Hoda Kotb returned to her former job at Today nearly two months ago, following horrendous circumstances, without question when asked.
The star stepped in for her good friend and old co-host, Savannah Guthrie, following the disappearance of the star’s mother, Nancy Guthrie, on January 31.
And on Friday March 27, Craig made it clear just how grateful the show was to have Hoda back, following the news of Savannah’s return, which is slated for Monday April 6.
He said: “You’ve sat here for a few weeks. You’ve got a lot happening in your life. You’ve got two girls you’re raising by yourself. And when the coach called and they said, ‘We need someone to come in and pinch hit,’ you didn’t bat an eye.”
Jenna Bush Hager mirrored Craig’s words, telling Hoda: “We needed you.” Hoda replied: “When we say family, we mean it.”
Last week, Savannah gave her first sit-down interview since her mother’s disappearance, in an exclusive chat with Hoda.
The three-part interview aired over three days on Today, and covered everything from Savannah’s return date to the show to her difficult decision to leave Arizona to return home to New York City, where her husband and two young children had remained since the search began on February 1.
© GC ImagesShowing her strength and resilience, Savannah told Hoda that she was determined to try and return to the show – mirroring Hoda’s sentiments that they are a family.
“I can’t come back and try to be something that I’m not. But I can’t not come back because it’s my family,” she said. “I don’t know if I can do it. I don’t know if I’ll belong anymore, but I would like to try. I would like to try.”
© TODAYDuring the chat, she also opened up about her family’s beliefs that Nancy was taken for ransom, and her fears that her fame was the reason.
“To think that I brought this to her bedside. That it’s because of me, and I just say, ‘I’m so sorry mommy. I’m so sorry. I’m sorry to my sister and my brother and my kids and my nephew and Tommy, my brother-in-law. I’m just so sorry. I’m so sorry if it is me, I’m so sorry. I’m so sorry,'” she said, as she broke down in tears during one emotional segment of the interview.
© TODAYSavannah’s return on April 6 – Easter Monday – has a signficance to her faith, which was highlighted by her co-star Al Roker as they discussed her coming back to work on the show.
“What’s wonderful, it’s almost symbolic after Easter and the resurrection, the rising, I think as a family we’ll hold hands and help her,” he said.
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