Willie Geist to Co-host ‘Today With Jenna and Friends’ Following Hoda Kotb’s Departure

Willie Geist Steps In as Co-Host for Today With Jenna and Friends Following Hoda’s Departure

The buzz continues around Willie Geist as he prepares to guest co-host Today With Jenna & Friends on February 17. This comes in the wake of Hoda Kotb’s exit from the show on January 10, leaving fans eager to see Geist join Jenna Bush Hager for the show’s fourth hour. Having previously filled in for Hoda during a February 2023 episode, Geist has long been a viewer favorite.

The social media activity has been lively, with numerous fans advocating for Willie, 49, to sit beside Jenna, 43, on a permanent basis. Viewers have consistently praised his journalism skills and engaging personality. Comments on Today’s Instagram page reflect this admiration, with fans expressing their desire for a more consistent partnership between Jenna and Willie.

A source close to the situation revealed that NBC is considering various celebrity guest co-hosts before settling on a permanent replacement for Hoda. Willie Geist remains a frontrunner for the role due to his strong rapport with Jenna and his popularity among viewers. Another potential contender making the rounds is Michelle Buteau, alongside Justin Sylvester and Michelle Collins, who are also seen as strong candidates.

Currently, the network has not established a timeline for the co-hosting rotations, but insiders indicate they aim to decide swiftly while keeping viewer engagement in mind. Fans are enthusiastic to see both Willie and another fan favorite, Justin Sylvester, who will join Jenna in co-hosting from February 18 through February 21.

Viewers continue to express their joy towards the lineup, demonstrating excitement for the new dynamic that the rotating hosts bring to the show.

In addition to the ongoing co-hosting experiments, the conversation around the future of Today With Jenna & Friends remains lively, as both fans and industry insiders look forward to seeing how the guest co-hosting unfolds.

As the search for a permanent host carries on, viewers are clearly invested in the show and ready for more exciting mornings ahead.