Just when we thought Hoda Kotb’s farewell “Hoda-bration” couldn’t get any more emotional, a special green guest reduced everyone to tears with a very colorful performance.
TODAY co-host Savannah Guthrie said that “an icon, a legend among legends” arrived to wish Hoda well.
As Hoda snuggled up with daughters Haley, 8, and Hope, 5, on the white couch in Studio 1A, Kermit the Frog popped up behind them to say, “Hi ho, Hoda! Hi how, everybody! How are you? It’s me, Kermit the Frog.”
Haley stared at Kermit, riveted, while Hope gave a huge smile.
“Hi, Kermit!” said Hoda. “I love your song.”
“Aw, gee, thank you so much,” Kermit replied. “I love to hear that you are singing it to your children every night. Is that right?”
“And I played it when I rolled in today on my last day,” Hoda added.
When host Craig Melvin asked Kermit his favorite thing about Hoda, he replied, “I’ve got to go with her smile. You’ve got such a great smile. It really lights up a room, doesn’t it?”
Before Kermit launched into his signature song, “The Rainbow Connection,” he said, “Hoda, you truly do make every day as beautiful as a rainbow.”
As the first notes of the banjo begin to play, Hoda wrapped her arm around Hope and put her hand on Haley.
Hoda, clearly emotional, sang along with Kermit at points of the song, as did her daughters. She wiped away a tear or two along the way.
Before the last chorus, Kermit shouted, “Come on, join in everybody!”
All of the TODAY co-hosts who were gathered around joined Kermit to sing along.
When the clip posted on TODAY’s Instagram page, viewers seemed to cry along with Hoda:
- “Constant stream of tears this morning watching the celebration for @hodakotb“
- “Who’s cutting onions this early? Hoda, wishing you ALL the best!”
- “Guys I was ok-ish until you let this happen”
