Hoda Kotb Addresses Stepping into Daytime Talk Show Spot Previously Held by Kelly Clarkson

Hoda Kotb addresses rumor she’s replacing Kelly Clarkson with new daytime talk show

If you remember back in February and March, Kelly Clarkson was gone for a while from her daytime talk show, The Kelly Clarkson Show. A number of celeberties had to step in for the singer and host while she was away. And her long absence lead to rumors that she could be leaving the series and actually be replaced by Hoda Kotb. Well, the former Today host is stepping in to clear up those rumors now.

Hoda Kotb is not replacing Kelly Clarkson

At the end of May, Kotb went back to her old stomping grounds and was a guest on the Today show to promote the new avenue she’s now taking part in, building Joy 101. Part of the wellness journey is the launch of a new app that includes personalized meditation sessions, courses, and more, per Deadline. While on the visit, she was asked about the rumors she’d be coming back to daytime television, though that would replace The Kelly Clarkson Show. Here’s what she had to say:

“Delete. Not true. Do you think, if I ever came back to TV, do you know where the only place where I would ever come back to is? Right here!”

Kotb was on the Today show for eight years, having been co-host since 2018 and officially left it behind in January of this year. Clarkson has been on the air as host of her own show since 2019, and is still going strong now. Since her absence, she’s returned full-time to continue entertaining us with great guests, and treating us with a musical performance from her many times.

Things can get out of hand when rumors like this take off and sort of take a life of their own. You know, celeberties are real people too and need to step away from work sometimes to take care of personal matters just like anyone else. Any one of us who has a job would do the same. If the American Idol alum needed to step back, she should be able to without these rumors circulating. And then roping Kotb into it as well?

I mean, she’s right. Sure, she could have her own talk show. I would still watch that! Though as Kotb said, if she ever wanted to return to television the most obvious choice would be to go back to the place where she clearly still loves and enjoyed building a good chunk of her career.

Let’s just support both of these great gals in their respective ventures – Kotb in the new wellness world and Clarkson still rocking it as a daytime television host. In fact, the former Today host very recently visited The Kelly Clarkson Show. Check out a clip from the episode below!