Hoda Kotb shared a story straight out of a rom-com while stopping by TODAY with Jenna & Sheinelle on Aug. 21.
Jenna, Hoda’s longtime former co-host, prompted the story by asking a blunt and cheeky question. “Well, everybody likes to talk about your love life. I’m going to ask you,” Jenna said.
“Well, here’s the thing,” Hoda replied, before getting into the story.
Before getting too excited, she also qualified that “this is not a real love connection.”
“I did meet someone on a plane when I was flying somewhere,” Hoda began, immediately hooking Jenna and Sheinelle Jones, who were eager to know more.
“Oh, this is romantic! Should we try to find him?” Sheinelle instantly asked.
Hoda continued to describe their brief encounter, which sounded like something straight out of a Nora Ephron movie.
“It was the weirdest connection in the world. We were both crying,” she added. “It was strange. You know, when you have one of those (conversations where) everything is firing on all cylinders?”
The feeling was mutual. Hoda said the nameless traveler was in disbelief at how much they hit it off.
“He kept saying, ‘Is this a dream? Is this real?’” she recalled.
The two parted ways after their flight. But like any rom-com fan knows, the story didn’t end there.
“Our company went to Cannes so we could talk about our company, and he was in the audience, randomly,’” Hoda shared, referring to her lifestyle and wellness venture, Joy 101.
The two met again there. “He goes, “‘Hi,’ and I said, ‘Hi,’” she said.
Then, after all that, Hoda’s story ended rather abruptly. “But then, it all kind of just went away,” Hoda said.
Jenna and Sheinelle weren’t taking that for a conclusion. “Wait,” Jenna said.
“Stop,” Sheinelle said.
“That’s the end of the story?” Jenna questioned.
Hoda admitted that wasn’t “actually the end.”
“So, we have texted recently,” Hoda shared, to Jenna and Sheinelle’s delight. Behind the camera, someone whooped.
“Look. There are connections,” Hoda said, trailing off. “I don’t know what it is.”
While they had her, Jenna and Sheinelle peppered her with questions.
Sheinelle asked whether the man was good-looking. Hoda confirmed he is “really cute” and “very handsome.”
Jenna asked if he’s single. “Yes,” Hoda said, bursting out into laughter.
“Let’s go,” Jenna said. “I don’t know what your name is, but…”
Sheinelle chimed in and said that their story gave her “’Notting Hill’ vibes.”
As for whether Hoda and the unknown flyer end up like Hugh Grant and Julia Roberts’ characters? We’ll have to wait for the next chapter.
