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.”
Hoda and Jenna were shocked amid laughter, as Shelton emphasized, “I mean she ran away from me, like totally afraid of me.”
Recalling their conversation at the Nashville party, Shelton told Hoda, “I was like, ‘Hoda! You’re here!’ and you’re like, ‘I got to go!’ and you ran.”
Jenna explained to Shelton that while Hoda has been known to leave parties early in the past, that it’s no longer the case.
“Blake, I’ve changed,” Hoda said. “I’m totally not that girl anymore.”
Jenna then clarified that this was before Gwen Stefani, Shelton’s wife of three years, came into the picture.
Hoda then shared a memory from one of their past TODAY encounters, recalling the time Shelton sang a song while co-hosting the show with her and played the acoustic guitar.
“It was the first time I felt like someone was singing to me,” Hoda told him.
A brief clip then showed the two of them sitting at the hosting desk years ago, as Shelton strummed and sang, looking at Hoda. As the camera showed Hoda looking back at Shelton, all three shared a laugh.
In his final moments on the call with Hoda and Jenna, Shelton gave some sweet parting words for Hoda.
“I do know you’re not going to disappear because I’ve been there. But I do know that a break is going to be awesome for you. And I can’t wait to see what you do next,” Shelton told Hoda. “I love you.”
“I love you too, Blake,” Hoda replied.
Hoda’s last day as co-anchor of TODAY and co-host of TODAY with Hoda & Jenna will be Friday, Jan. 10.
