Savannah Guthrie will always have a special place in Hoda Kotb’s heart – and now her jewelry box will too.
On January 10, Kotb, 60, walked out of the Today after 17 years of co-hosting the show, which was an event celebrated with a weekly send-off billed as a “Hoda-bration”.
Ahead of her departure, Kotb told PEOPLE that she had been receiving mementos and gifts from fans and colleagues all week. “I love it — I take it, I wear it, I drink it, I eat it, people make cookies,” she said. “I’m reading it. I mean, these cards, I can’t with cards. The cards are my favorite part.”
Included in this were two significant pieces of jewelry she received from Guthrie. “She gave me this ring that says ‘love’ on it. And she gave me this bracelet that says ‘with you,'” Kotb revealed.
Hoda Kotb Reveals The Sentimental Gifts Savannah Guthrie Gave Her On The Eve Of The Last Day: ‘She Always Shows Up’ (Exclusive)
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The accessories could be seen in detail in an Instagram video he shared Todayin which Kotb said she felt “grateful, overwhelmed and protected” just because Guthrie, 53, was by her side on her final day at Today set.
As for Guthrie’s emotions? She simply described the day with gratitude, saying her one word was “thank you.”
Along with the jewelry, Guthrie gave Kotb a set of pom poms as an ode to all the support she’s provided over the years and a clock with a broken face because she “doesn’t need an alarm clock anymore.”
Hoda Kotb “with you” bracelet by Savannah Guthrie.
today’s show/Instagram
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“I’ll tell you something about her: She always shows up,” Kotb told PEOPLE of Guthrie. “She always shows up. That’s what she does best. He appears in front of people, in front of his friends. She appears.”
It wasn’t that long ago when Kotb received another heartfelt gift from her colleague. ua Today clip released on Christmas Day, the mom-of-two unwrapped a set of wishing candles and an acrylic stand adorned with Josh Garrel’s lyrics, “May you find a light to guide you home,” that Guthrie had bought as her Secret Santa.
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Savannah Guthrie shares an emotional tribute to Hoda Kotb on her final day at Today: ‘I will always be by your side’
Kotb, who will be replaced by Craig Melvin, will now embark on a new chapter in life that includes spending more time with her daughters, Haley Joy, 7, and Hope Catherine, 5. She is also launching a wellness app and company, which will include retreats and launching a podcast this spring.
“Someone told me, ‘When you jump… imagine yourself on the other side. Imagine how you feel. Feel it,’ Kotb told PEOPLE. “It’s like when you jump from a relationship into a new one, imagine how his hand feels. How do you feel, standing next to him? Do you feel seen, respected, loved? That’s the relationship you want to be in.’”
She adds: “It’s the same with work. Imagine how you feel there. You feed people, you help them with this wellness company. That’s good. And how do you feel otherwise? You feel lighter, you feel inspired, you have more creativity, you slept better. And more importantly than all of that, you’ve become a better mother every day because you got to be there.’”
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Source: HIS Education