Hoda Kotb is “doing fine,” says her colleague Al Roker.
“She’s going to be just fine,” the “Today” show weatherman, 68, told Page exclusively at the Hudson River Friends 7th Annual Playground Committee Luncheon at Pier 59 on Friday.
“She’s dealing with what she’s gotta deal will and all will be good,” he added.

Al Roker assured Page that Hoda Kotb is “fine” amid her absence from the “Today” show. NBCU Photo Bank/NBCUniversal via Getty Images
Kotb, 58, has worried the morning show’s fans with her two-week absence due to a “family health matter.”
The journalist made a brief appearance on Friday’s show with a pre-taped interview with Olivia Newton-John’s widower, John Easterling, and daughter, Chloe Lattanzi.
Earlier in the week, co-host Craig Melvin spoke out about Kotb’s absence.

Kotb and Roker are both longtime hosts of the “Today” show. Instagram/@hodakotb
“We know a lot of you have been wondering how she’s doing. We can tell you that Hoda is OK, [but] she’s got a family health matter that she’s been dealing with,” Melvin said on Wednesday’s live broadcast.
Melvin added that Kotb will be “back here at the desk very, very soon.”
Jenna Bush Hager and Willie Geist also spoke out during Wednesday’s episode of “Today with Hoda & Jenna.”

Kotb last appeared live on the “Today” show on Feb. 17. Nathan Congleton/NBC via Getty Images
“Willie [Geist] is in for Hoda, and we just want to let you all know that we heard you, and Hoda is OK,” Bush Hager told viewers. “She just has a family health matter she is dealing with.”
Bush Hager, 41, and Geist, 47 — who has been filling in for Kotb — both added that they “love” and “adore” the mom of two and can’t wait for her return “very, very soon.”
The luncheon — which honored Jill Kargman — was set to be hosted by the “Today” show’s Dylan Dreyer, who had a scheduling conflict, and then Melvin, who was forced to pull out because he’s hosting a “Dateline” special on the Alex Murdaugh murder case.
And the longtime “Macy’s Thanksgiving Day Parade” co-host was happy to help out.

Roker filled in at a luncheon to raise money for NYC playgrounds. Getty Images for Hudson River Park Friends
“That’s the beauty of the ‘Today’ show,” Roker explained. “The sum is greater than its parts. I don’t want to say we’re interchangeable but we all pitch in, something’s going on, you step up.
“Is this the worst thing in the world? No. Lot of nice people doing something really great for New York City, that’s not such a bad deal.”
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