Hoda Kotb knows Jenna Bush Hager deserves magic.

Which is why the veteran journalist has some advice for whoever joins Today’s fourth hour—previously known as Hoda & Jenna—to helm the program alongside Jenna.

“I would say to that person that they should be 100 percent themselves,” Hoda told E! News in an exclusive interview. “They should not try and force or do anything other than be authentically, 1,000 percent who they are. If they want it so deep down, it will come.”

She continued, “And what’s going to work is not that one person’s super talented and another person is super talented—Jenna and whomever. Instead, it’s whatever that space between is. Once you get magic, you know it from day one. You’re like, ‘That’s it. It’s there.’ And from that day forward, it’s off and running.” (For more with Hoda, tune into E! News tonight, Jan. 13 at 11 p.m.)

The 60-year-old—who also co-anchored the first hour of the NBC morning show alongside Savannah Guthrie—also acknowledged the challenges that come with the role.

“Look, it’s hard work because you got to be yourself on Monday and Tuesday and Wednesday and Thursday and Friday,” she noted. “It’s not like, ‘I’ll be funny today, but I’m in a bad mood today.’ You just got to bring it. Maybe you’re not having the best day. So what? It’s not about you today.”

She continued, “So, I think all of those things will come together. Whoever that lucky person is, it’s the job of a lifetime. It really is. There’s nothing better than that job. Nothing.”

Jenna Bush Hager, Hoda Kotb

In fact, while Jan. 13 marked the first Monday of Hoda’s next step—and all the sleeping in and time with her kids Haley, 7, and Hope, 5, that comes with it—she noted she’d be turning her TV on come 10 a.m. to see Jenna in action.

And right now, the fourth hour—currently named Jenna & Friends—sees the author hosting alongside Scarlett Johansson, who is temporarily filling in for Hoda as they land on a permanent replacement.

“I love Jenna so deeply and dearly, and I want to witness her success, because she’s going to kill it,” Hoda said. “I want to watch her. I hate to say it’s like watching your kid, but it kind of is. It’s like going to the school play. Like I’ll be mouthing the words, ‘Hi everybody, I’m Jenna.’ But I want her to be as wildly successful as she already is.”

She continued, “So, I will watch her because I just want to watch her step into her moment. Like step in both feet. And I want to bear witness to it because I think it’s going to be magic. So, 10 to 11 I’m gonna block off.”

Hoda Kotb, Haley Joy, Hope Catherine

Otherwise, the beloved anchor is looking forward to slower mornings, and the two extra hours of sleep she’ll get now that she’s able to turn off her 3:15 a.m. alarm.

“I’ve actually found a 5:45 Soul Cycle class,” she added. “So if I get up at 5:15, I’ll go to the class, come back, kids will just be getting up. I’ll make the breakfast, have the coffee and do the whole thing. Get a workout in, feel refreshed and feel rested.”

And she’ll be able to spend every extra moment she has with her daughters—who she shares with ex Joel Schiffman—whom she’s said were the biggest reason she decided to embark on this journey and leave Today behind.

“I want them to know that they are the most important part of my life,” Hoda explained of her daughters. “They ride front seat. They ride sidecar. They don’t ride in the back. Nothing else gets this seat. Career doesn’t get this seat. Time doesn’t get this seat. They get this seat.”

She added, “I want them to know that they are worth everything in the world and that I want them to know what hard work looks like. I want them to know what love looks like. I want them to know all those things, but I want them to know that I chose them.”

For more of Hoda’s sweetest moments with Hope and Haley, keep reading.

(E! and Today are both part of the NBCUniversal family.)

Hoda Kotb, Hope, Joy

School Drop Off

Hoda celebrates her first free morning After leaving Today by personally dropping daughters Hope and Joy off at school.

Hoda Kotb, Hope, Joy

Mommy Duty

“School drop!!! Let’s goooo!” the longtime NBC anchor captioned her Jan. 13, 2025 Instagram.

Hoda Kotb, Daughters, Haley, Hope

Halloween 2024

After announcing she’s leaving Today, Hoda celebrates her first Halloween in the New York suburbs with her kids.

Hoda Kotb, Daughters, Haley, Hope

Cheer-Worthy

Haley and Hope match in cheerleader costumes.

Hoda Kotb

Mother’s Day Surprise

Hoda got emotional as Haley and Hope surprised her with an early Mother’s Day gift.

Hoda Kotb, BirthdayInstagram

Birthday Celebrations

Joined by her siblings Hala and Adel, nieces Hannah and Ella, mom Sami, daughters Haley Joy and Hope Catherine and fiancé Joel Schiffman, Hoda Kotb described the celebration as “my kinda birthday.”

Hoda Kotb, Haley Joy, Kids

I <3 NY

Hoda enjoys a day with her daughters Haley Joy and Hope Catherine around New York City together.

Hoda Kotb, Haley Joy, Kids

Queens of Halloween

Another Halloween in the books! Hoda and her first daughter spend their another Halloween together as their Sesame Street alter egos.

Hoda Kotb, Haley Joy, Kids