Tag: Kotb

Hoda Kotb is having a very teary Christmas.

The TV personality became visibly emotional as the Today Show presenters exchanged Secret Santa gifts during the program’s Christmas Day broadcast. Kotb received a set of wishing candles alongside a small square containing the quote “May you find a light to guide you home,” which comes from Josh Garrels’ song “May You Find a Light”

Kotb got choked up as she explained the sentimental value of the gift, which came from cohost Savannah Guthrie. “It”s a beautiful song that Savannah gave to me every time I was going through something new,” she explained as Garrels’ tune played over the speakers. “Oh my God, it’s too much. Oh my God, the song.”

Guthrie responded, “I thought you could put it on your desk in the morning when you’re reading your stuff.”

Kotb, who is scheduled to depart from the show on Jan. 10 after 17 years, noted her favorite detail. “You know what I love about this the most? That’s your handwriting,” she said. “I love you.”

Earlier in the segment, Guthrie received her own thoughtful gift from Craig Melvin: a dog sweater embroidered with the name of her new dog, Fetch. “You made Fetch happen!” she joked, referencing the oft-quoted phrase from Mean Girls. “Merry Christmas Fetch!” Melvin responded.

Later, Melvin received a New York Mets blanket with its own sentimental meaning from Kotb. . “I will treasure this forever,” he said, laughing upon opening the gift.

Kotb detailed why the Mets have a strong personal association for her and Melvin, who will replace her as one of Today‘s primary cohosts after she departs the show next month. “When Craig got this job, before anyone knew, Savannah, Craig and I knew,” she explained. “I said, ‘Since no one can know, Craig, the code I’m gonna give to you, is every time I think about it, is I’m gonna say, “Let’s go Mets.”‘ And so every time I looked at Craig and I said, ‘Let’s go Mets,’ he knew that I was cheering him on for this new job.”

Guthrie, however, wasn’t clued into the secret messaging. “You know what’s really funny? Hoda, you didn’t tell me that, and I was like, ‘Hoda is really into the Mets!’” she said.

At the end of the segment, Carson Daly revealed his gift to Al Roker, who was absent from the episode as he spent time with his family. The present was a “legacy journal” that he could eventually give to his grandchildren: “He could journal a little bit, and it would be a book, ultimately, that would be passed down,” Daly explained.

Melvin also presented Daly with a gift from Roker: a huge jacket to help him warm up from his cold plunge routine. “When you come out of your daily cold plunge, you can throw that on before or after,” Melvin said.

“This is like a Michael Phelps throw-over,” Daly exclaimed. “Uncle Al, I love it, thank you.”

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Melvin closed the segment with a quip. “If Al were here, you know he’d make some joke about cold plunge and the shrinkage.”

Watch the full Today clip above.