Hoda Kotb Returns To The 'Today' Show Desk And Reveals Her New Morning Routine Hoda Kotb just returned to the Today show desk—and her former colleagues couldn’t help but notice how different she looked. Nearly two years after officially stepping away from the morning news program, the 62-year-old made a special television appearance on Monday. She stepped in to guest co-host alongside Jenna Bush Hager while Sheinelle Jones was away. When Kotb walked onto the plaza, Craig Melvin told her she was looking better than ever. Bush Hager joked, asking if her glowing appearance is what happens when someone finally gets a normal amount of sleep. Kotb stepped down in January 2025 to focus on her two young daughters and launch a health app. During Monday’s broadcast, she admitted her new routine is completely different from waking up at the crack of dawn for live television. She said she finally gets to decide her own schedule, adding that the “mini-van life” really rocks. But the emotional highlight of the morning was her reunion with Bush Hager. The two hosted together for years, and both said being back on set felt like stepping back in time. Kotb shared a touching message about their bond, proving that true friendship doesn't require seeing someone every single day. "I walked in here and I saw you walk into my little dressing room, and it was like not a day had passed," Kotb said. Do you miss seeing Hoda on TV every morning? #HodaKotb #TodayShow #JennaBushHager #MorningNews #Television - @spainadur