As a Southern-born and bred gamer who currently resides in the heart of Texas, I can wholeheartedly relate to Hoda Kotb’s experiences shared during her interview with Jenna Bush Hager on The TODAY Show. The struggle to maintain one’s authenticity amidst attempts to fit into a mold that doesn’t quite suit you is an age-old tale as old as time itself, my friend.
In the last month of 2024, NBC’s morning TV schedule remains unchanged, but this will end on January 10, 2025, which marks Hoda Kotb’s farewell day before her previously announced departure. The final month shared with Jenna Bush Hager seems to be rather ordinary, yet it’s expected to include more emotional tributes from celebrity guests and reflections. These may include reminiscing about their early days on the show, even sharing some awkward notes from network executives of that time.
At one point in their discussion, Kotb and Hager reminisced about instances where people attempted to alter aspects of their careers. In these situations, Hager shared an experience from her time at NBC, where executives subtly restricted her use of colloquialisms when she first joined the TODAY show as a correspondent in 2009. Originating from Dallas, Texas, she mentioned this was a challenge she faced upon joining the show.
Man, they’d say, “Hey, ‘y’all’ isn’t for everyone across the nation.” But I countered, “It’s part of my identity.” It’s bizarre, and it’s something we experience in life too. When you have pals, and all of a sudden, you start acting different from who you truly are, and you think, “Hold on.” Something deep inside tells you it’s not right… Just like how we want our kids to grow up feeling content as their authentic selves.
Attempting to make someone from the Southern region abandon their use of “y’all” is similar to asking a cloud to cease its precipitation. It’s an innate habit, and perhaps it would be more feasible to encourage the rest of the nation to adopt this term more frequently.
Being from Louisiana and now living in the DFW region, I can effortlessly discuss the versatility of using “y’all” in everyday scenarios. It may take some getting used to hearing it frequently on morning talk shows, but Kelly Clarkson demonstrates that it’s not as divisive a term as one might think. Hager then raised doubts about enforcing its use:
When they told me not to use ‘y’all’, in my mind, I wondered, “Why is that necessary?” It seemed odd to me, like we had to put on an air of formality akin to news broadcasters. However, whenever I attempted to mimic such a role, it felt forced and unnatural for me, as you all might guess – I’m not much of an actor. Pretending to be someone else feels strange.
It’s quite unusual to hear someone on TV speaking with a Southern accent who doesn’t frequently use the term “y’all”, much like it feels strange when someone not from the South uses the term “y’all” often.
Hoda Kotb Shares Her Own Awkward Workplace Demand Story
Hoda Kotb initiated the discussion by sharing a personal story related to her job experience, which wasn’t centered around her choice of words, but rather a sensitive topic – her weight. In simple terms, she discussed an incident in her workplace that made her feel uneasy due to her weight.
Occasionally, individuals may share advice or feedback that isn’t suited for your current situation. For instance, I recall my early days at a small market. Despite having played basketball in high school, I assumed I was still fit, but reality told a different story, especially post-college. My boss once approached me, saying, ‘Hey, Hoda.’ To which I responded, ‘Yeah?’ He suggested, ‘Hey, maybe you could give the treadmill a try.’ I was taken aback, as sometimes our self-perception doesn’t align with how others see us.
I find it hard to picture myself having such a discussion with anyone, whether from one side or the other. Luckily, that job and the entire experience are far behind Kotb now, and she’s managed to advance in life by securing and keeping her impressive NBC position for many years.
After the 2025 premiere schedule starts in full force, things will change significantly, as Kotb is set to depart the show on January 10. Upon hearing Craig Melvin’s promotion to anchor across three hours of TODAY‘s programming, both Kotb and Hager reluctantly raised a toast with bourbon. A permanent co-host for Hager will be determined at a later date.
Fans can check out the clip below to hear Hager’s story in person.
Don’t miss out on watching “The TODAY Show” each weekday morning from 7:00 AM Eastern Time onwards, exclusively on NBC.
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2024-12-03 20:37