News | Entertainment
22 Feb 2026 22:32
NZCity News
NZCity CalculatorReturn to NZCity

  • Start Page
  • Personalise
  • Sport
  • Weather
  • Finance
  • Shopping
  • Jobs
  • Horoscopes
  • Lotto Results
  • Photo Gallery
  • Site Gallery
  • TVNow
  • Dating
  • SearchNZ
  • NZSearch
  • Crime.co.nz
  • RugbyLeague
  • Make Home
  • About NZCity
  • Contact NZCity
  • Your Privacy
  • Advertising
  • Login
  • Join for Free

  •   Home > News > Entertainment

    Hoda Kotb just wants her 'Today' replacement to be themselves

    The 60-year-old journalist had anchored the NBC morning programme alongside Jenna Bush Hager since 2018 when she stepped down on Friday (10.01.25) and as a series of guests hosts take her place for now, she has revealed that she just wants whoever gets the full-time role to avoid "forcing" anything while on air.


    She told E! News: "I would say to that person that they should be 100 percent themselves. They should not try and force or do anything other than be authentically, 1,000 percent who they are. If they want it so deep down, it will come.

    "And what's going to work is not that one person's super talented and another person is super talented-Jenna and whomever. Instead, it's whatever that space between is. Once you get magic, you know it from day one. You're like, 'That's it. It's there.' And from that day forward, it's off and running."

    The TV star did warn that it is "hard work" because the job requires being authentic all the days that are spent on air but reassured the "lucky person" that they will be in for a once-in-lifetime experience.

    She said: "Look, it's hard work because you got to be yourself on Monday and Tuesday and Wednesday and Thursday and Friday.

    "It's not like, 'I'll be funny today, but I'm in a bad mood today.' You just got to bring it. Maybe you're not having the best day. So what? It's not about you today.

    ", I think all of those things will come together. Whoever that lucky person is, it's the job of a lifetime. It really is. There's nothing better than that job. Nothing."

    © 2026 Bang Showbiz, NZCity

     Other Entertainment News
     22 Feb: James Van Der Beek was a "great leader on set", according to Algee Smith
     22 Feb: Andrew Mountbatten-Windsor has been "released under investigation"
     22 Feb: Khloe Kardashian would "want to be married" before having any more kids
     22 Feb: Timothee Chalamet thinks AI is set to change the movie business
     22 Feb: Hailey Bieber has found fame to be "mentally exhausting"
     22 Feb: Andrew Windsor has been slammed as "never a prince" by Virginia Giuffre's family
     22 Feb: Paddington Bear is set to bring a marmalade-tinted flourish to this weekend's EE BAFTA Film Awards after being confirmed as a presenter at the ceremony
     Top Stories

    RUGBY RUGBY
    The Crusaders have been demolished by the Brumbies 50-24 in Christchurch to close out the second week of Super Rugby More...


    BUSINESS BUSINESS
    Fifteen years on from the devastating Christchurch earthquake, belief light may finally be at the end of the tunnel More...



     Today's News

    Auckland:
    Citybound lanes on Auckland's North-Western motorway have now reopened following a two-vehicle crash 22:07

    Entertainment:
    James Van Der Beek was a "great leader on set", according to Algee Smith 21:47

    Motoring:
    There are serious injuries after a crash between a car and cyclist in Christchurch's Sumner 21:17

    Entertainment:
    Andrew Mountbatten-Windsor has been "released under investigation" 21:17

    Entertainment:
    Khloe Kardashian would "want to be married" before having any more kids 20:47

    Entertainment:
    Timothee Chalamet thinks AI is set to change the movie business 20:17

    Entertainment:
    Hailey Bieber has found fame to be "mentally exhausting" 19:47

    International:
    Why has Donald Trump issued Keir Starmer a warning about the Chagos Islands? 19:37

    Entertainment:
    Andrew Windsor has been slammed as "never a prince" by Virginia Giuffre's family 19:17

    Law and Order:
    Police are asking for public help to find John Joseph Paparoa, who is wanted in relation to dishonesty, assault and firearm-related offending 18:57


     News Search






    Power Search


    © 2026 New Zealand City Ltd