Jenna Bush Hager Invites Gayle King To Replace Hoda Kotb On ‘Today’: “There’s A Seat Open”

By Radhamely De Leon
Published Dec. 3, 2024, 12:16 p.m. ET

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It looks like Jenna Bush Hager already has her sights set on her next Today co-host.

Hoda Kotb will be retiring in January 2025, after which the fourth hour of Today will rebrand from Today With Hoda & Jenna to Today With Jenna & Friends, where Bush Hager will be joined by a rotating panel of guest hosts until she finds a new partner in crime.

But, during Tuesday’s (Dec. 3) broadcast of Today, Bush Hager was inspired to invite Gayle King onto the show after she recalled a kind memory she had of the longtime CBS anchor.

“I went to the Olympics. Gayle may not even remember this… I know she’s your friend,” Bush Hager told Kotb. “Gayle had a radio show. After I did the Olympics in Vancouver, somebody sent me this [clip] where she was like, ‘I love her. I love how real she is.’ She said this whole thing [that] was so nice. I’ve actually never said to her ‘thank’ you for doing that.”

She then turned to the camera and added, “So, to my bestie, there’s a seat open.”

Kotb became playfully upset as she reacted, “My seat isn’t even cold yet!”

Nonetheless, Bush Hager continued. “I know you have a job over at 60 Minutes and such but Gayle and Jenna – it has a beautiful ring,” she said. “I’m just kidding.”

Hoda Kotb Jenna Bush Hager
Photo: NBC

She also jokingly apologized for bringing King up, considering the CBS host recently interviewed two of Kotb’s favorite men: Shaboozey and Lenny Kravitz. “I’m sorry, ever since she had Shaboozey, I feel like I’m rubbing salt in the wound,” she told Kotb.

“No it’s fine, more about how awesome Gayle King is please,” Kotb sarcastically replied.

Bush Hager brought King up again later on in the show, after which Kotb called her out for “shading” her.

“I have some abandonment issues with her leaving, so today Gayle King is the way I’m dealing with those,” Bush Hager admitted.

It remains unclear who will be joining Bush Hager on Jenna & Friends when it begins airing Jan. 13. While there’s a slim chance that King will be joining Bush Hager on NBC, seeing as their networks are competitors, there are plenty of other celebs interested in co-hosting.

Today with Hoda & Jenna airs on weekdays at 10/9c on NBC.