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Hoda Kotb is shaking off Kelly Rowland leaving the “Today” show right before they were supposed to co-host the fourth hour last week.
“I just want to say this: I have great love and admiration for Kelly Rowland. I adore her, and I want her to come back on our show, and I want her to host again,” Kotb said on Tuesday’s episode of “Today with Hoda and Jenna.”
Kotb’s co-host, Jenna Bush Hager –– who was taking off the day of Rowland’s scheduled co-hosting –– agreed with Kotb and added that Rowland is “welcome anytime, she’s the best.”
Hoda Kotb addressed Kelly Rowland walking off the “Today” show. Hoda & Jenna/NBC Kotb talked about her “great love and admiration” for Rowland on Tuesday’s episode of “Today With Hoda and Jenna.” Hoda & Jenna/NBC“Of course she is, of course she is! She can share my dressing room, we’ll be in it together!” Kotb, 59, said while laughing.
Kotb was referring to Page Six breaking the news that Rowland, 43, left the “Today” show after she was unhappy about her dressing room.
“But anyway, I just want to say we love her, we’ve loved her on this show for many, many years,” Kotb continued.
“She can share my dressing room,” Kotb quipped. TODAY/NBCBush Hager even reflected on the first time they had her as a guest on the show, and both of them begged her to “please host with us” one day.
Rowland’s absence left Kotb and the rest of the “Today” show scrambling for a co-host, but luckily, Rita Ora –– who was scheduled to appear on an interview promoting the new season of the “Masked Singer” –– stepped in for Rowland.
“On another note, too, we just wanna give a shout out to Rita Ora who kind of came in at the last second and really did a phenomenal job, so we have great women on this show,” Kotb gushed.
Kotb also gave a shout-out to Rita Ora for subbing for Rowland at the last minute. Instagram/@ritaora The “Today” show personality gushed that Ora “really did a phenomenal job.” Instagram/@ritaoraBush Hager also applauded Kotb for handling the entire ordeal and joked she “won’t take a day off until 2026.”
“I was gonna say, you’re not allowed. That’s your last day off for months and months and months,” Kotb joked.
Kotb and Ora co-hosted Thursday’s show, but they turned heads when they kept mentioning how Ora was only alerted she’d be doing so a few minutes prior to air.
For more Page Six you love…
Listen to our weekly “We Hear” podcast Shop our exclusive merchShortly after the show, Page Six exclusively reported that Rowland left the “Today” show after briefly appearing on the 8 a.m. hour, because the dressing rooms were not up to par for her.
“Kelly and her team were not happy. They did not like the dressing room, so they decided to pull her off the show, leaving [Kotb] without a guest host for the 10 a.m. hour,” a source told Page Six last week.
Page Six broke the news that Rowland fled the “Today” show after not finding a dressing room up to par. GC Images The former Destiny’s Child member was set to co-host “Today With Hoda and Jenna” after appearing on the 8 a.m. segment of “Today.” TODAY/NBCThe former Destiny Child’s member reportedly played a game of “musical dressing rooms” at 30 Rockefeller Plaza.
An insider added that the whole thing “made no sense,” because Rowland is “beloved at ‘Today.'”
Rowland has yet to address the ordeal, while Ora confirmed Page Six’s report and gushed about how everyone was “so lovely and kind.”
