Hoda Kotb is entering a whole new era — and her friends are loving every minute of it.
The 61-year-old anchor popped in to surprise Jenna Bush Hager during the November 25 episode of TODAY With Jenna & Friends, and while the reunion was sweet, things took a very funny turn when Andy Cohen decided to stir the pot about Hoda’s single life.
Hoda, who’s been embracing her post-divorce independence, proudly told Jenna and Andy that she’s been opening up her home more these days — especially for her daughters, Haley, 8, and Hope, 6.
“This is at my house! I’m having people over! I’m hosting parties!” she said, sounding equal parts shocked and delighted at herself.
Naturally, Andy wasted zero time before jumping in with the real question on everyone’s mind.
“Are you hosting gentleman callers?” he asked, as Hoda’s jaw literally dropped.
Jenna, of course, couldn’t resist chiming in: “I’m sure there are.”
Andy kept the bit going, joking, “Knock knock… Uncle Tony’s here. Hope, go make Uncle Tony that drink he likes. Extra olives!”
Once the laughter settled, Hoda turned the tables and asked Andy how he navigates dating as a single parent. His response? He’s not exactly hitting the town, either. Hoda admitted she’s in the same boat.
“It’s hard. It’s confusing, and it’s hard… but you find a way,” she said. “I have gone out a little bit. Not on dates yet.”
Ever the instigator, Andy suggested she “roll up in guys’ DMs” and drop a strategic flame emoji. Jenna was immediately on board, cheering, “Is there anybody we should DM right now?”
Hoda has been open about rebuilding her life since ending her engagement to Joel Schiffman in 2022, following eight years together. The pair share their two daughters and remain committed co-parents.
“Joel and I have had a lot of prayerful and meaningful conversations over the holidays and we decided that we are better as friends and parents than we are as an engaged couple,” she said at the time. “It’s not like something happened… This was for a season.”
Before Joel, Hoda was married to tennis coach Burzis Kanga from 2005 to 2008 — a marriage she later admitted she felt nudged into.
“We let the idea that we should be married by now influence us,” she wrote in her memoir, Jump and Find Joy. “I didn’t jump into marriage as much as I slipped into it.”
Now? Hoda’s taking her time, hosting parties, and maybe — just maybe — leaving the door slightly open for those “gentlemen callers” Andy keeps teasing about.
