Sometimes, things are better left said — three times, in fact.
As seen in this adorable clip from summer 2018, Hoda Kotb once held the fourth hour of TODAY alongside a very special guest co-host: The Voice legend Blake Shelton. However, the pair didn’t broadcast from the show’s usual location; instead, they were live from Shelton’s bar in Nashville, Ole Red.
The entire episode was a country music-infused spectacle, but our favorite part will always be the show’s opening, which saw Kotb absolutely melt when Shelton told her how much he loved her.
After Kotb sweetly introduced Shelton to viewers at home, the country superstar returned the favor like only he could.
“Now can I say something?” he asked. “I’m sitting here with Hoda. I’m sitting here with Hoda! At Ole Red, my bar, this is really happening! This is like an out-of-body experience, I’ve been thinking about this forever — I’ve been dreaming about this for months.”
“By the way,” Kotb interjected.
But Shelton wasn’t done. “I love you,” he said warmly to Kotb. “I love you. I love you.”
Kotb didn’t know what to say at that moment, but one thing’s for sure: She couldn’t stop smiling. Watch below:
“Today is my favorite day — ever!” Kotb eventually said in response. These two have such a sweet friendship!
Blake Shelton claims Hoda Kotb “ran away” from him at a Nashville party
Blake Shelton and Hoda Kotb celebrate the expansion of Smithworks Vodka in Nashville, Tennessee at karaoke bar WannaBs on June 6, 2017 in Nashville, Tennessee. Photo: Erika Goldring/Getty Images for Smithworks Vodka
Kotb famously admitted to having a “real, authentic crush” on Shelton during a chat with Jay Leno in 2013, which definitely explains her enthusiasm over Shelton’s praise for her five years later.
However, in true tongue-in-cheek fashion, Shelton revealed during a remote appearance on TODAY with Hoda & Jenna that Kotb missed her opportunity to connect with him by leaving a Nashville party early back in the day.
“You talked about Hoda saying I was her first love or whatever,” Shelton told Jenna Bush Hager. “I ran into her in Nashville one time. Off-camera, had nothing to do with television or anything. I thought it was going to be our moment. And she completely ran away from me. I mean she ran away from me, like, totally afraid of me.”
“She’s not leaving parties early anymore,” said Hager, to which Kotb added, “I’ve changed. I’m totally not that girl anymore.
