TODAY host Hoda Kotb has opened up about the experiences she had early on in her career.
The beloved anchor spoke about her journey as she celebrated her 25th anniversary of being at NBC.
5
Hoda Kotb reflected on her 25 years of working at NBC during a talk with Jenna Bush HagerCredit: ABC
5
The star explained that when she started out at Dateline ‘nothing was right about her’Credit: ABC
During the Hoda & Jenna show, the 58-year-old reminisced about her early days in journalism.
Hoda shared: “It’s been such a fun 25 years and I wondered why in any relationship you have, whether it’s a relationship with a friend or a boyfriend, or even in a job, you wonder how does it not feel like all those years?
“And I think it’s because it kept changing. Everything was changing, like I worked for Dateline for many years and loved it. When I first got hired I felt unworthy of that job.”
She continued: “I remember them saying: ‘Change your hair, change your clothes, change this change that.’ Nothing was right about me.
“I sort of felt like I was putting a circle in a square, trying to fit, you know how you do.”
Jenna asked: “And now how does it feel 25 years later?”
Her co-host responded: “When lighter fare came along like this show, the bosses were very sort of – early on – against me getting it, they were just like ‘not her, she’s boring, don’t pick her, you can try other people but not her.'”
She later added: “I was so busy trying to be right, trying not to mess up, trying to be perfect. I didn’t realize imperfections actually make something work better.”
CELEBRATING HODA
At the beginning of the segment, the Today stars spoke about Hoda’s 25th year with NBC News.
On Thursday, Hoda jokingly mentioned that her mother brought up the achievement in conversation.
She said: “I have to tell you. I was totally shocked!
“In fact, my mom texted me. She took a screengrab and said: ‘Oh wow! 25!”
Jenna, 41, added: “How amazing is that?”
Another milestone was also marked on Friday: the fourth anniversary of Hoda and Jenna coming together to host the third hour of Today.
To commemorate the occasion, the co-hosts shared a clip package of some of their favorite moments.
After the feature concluded, Jenna noticed a particular quirk in the montage.
“I’m kind of embarrassed how much we cry,” she said to her partner, as both, of course, fought back tears.
Hoda responded: “I think when there’s something that’s real, that you’re not pretending, it’s easy.”
Jenna tacked on: “It’s the best,” with Hoda echoing her saying: “This is the best.”
5
Jenna explained how she’d learned that being perfect didn’t matter, and that ‘imperfections’ were a good thingCredit: Getty
5
The co-anchor shared that her time with NBC had been ‘such a fun 25 years’Credit: NBC
5
Hoda and Jenna also marked four years of their joint show, and looked back on their time together
News
His slap echoed to the heavens—two weeks later, heaven dealt him a fatal blow.
“What kind of worthless junk did you give me?” That was what my father said right before he slapped me. He hit me in front of thirty guests holding champagne glasses on the night of his fifty-fifth birthday, in a…
When I won the lottery, something even scarier than the Scarred Old Man in the story of the Devil and Tom Walker appeared in my house.
“Give me two hundred thousand dollars, or you’re dead to this family.” My sister said that to me. Not a stranger. Not a loan shark. Not some scammer on the phone. My sister. Megan said it three days after I…
My mother secretly sabotaged the wedding service provider behind my back: But she never imagined that the person who opened the door that day would change everything.
My name is Vera Westbrook. I’m twenty-eight years old. Seven days before my wedding, I found out my own mother had canceled every single vendor. The flowers. The caterer. The venue. All of it. Then she called my fiancé and…
YOU DON’T DESERVE TO BE MY FATHER—AND THE PRICE YOU PAID WAS FAR TOO HIGH
He signed the do-not-resuscitate order at 11:18 on a Tuesday night. Not because the doctors said I was beyond saving. Because the billing department gave him a number. That was all it took. A number. And when I woke up…
MY FATHER HUMILIATED MY HUSBAND JUST BECAUSE HE WAS A TEACHER—BUT THE ENDING WAS SOMETHING NO ONE SAW COMING.
A teacher. He just babysits kids for pocket change. My father said that in front of forty guests, three cousins I had not seen in over a decade, and my four-year-old daughter, who was sitting on my husband’s lap. My…
I don’t understand why my job application was rejected, and the truth behind it is terrible.
My name is Caroline Johansson. I’m 28 years old. For three years, my parents called every employer I applied to and told them I had a criminal record. I didn’t. I have never been arrested. I have never even…
End of content
No more pages to load
