Rita Ora Steps in as Last-Minute Replacement on ‘Today With Hoda & Jenna’ After Host Mix-Up
In a surprising turn of events, Thursday’s episode of Today With Hoda & Jenna started off with a mix-up that led to U.K. singer and actor Rita Ora stepping in as a last-minute replacement co-host. Despite the unexpected change, Hoda Kotb and Ora showcased incredible chemistry, making it a seamless transition.
Ora, known for her vibrant personality and talent, quickly made herself at home in the co-host chair. When asked how she felt about the opportunity, Ora expressed her excitement, stating, “Oh, it feels so warm! I feel so comfortable already… Well, you know, being from across the pond, this is like everything we watch on TV so I’m so happy. Hello America! It’s me, Rita.”
The surprise co-hosting gig came about just five minutes before the show went live. Originally, Kelly Rowland was scheduled to co-host to promote her upcoming movie, Mea Culpa, while Ora was set to appear later on to promote the new season of The Masked Singer. However, due to unforeseen circumstances, Ora found herself stepping into both roles simultaneously.
Ora’s impromptu co-hosting debut seemed to be a natural fit for her. During her interview with Kotb later in the broadcast, she admitted, “I didn’t even know this was happening. Everyone watching, this has just been so much fun. They asked us backstage and I’m just like, ‘I love Hoda! Here we are, and now I’m with you for a whole hour!'”
Kotb, impressed by Ora’s ability to seamlessly fill in as co-host, couldn’t help but praise her. She even hinted at the possibility of a future talk show for Ora. “I feel like there’s a lot of talk show in you,” Kotb said. “I believe if you say things, you speak them into existence and into reality. Is this something that you enjoy doing?”
Ora, clearly embracing the opportunity, responded enthusiastically, “I love, love doing this. You’ve been a big inspiration to me… I just love people, I love laughing, maybe I talk a bit too much. But let’s do it, let’s manifest.”
The two hosts then joined hands, playfully pretending to manifest Ora’s next career move: hosting her own talk show. It remains to be seen whether this will come to fruition, but the chemistry between Ora and Kotb certainly suggests that Ora may have a future as a talk show personality.
While the reasons for Rowland’s absence and Jenna Bush Hager’s temporary replacement were not addressed, Kotb seemed to be thoroughly enjoying herself alongside Ora. As for when Bush Hager will return to the show, no clarification was given. However, it was announced that Curb Your Enthusiasm star J.B. Smoove will be making an appearance on an upcoming episode.
Fans of Today With Hoda & Jenna can catch the show on weekdays at 10/9c on NBC. With unexpected surprises like Ora’s last-minute co-hosting stint, it’s clear that viewers can always expect an entertaining and unpredictable hour with this dynamic duo.
