Hoda Kotb’s final week at TODAY is underway, and Blake Shelton called in to bid her farewell.
The “God’s Country” singer surprised Hoda when he joined live on a video call during the Jan. 8 episode of TODAY with Hoda & Jenna.
After answering the call, Jenna Bush Hager told Shelton that his appearance is a special one because she said her co-host was “in love” with him for many years, to which Hoda smiled and nodded.
“I adore her,” Shelton said of Hoda. “I’m happy for her, but I can’t believe we’re at this moment where she’s finally stepping out. I hope, Hoda, that you do a whole lot of what I’m doing these days, which is spending a lot more time at home.”
Shelton thanked Hoda for years of showing him love on the show. The two reminisced on his guest co-hosting years ago, with the country singer adding that it was a “huge deal” for him.
However, Shelton didn’t let Jenna’s remarks about Hoda’s love for him go unaddressed. He brought up a time when he ran into her at a party in Nashville and thought it might be their “moment.”
“It’s funny, Jenna, you talking about Hoda saying I was her first love,” he began. “But I did run into her in Nashville one time, off camera, had nothing to do with television or anything. And I thought it was going to be our moment and she completely ran away from me.”
