Hoda Kotb will always support her friends whenever she can! The Today alum sweetly surprised Savannah Guthrie at her recent book signing and the whole interaction was caught on camera.
Hoda, 60, appeared at Savannah’s signing for her new children’s book, Mostly What God Does is Love You in Ridgewood, New Jersey, on Tuesday, February 25. The broadcaster playfully held a book over her face as she waited for Savannah, 53, to walk into the room.
Savannah was met with applause after she walked down the stairs and entered the space. Before she could sit down at the book signing table, Hoda screamed, “Can I be first?” She then ran up to the table to greet an audibly shocked Savannah.
The two NBC colleagues embraced in a hug, with the crowd absolutely loving seeing their reunion. Hoda told Savannah that she drove to New Jersey to come see her, which Savannah could not believe. “I love you,” Hoda told her, as Savannah gave her a kiss on the cheek and hugged her once more.
“Let me tell you what this girl has done ever since I’ve known her, she shows up for people,” Hoda said, to which Savannah replied, “So do you.”
“So I’m showing up for you,” Hoda said as Savannah began to get emotional.
Hoda posted the interaction on Instagram, captioning the post, “The secret plot to surprise @savannahguthrie at her book signing event in Ridgewood, New Jersey…. Swipe xo.”
“I love this so much!!! You showed up and that’s what life is about,” one person wrote in the comments section.
“I miss seeing the two of you together every day,” one person confessed, as another said, “LOVE THIS! I miss you so much Hoda!!!”
“What amazings friends are you guys,” another person said.
Additionally, Savannah posted several photos hugging Hoda with the caption, “Happiness is… your friend surprising — no, SHOCKING you — by showing up at your book event. @hodakotb there is just no one like you. my biggest cheerleader from beginning to end.”
The following day, Savannah reflected on the book signing and Hoda’s surprise visit during a Today broadcast.
“I thought I was hallucinating. It made me feel so good,” the bestselling author remarked while anchoring the episode on Wednesday, February 26. “It was just amazing. It’s so, so sweet and so, so her.”
Hoda left Today in January and currently lives in a new home in the suburbs with her daughters, Haley, 8, and Hope, 5.
In an interview with Us Weekly published on Wednesday, Savannah opened up about Hoda’s exit and Craig Melvin taking over for her as early morning coanchor.
“I’m heartbroken. But I’m also thrilled for her and proud of her. That is so gutsy to leave something you love at the height of your excellence and say, ‘I’m dreaming this bigger dream for myself,’” Savannah told the outlet. “She was like, ‘I turned 60 and sure, I could do this wonderful thing with one hand tied behind my back for another 10 years,” but she said, “I’m going to take a risk.’ Lucky [for] us that the perfect person was right there waiting in the wings. [Craig] has stepped into the role seamlessly.”
