HODA Kotb has been replaced on the Today Show on Monday, after her sudden absence.

Craig Melvin filled in for her, as she had an early morning with her daughters the day before.

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Hoda Kotb was absent from the Today Show on Monday without a warningCredit: The Mega Agency

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The host had a late night the day before, as she and her daughters stayed up to watch the Women’s World Cup at 5amCredit: Instagram/hodakotb
Craig sat next to Savannah Guthrie on Monday, which is usually occupied by Hoda.

“So happy you’re with us. Hoda’s got the morning off,” Savannah explained at the beginning of the broadcast.

“She’s probably at Simone Biles’ house right now and is like ‘Go Simone!'”

This caused Craig to crack up.

Savannah did not address Craig being there, but instead got straight to the news of the day.

Craig typically joins Savannah and Hoda about 30 minutes into the program.

When one of them is out, Craig will take the co-host spot and Sheinelle Jones will usually join the hosts.

However, on Monday, Sheinelle was absent as well, and Jacob Soboroff became the third host at the desk.

HODA’S LATE NIGHT

Hoda must have been catching up on sleep, as she, her daughters, and a friend stayed up until 5am on Sunday to watch the women’s U.S. soccer team.

The U.S. competed against Sweden and ended with a tied score of zero.

The FIFA Women’s World Cup is an international competition and is hosted by Australia and New Zealand this year.

This meant that anyone in the United States had to stay up late to watch the game, due to the time differences.

“We up!!! Go USA!!!! @uswnt,” Hoda captioned her post.

In the post, Hoda was make-up free and smiled for a selfie with her daughters, as the game played in the background.

BOOKED AND BUSY

Before being absent from Today, Hoda announced a major career move on the show.

The 58-year-old got emotional while sharing the news with fans as her upcoming project was inspired by her youngest daughter, Hope.

During Wednesday’s broadcast of Today, Hoda revealed she has a new children’s book coming out.

The picture book, titled Hope is a Rainbow, comes out in March 2024.

Hoda shared: “A few years back, I wrote the book, I’ve Loved You Since Forever, and it was inspired by the birth of my daughter Haley.

“So, I’m bursting because I have a book coming out next March, and it’s inspired by my youngest daughter, Hope.”

She explained that the book is about “really looking for hope all around” yourself.

After showing the bright cover of Hoda’s upcoming release, Savannah Guthrie asked her co-star to tell a bit more about the story and how it came to be.

Hoda said: “It was based on my daughter, who, of course, I had dreamt of her and hoped for her, and her name just fell in.

“And she just reminds me that hope is around every corner. No matter what you go through, no matter what hardship you endure.”

She added that she’d actually written the book before Hope, four, got sick a few months ago, before adding that her daughter’s “on the mend” now.

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Craig Melvin filled in for Hoda on Monday, as he sat next to Savannah Guthrie at the deskCredit: NBC

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It is not clear when Hoda will return to the morning showCredit: NBC

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The 58-year-old revealed last week that she wrote a book that was inspired by her daughter, Hope