Longtime friends and former TODAY co-hosts Hoda Kotb and Kathie Lee Gifford had a heartwarming reunion on May 14. They showed up together at a QVC event in Santa Monica, where they were both honored as ambassadors for QVC’s “Q50 Age of Possibility” campaign.
Their connection had not faded one bit, as they laughed, joked, and strolled hand-in-hand down the red carpet. It was a moment that brought back memories of the chemistry people had come to love while watching them together for so many years.
“Reunited, and it feels so good.” Hoda Kotb and Kathie Lee Gifford reunite
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In a playful video shared online, Kathie Lee turned to the camera and joked, “Guess who I found? Kelly Ripa!” Hoda laughed, replying, “Oh my God, you’ve changed!” It was one of those familiar moments where their playful bond just shone through — natural and full of the kind of laughter only real friends share. When asked what she was doing at the event, Hoda looked straight at her friend and said, “Mainly you.” She added that any time someone hears Kathie Lee will be somewhere, “they show up!”
That same joy was carried into Hoda’s Instagram stories, where Kathie Lee began singing, “Reunited, and it feels so good.” The two were really excited to be part of the event together, proudly calling themselves Q50 Ambassadors. They even poked fun at each other—Kathie Lee accidentally said they’d be “stream-living,” and Hoda quickly corrected, “Livestreaming.” With a grin, Kathie Lee replied, “That too!”
Their friendship goes beyond just being co-hosts
Kathie Lee did not hold back when talking about Hoda later that day. She told PEOPLE magazine, “She’s one of my favorite people on the planet.” What was supposed to be a one-year job on the TODAY show turned into 11 years because of her love for working with Hoda. “We text a lot,” she added. “She’s got her brand new life… I think she’s going to be announcing something very soon, and I’m so happy for her.”
Kathie Lee left the show in 2019 after over a decade of working with Hoda. Hoda recently stepped away from her role, too, closing out 25 years with NBC. On Hoda’s farewell episode, Kathie Lee appeared in a video message, saying how much she wished she could be there, and then surprised Hoda by showing up in person. “I was thinking to myself, I sure hope Kathie comes,” Hoda admitted. Kathie Lee didn’t disappoint. She ended the surprise by singing, “My problem is, I fall in love, and I fell in love with Hoda.” With a big smile, she added, “She’s sunshine in a bottle… You’re a fearless person. You are.”