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As TODAY show fans soak up the last few moments with Hoda Kotb at the helm of the morning news program, she has a request for who she wants to replace her.
Last month, the veteran anchor announced her impending departure from the NBC morning show after 17 years, citing her desire to spend more time with her children. Although her replacement has yet to be announced, Kotb has opinions about the next person to occupy her seat.
“The person who I want is someone who has beautiful chemistry with Jenna Bush Hager,” she said to E! News referring to her co-host. “That’s all I want. Because it’s never about either anchor, it’s about what’s between. So bring the chemistry.”
Kotb continued: “I don’t care if it’s her best friend, I don’t care if it’s someone she’s worked with, if it’s some celeb. When she gets in sync, that’s it. If she has chemistry, it will be beautiful.”
The 60-year-old went on to admit she doesn’t have much say in the decision, but said she advised Hager to be vocal about her needs during the transition and hiring process.
“I said Jenna, ‘Feel who you want. Feel what feels right for you,’” she recalled. “She’ll know, because the only way it’s going to work is if they got a vibe or not. Just the fun party vibe. It can’t be forced.”
And as far as advice for her successor, Kotb says, “Look, you get to sit next to Savannah Guthrie. Here’s what you’re going to do: You’re going to ride sidecar and say ‘thank you very much,’ OK?”
The longtime NBC host revealed the decision to leave crystallized after her 60th birthday celebration. “I realized that it was time for me to turn the page at 60, and to try something new,” she said.
“I remembered standing outside looking at these beautiful bunch of people with these gorgeous signs, and I thought, ‘This is what the top of the wave feels like for me.’ And I thought it can’t get better, and I decided that this is the right time for me to kind of move on.”