Who should replace Kathie Lee Gifford on 'Today?'
Hoda Kotb needs a new drinking buddy.
On Tuesday, Kathie Lee Gifford announced that she plans to leave the "Today" show in April after 11 years. The announcement came as a surprise to fans of her wine-fueled fourth hour of the NBC morning news show with Kotb, in which they catch up with celebrities and gab about news of the day.
"Today" has not yet announced a replacement for Gifford, 65, although Twitter is already ablaze with suggestions: "Night School" star and comedian Tiffany Haddish, "Brooklyn Nine-Nine" star Chelsea Peretti and model Chrissy Teigen are just a few of the wish-list names floated on social media, along with singer Kelly Clarkson, a longtime friend of Kotb's and regular guest on the show.
More: Kathie Lee Gifford announces she's leaving 'Today' show
But with Clarkson's current gig as "The Voice" judge and upcoming syndicated daytime talk show, it's more plausible that "Today" will look in-house. The most likely candidate is Jenna Bush Hager, a correspondent on the show since 2009 who regularly fills in for Kotb and Gifford during the 10 a.m. EST/PST hour. The TV personality and daughter of former president George W. Bush has already gotten the thumbs-up from many online.
Sorry to see KLG go but if she has too can Jenna replace her with Hoda?
The Hoda & Jenna hour! That has a ring to it.— colleen (@itsjustcolleen1) December 11, 2018
@JennaBushHager should replace Kathie Lee Gifford on today because Hoda and Jenna have the connection like Kathie Lee and Hoda does
— Rainydays (@Rainydays2024) December 11, 2018
The empty seat next to @hodakotb HAS TO BE filled by @JennaBushHager !!! Jenna and Hoda are amazing together!!!
— Janet Abdulovic (@jamafir) December 11, 2018
Gifford's exit, following a 15-year run on "Live! with Regis and Kathie Lee" from 1985-2000, is the latest upheaval behind the "Today" anchor desks. Megyn Kelly was ousted in October, following the talk-show host's controversial defense of blackface in Halloween costumes during the NBC morning program's third hour. Longtime co-host Matt Lauer was also fired last year, following multiple allegations of sexual misconduct.
This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: Who should replace Kathie Lee Gifford on 'Today?'
