All signs point to TODAY fans missing Hoda Kotb.
Hoda, whose last day on TODAY will be Jan. 10, was visibly moved when fan-created posters expressing their love for her were put on display on the plaza on Jan. 8.
“Over the past month, we have been collecting all of the posters — all of the posters — that folks have created, and we created this beautiful collage, Miss Hoda Kotb, because behind all of these signs? Someone who loves Hoda Kotb handcrafted them and then carried them from all over the countrym and they’ve been doing it for weeks now,” Craig Melvin told her while the camera panned to all the signs placed on barriers for her to see and soak in.
The signs all expressed love for Hoda.
“Cheers to Hoda,” read one.
“Thank U Hoda,” read another.
“Here for the Hoda-bration,” read another.
“We’ll miss you Hoda,” read another.
“Hoda I’m your #1 fan,” read yet another.
Craig, who said Hoda has spent 1,800 weekdays as TODAY co-anchor, reminded her that she goes out to the plaza regardless of the weather.
“Hoda’s always here,” he said. “First one out of the door to say hello to the folks here on the plaza. And through all of the changing seasons, one thing has been constant: It’s Hoda Kotb.”
Hoda, who announced last September her decision to leave TODAY, was choked up by the sight of the signs and the fans on hand who cheered her.
“It means everything,” she said. “First of all, I can’t believe that you saved all these. You know what I was thinking the other day? I was like, ‘I wish I had some of those to keep and take home.’”
Savannah Guthrie chimed in to say it shows “how much everyone loves you, Hodes,” while also complimenting the talent of the TODAY viewers for the “beautiful signs.”
“People have come from across the country just to give you one more hug,” she added.
“I just want to say thank you,” Hoda said. “You know what I think when I wake up in the morning and I see someone lined up, and what I say to them is, ‘You came! You came! You came! You came!’ So, thank you. That means a lot to me. I need to go home now.”
Savannah also grabbed a sign that read, “Craig … the gold at the end of Hoda’s rainbow,” alluding to Craig being named as Savannah’s new co-anchor on TODAY.
“How sweet is that?” Savannah said.