Hoda Kotb was surprised by 60 of her sorority sisters live on the plaza Monday to help kick off her Hodabration, aka her final week on TODAY.
Members of the Marching Virginians, Virginia Tech’s marching band, performed as the school’s mascot HokieBird danced and jumped around.
“I have to confess something,” Hoda said. “I knew that you guys were here, I heard you were here, so under my blazer I made sure I was wearing my Virginia Tech stuff.”
Hoda beamed as she showed the plaza crowd that she was wearing a shirt with her alma mater on it underneath her jackets.
But that wasn’t the surprise she was actually waiting for, her co-anchor Savannah Guthrie said.
“So you thought you knew what we were doing today?” Savannah asked.
“Yeah!” Hoda replied.
“Well, let’s welcome out your Tri Delt sorority sisters!” Savannah said, leading Hoda to gasp in complete surprise as 60 of her sisters walked out on the plaza.
Hoda immediately began hugging her Tri Delta sisters as she screamed, “Oh, my God! Oh, my God!”
Mary Robertson and Peggy Fox, two of Hoda’s sorority sisters and closest friends, explained how they were able to surprise her with so many members — on just two weeks’ notice.
“They called us two weeks ago, and they said, ‘Can you get a few Tri Deltas?’” Fox told Hoda.
“During the holidays! We rallied,” Robertson added.
Carson Daly asked Hoda’s sorority sisters to share a story about her in college.
“You know what she was like? She was like how she is now,” Fox replied. “That’s why we are here — we know America loves Hoda.”
“You guys, I can’t believe you did this,” Hoda said, “I was the pledge trainer for this sorority and it meant the absolute world to me. I can’t believe you guys came. I’m shocked, I can’t believe it y’all! This is so crazy! I love you!”
Al Roker was quick to jokingly suggest a kegger at Hoda’s house, while Hoda said she needed to go out with everyone.
After the ladies burst out into a Tri Delta song, Hoda said, “Y’all, that was the awesomest, thank you guys.”
The members came from all over the country to wish Hoda well on her last week on TODAY.
Hoda announced in September that she would be leaving her spot as co-anchor, as well as her position alongside Jenna Bush Hager on TODAY with Hoda & Jenna.
“I realized that it was time for me to turn the page at 60, and to try something new,” she said on the broadcast on Sept. 26.
