Hoda Kotb Makes Pre-Taped Appearance on ‘Today’ Amid Absence

Back on the air — kind of. Hoda Kotb made a pre-taped look through the Friday, March 3, episode of Today amid her continued absence from the reside present.

The journalist, 58, helmed a prerecorded section that includes interviews with the late Olivia Newton-John‘s husband, John Easterling, and her daughter, Chloe Lattanzi, whom the Xanadu actress shared with ex Matt Lattanzi. Before the clip aired, anchor Sheinelle Jones noted that Kotb “recently” spoke to the Grease star’s household.

When the episode started, Jones, 44, and coanchor Craig Melvin informed viewers that Kotb and Savannah Guthrie had been each “out” for the day. Guthrie, 51, left Today early on Tuesday, February 28, after testing constructive for COVID-19.

Melvin, 43, later assured followers that each Guthrie and Kotb will “be back with us soon.”

Before Friday’s section, Kotb hadn’t appeared on the present since February 20 when she featured in a pre-taped section with cohost Jenna Bush Hager. During the Monday, February 27, episode, Guthrie informed viewers that her colleague was merely “off today.”

Two days later, Melvin confirmed that the Oklahoma native was away from the present coping with a private difficulty.

“We mentioned that Savannah and Hoda are both off. Savannah, she’s home after a positive COVID test yesterday. We are wishing our friend a speedy recovery,” the NBC reporter defined on Wednesday, March 1. “And as for Hoda, we know a lot of you have been wondering how she’s doing. We can tell you that Hoda’s OK. She’s got a family health matter that she’s been dealing with, so we look forward to seeing Hoda and Savannah back at the desk real, real soon.”

Today present weatherman Al Roker added: “We love you both.”

Later within the episode, Bush Hager, 41, gave followers an analogous replace on Kotb’s whereabouts. “Willie [Geist] is in for Hoda,” the Sisters First coauthor defined. “And we just want to let you all know that we heard you, and Hoda is OK. She’s just got a family health matter that she’s been dealing with.”

The Texas native added that she and her Today colleagues are hopeful that the youngsters’s e-book creator will likely be again on the air within the close to future. “We adore her, we’re sending our love to her, and she’s going to be back, right here, very, very soon,” Bush Hager informed viewers.

Geist, 47, added: “Can’t wait to see her back here. We love you very much, Hoda.”

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Kotb, for her half, has not publicly commented on her absence from Today, merely sharing a cryptic Instagram publish on Monday that learn, “Choose Hope.”