Hoda Kotb fits the bill. She graduated from Virginia Tech in 1986 and remains a proud alum to this day. Her old professors are proud of her too! "Hoda was, I guess the best word, she was a very determined individual," Edd Sewell, a former Department of Communications chairman who taught her at Virginia Tech told NBC's "WSLS 10 News." "She didn't let things stand in her way when she wanted to do something. That certainly proved to be a good aspect for her in getting all the jobs that she's done."
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No. 2: She's been open about her struggles
Hoda Kotb is real and isn't afraid to share her struggles with the world — and that was never more evident than with her breast cancer battle. "The breast cancer I had required an extensive eight-hour surgery, which included a mastectomy and reconstruction," she wrote on Today.com six years later in 2014. "I had a hip-to-hip incision as well as more incisions on my chest. Let me tell you: It looks like a roadmap. … And even though I now consider myself about 90 percent, as far as feeling emotionally and physically recovered and body confident, I am not at 100 percent. Don't get me wrong: I am very grateful for everything I have. I am fortunate to have had great doctors and to know that I am six years cancer free. I am happy about that. But I still pull and tug on things I wear, like bathing suits or when I'm wearing gym clothes. The actual scars are there… that's forever a part of me."
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No. 3: She does Halloween like a pro
"Today" show anchors need to be pros at Halloween and Hoda Kotb nails it year after year. Among some of her best looks are 2018's Elton John (pictured), Blake Shelton, Kathie Lee Gifford of the '90s and Yoda.
No. 4: She doesn't take herself too seriously
Hoda Kotb doesn't think she's too cool for anything. A prime example? Along with her "Today" show family, Hoda made cameos in "Sharknado 3: Oh Hell No!" and "Sharknado 5: Global Swarming" on Syfy.
No. 5: She has a beautiful attitude about motherhood
At 52, Hoda Kotb became a mother when she and longtime boyfriend Joel Schiffman adopted daughter Haley Joy Kotb (pictured with her mom on "Today" in 2018). While Hoda was considerably older than most first-time moms, her positive attitude about motherhood made the adoption even more endearing. "Some people are lucky enough to have their time in their 20s. Some people, for whatever reason, need to wait a little longer," Hoda — who adopted a second daughter, Hope Catherine, in 2019 — told "Entertainment Tonight." "But waiting ain't bad when this is at the end."
No. 6: She fangirls just like us
Hoda Kotb has no shame when it comes to professing her love for her favorite celebrities. Whether it's geeking out over a Jennifer Lopez concert (and taking selfies with Alex Rodriguez in the audience!) or naming her dog after Blake Shelton, Hoda is all of us when it comes to her feelings as a fan.
No. 7: She's incredibly grateful
Hoda Kotb has experienced her fair share of blessings in life and she never forgets how lucky she is. "I sit down at our kitchen table with a journal," she told The Cut of her morning routine. "I don't care if I happen to be running late or if I have all the time in the world, I try to do this one thing no matter what. In the journal, I'll write the three things I'm grateful for just right there in that moment. Like, one, two, three. And then one amazing thing that happened the day before. It's almost like a level set."
No. 8: She's doesn't give up
Hoda Kotb is the ultimate success story and that's because she perseveres. Before she nabbed her first job at a Mississippi television station, she was rejected from 27 other places. "I got rejected everywhere, anywhere you can think of in the Southeast," she told colleague Savannah Guthrie during a chat on "Today Show Radio" on SiriusXM in 2016. But when she tried the Mississippi station, she was finally hired — with a starting salary of $12,000.
No. 9: Her relationship with Kathie Lee Gifford is total #FriendshipGoals
Hoda Kotb and Kathie Lee Gifford became fast friends when "Today" launched a fourth hour with the two hosting more than 10 years ago. Over morning wine, they became family. They first met in 2007 and their chemistry was instantaneous. "I just loved her," Kathie Lee — who left "Today" in 2019 after 11 years — told Today.com. "I knew that day that even if we never worked together, she'd be my friend for the rest of my life." Once their hour launched, the two continued to bond over weekly lunch dates and Broadway shows. "You start sharing life and you start falling in love with the person. You become real, genuine friends," Kathie Lee told E! News. "You start sharing life and your friendship shows up on the air."
No. 10: She's not vain
Back in 2010, Hoda Kotb and Kathie Lee Gifford did the unthinkable — they wiped off all their makeup and hosted the fourth hour of "Today" on high-definition TV with bare faces. Though Hoda admitted she felt "vulnerable," she left vanity at the door and did it anyway. She and her other colleagues went makeup-free again on the air in 2014 and talked about their childhood insecurities. "I was the kid with the crazy, frizzy hair, the stop-sign glasses and the weird name. It was the trifecta of woof," Hoda quipped. These days, she often posts makeup-free pics on social media without a second thought!
No. 11: She's a prolific author
Hoda Kotb gets up every day at 3 a.m. and is in bed around 8 p.m., yet she's still managed to write five books! In her free time, she's penned "Hoda: How I Survived War Zones, Bad Hair, Cancer, and Kathie Lee," "Ten Years Later: Six People Who Faced Adversity and Transformed Their Lives," "Where We Belong: Journeys That Show Us the Way," "I've Loved You Since Forever," and "You Are My Happy." Her most recent two are children's books, adorably written after adopting daughters Haley and Hope.
No. 12: She makes a powerful team with co-host Savannah Guthrie
After ousting Matt Lauer amid a devastating workplace sexual misconduct scandal in late 2017, NBC decided to forgo the traditional male/female co-hosting dynamic in favor of a new partnership — Hoda Kotb and Savannah Guthrie, who together make an incredible morning team on "Today." "We trust each other completely and we have each other's back," Savannah told Parade. "We want the best for one another, and it shows."
No. 13: She has an infectious smile
Hoda Kotb has a megawatt smile that always feels genuine to those who see her — be it in real life or on television. When "Saturday Night Live" star Kenan Thompson visited the show in 2018, he complimented — and imitated — Hoda's grin. "My whole impression of Hoda is just about your smile. You're very charismatic when you smile," he said during his visit.
No. 14: Love's inspired her to love her body more
Rocking a bikini into her 50s, Hoda Kotb feels more secure in her looks than ever. "I think that when someone loves you, you get a kind of confidence," she told Health magazine, speaking of longtime boyfriend Joel Schiffman. "When you look into someone's eyes and they see beauty, it really does change how you see yourself. I guess I feel freer now than I ever did before. I don't think I ever wore a bikini before I got sick [with breast cancer]. But now I feel like 'OK, this is my body,' you know? Have at it."
No. 15: She shines a light on important causes
Hoda Kotb doesn't miss fun opportunities to bring attention to important causes when life presents them. While some journalists might take themselves too seriously, Hoda does not, so she jumped at the chance to appear alongside fellow cancer survivors and activists Sheryl Crow, Robin Roberts and Katie Couric in Martina McBride's music video "I'm Gonna Love You Through All of It." The 2011 music video raised awareness in a unique way, perfect for bubbly and interesting Hoda.
