Hoda steals the show at New Orleans broadcast of "Today"
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Jenna Bush Hager and Hoda Kotb host "Today with Hoda and Jenna" in Jackson Square on Monday. Photo: Nathan Congleton/NBC
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.