Hoda steals the show at New Orleans broadcast of "Today"

NBC’s “Today” show is broadcasting from Jackson Square this week, while hosts Hoda Kotb and Jenna Bush Hager soak in Jazz Fest. The roadtrip was sponsored by New Orleans & Co., the city’s tourism arm.

Why it matters: Hoda is a former WWL-TV anchor and has adopted New Orleans as her second home. She frequently talks about her love for the city, including in a recent cover story for Southern Living.

Local guests added extra spice:

• Trombone Shorty and Orleans Avenue.
• Actor and New Orleans resident John Goodman.
• Vance and Julie Vaucresson of Vaucresson’s Sausage Co.

What they’re saying: We asked both hosts what their most surprising moment of Jazz Fest so far has been.

• Hoda: “Watching Wanda Rouzan, who is in her 70s, go to Irma Thomas’ set. She said, ‘If Ms. Irma can sing in this monsoon, I can dance.' … Her feet were off the floor and she was carrying a bag of crawfish.”
• Jenna: “I was watching Gary Clark Jr., and my best friend from high school was in the audience. That’s Jazz Fest. You run into people you haven’t seen in forever.”

Quick take: The crowd loved Hoda, and Hoda loved the crowd. She took time to read their signs, including one that said she was “hot like Crystal.”

• “Best signs ever,” she told Jenna.

The intrigue: Neither were sunburned after festing all weekend. Jenna said she relied on Coppertone, while Hoda was hoping for a sunburn.

• “I blobbed on a little,” Hoda says.

What’s next: Tuesday’s show is also from New Orleans, but it was filmed Monday. It airs on WDSU at 9am.