Hoda Kotb on Thursday revealed the people she thinks would be a perfect replacement for the hour of “Today” she hosted with Jenna Bush Hager, while also addressing speculation she may be taking over Kelly Clarkson’s daytime talk show.
Since Kotb’s departure in January, Bush Hager has continued to host the show’s fourth hour with a series of celebrity guests, including Scarlett Johansson, Taraji P. Henson, Keke Palmer, Amy Poehler and Dwyane Wade.
Appearing on Bravo’s “What What Happens Live With Andy Cohen,” Kotb shared her top “contenders” to take up a more permanent position.
“Anybody would be like so lucky, but to me the contenders are [‘Today’ co-anchor] Savannah [Guthrie]. I think she would be great,” Kotb said. “I think Justin Sylvester’s amazing. Scarlett Johansson crushed it.”
Kotb also praised comedian and podcaster Matt Rogers and “Today” co-host Sheinelle Jones, who she acknowledged is “going through a difficult time” following the recent death of Jones’ husband, Uche Ojeh.
But according to Kotb, the best fit for the show would ultimately be “whoever clicks great with Jenna. I mean, that’s the one.”
During her appearance, Kotb also suggested there’s no truth to the rumors she’ll take over Clarkson’s self-titled show, but admitted she’d “never say never.”
“You don’t know what life’s gonna bring you,” she told a fan who asked about the possibility. “At this moment, I’m having such fun with the ride that I’m on. But TV is my first love. So, as I say in life, you don’t know.”
The NBC mainstay announced in September that she would be leaving “Today” after 17 years, including five as co-anchor.
“I realized that it was time for me to turn the page at 60, and to try something new,” Kotb said at the time.
The decision was made in no small part so Kotb could spend more time with her two young daughters, Haley Joy, 9, and Hope Catherine, 5, whom she shares with ex-fiancé Joel Schiffman.
By the end of the year, Kotb announced that fellow NBC veteran Craig Melvin would take over her role anchoring the 7-9 a.m. block alongside Guthrie.
