Hoda Kotb left The Today Show in January after 17 years. Turning 60 last summer made her change her priorities, and she wanted to spend more time with her daughters, Haley and Hope. She also launched the wellness brand Joy 101. While she doesn’t host the show every day, she’s made several appearances since her departure.
The popular morning host made another return on Thursday, November 20, for a very special interview that meant a lot to her. Keep reading to find out who brought her back to the show.
Hoda Kotb Returns To Today For Special Interview
Fans of The Today Show want to see Hoda Kotb back in the anchor chair. The show’s fourth hour, Jenna & Friends, is still looking for a permanent host to take Hoda’s seat. In the meantime, Jenna Bush Hager hosts with celebrity guest co-hosts.
Gayle King is reportedly out at CBS Mornings when her contract expires. There are rumors that Hoda Kotb could replace her, but she’s still under contract with NBC. Hoda will be back on the morning show next week for Macy’s Thanksgiving Day Parade with co-hosts Al Roker and Savannah Guthrie.
Craig Melvin, who recently scared fans about his future on the show, revealed on The Today Show on Wednesday, November 19, that Hoda Kotb would be on the next day’s episode. She returned for a special interview with comedian Jay Leno. The former late-night talk show host updated viewers on his life now.
Jay Leno Shares Heartbreaking Update On Wife’s Dementia Battle
Comedian Jay Leno took over as host of The Tonight Show from Johnny Carson in 1992. Aside from a short break, he hosted the late-night show until 2014. NBC decided to bring in a fresh face and replaced Jay Leno with Jimmy Fallon.
Since leaving the show, Jay Leno returned to his comedy career and starred on Fox’s Last Man Standing with Tim Allen. Jay Leno has had his share of health struggles in the last few years.
However, his main focus is on his beloved wife, Mavis Leno. They’ve been married since 1980. Sadly, she was diagnosed with dementia last year. He was granted a conservatorship over his spouse’s estate last year and became her caretaker.
Hoda Kotb interviewed the comedian at his home in Beverly Hills, California. The vintage car collector reflected on what attracted him to his wife in the first place. “I enjoy her company, like if I’m working on a car, she’d sit over there with a book and read. “It was just very — well, it still is, very comfortable,” Jay Leno said on The Today Show.
He added, “Before she had this, I would always go home after ‘The Tonight Show,’ cook dinner for her, and we’d watch TV. The only difference is now you just can’t really talk about a lot of things.”
Jay Leno can, however, still make his wife laugh. He admitted that carrying her to the bathroom isn’t romantic, but he cracks jokes to make it less awkward.
He said that his wife still remembers him, at least for now. “I can tell when she’s happy. And when she looks at me and smiles and says she loves me, I melt.”
Jennifer Havener grew up in a small town in Upstate New York. She earned her B.A in Writing & Literature from Naropa University in Boulder, Colorado. She always knew watching reality TV shows and soap operas, particularly ‘Days of Our Lives’, would come in handy someday. When she’s not writing, she’s playing with her dogs, Lola and Ruger
