Craig Melvin fills in for Hoda Kotb as she takes time off 'Today' after staying up late with daughters
LOS ANGELES, CALIFORNIA: ‘Today’ host Hoda Kotb's unexpected absence from the NBC show led to her replacement on Monday, August 7. Kotb's co-host Craig Melvin stepped in as she spent an early morning with her daughters, Hope and Haley, and mother, Semiha.
On Monday, August 7 broadcast, Melvin took over the hosting duties as Kotb's absence surprised viewers on the ‘Today’ Show. It seems like Kotb's early morning shenanigans with her daughters led to this change, showcasing the show's adaptability. Kotb uploaded a picture of herself watching the Women's World Cup at 5 am with her daughters, Hope and Haley, and mother, Semiha, on Instagram to let her followers know what she had been up to.
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Hoda Kotb’s early-morning fun
On Monday, Melvin assumed Kotb's usual spot beside Savannah Guthrie, who warmly welcomed him, “So happy you're with us. Hoda's got the morning off.” She continued to reveal why Kotb is absent, “She's probably at Simone Biles' house right now and is like 'Go Simone!'” Melvin’s ensuing laughter marked the light-hearted moment. Although Guthrie bypassed addressing Melvin’s presence, she delved right into the day's news. Ordinarily, Melvin joins the hosts about half an hour into the program, stepping in for either Kotb or Guthrie. With Sheinelle Jones also absent that day, Jacob Soboroff joined the duo as the third co-host at the desk.
Catching up on sleep, Kotb and her daughters, along with her mother, stayed awake until 5 am to watch the US women's soccer team compete against Sweden. The match ended in a tie of zero. As the FIFA Women's World Cup takes place in Australia and New Zealand this year, the time difference meant late-night viewing for those in the US. Kotb shared a makeup-free selfie, smiling alongside her daughters, as they cheered for the US team in the background. She captioned the post, "We up!!! Go USA!!!! @uswnt.”
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Hoda Kotb's major career milestone
Before her absence on the 'Today' show, Kotb unveiled a significant career move during an emotional moment. The 58-year-old became teary-eyed as she shared her latest venture, a project inspired by her youngest daughter, Hope. In a recent episode of 'Today', Kotb revealed her upcoming children's book titled 'Hope is a Rainbow', scheduled for release in March 2024.
Kotb expressed her excitement, saying, "I have a book coming out next March, and it’s inspired by my youngest daughter, Hope." The book centers on the theme of finding hope within one's surroundings. Guthrie, Kotb's co-host, prompted her to delve into the story's origin after revealing the vibrant cover. Kotb explained, "It was based on my daughter, who, of course, I had dreamt of her and hoped for her, and her name just fell in."
