A familiar and deeply missed face returned to morning television, sparking an emotional moment that overwhelmed both the hosts and the audience watching at home. Nearly four months after stepping away from TODAY with Hoda & Jenna, Hoda Kotb reunited with Jenna Bush Hager live on air — and the heartfelt tears began flowing just seconds into the broadcast.

Kotb, 60, surprised fans with a special appearance on the newly titled TODAY with Jenna & Friends on May 28. The reunion marked her first time co-hosting on the set since January, when she made the difficult decision to leave the iconic morning show after almost two decades.

The sight of Kotb back beside her close friend instantly melted away the months of distance. Bush Hager, 43, became emotional almost immediately.

“I knew this was going to happen,” she admitted with a laugh as she attempted to hold back tears. “I told my producer I was going to cry before I even opened my mouth.”

Kotb, equally touched, placed her hand on Jenna’s arm, and the two shared a moment that reminded viewers just how strong their bond has become — one built through years of laughter, vulnerability, and early-morning chaos shared side by side.

Their easy, natural chemistry took over as soon as Kotb sat down. Despite the layout of the studio changing since she left, the emotional connection remained exactly the same.

“You come back and it’s like we haven’t even spent a day apart,” Bush Hager told her. “I miss you, and I’m so happy for you.”

Kotb responded with admiration and pride for Bush Hager’s leadership over the show in her absence.

“You have been literally crushing it,” Kotb said. “I’ve been watching you every single day. You’ve been incredible.”

The encouragement — especially from the woman who helped shape the spirit of the hour — only intensified the emotion. Bush Hager wiped tears from her cheeks as Kotb continued:

“Being next to you right here feels like breathing to me,” Kotb said softly. “It always has and it always will, no matter how long I live. This place and this space between us is sacred. I love you.”

Attempting humor to keep the moment from fully overtaking her, Bush Hager joked, “You know I haven’t cried in six months. I thought my heart was crusted over. I’m so glad to know I still have feelings.”

While stepping away from the show was a shock to fans, Kotb has spent her time focusing on two priorities: her daughters, Haley and Hope, and her own well-being.

In a conversation earlier that morning with Savannah Guthrie and Craig Melvin, Kotb opened up about her growing interest in wellness practices — including breathwork — an unexpected passion introduced to her by Bush Hager.

Kotb joked that at first she didn’t understand why she needed a class to breathe. But midway through, something opened inside her.

“I exploded into tears,” she shared. “I felt clarity and calm and energy.”

That experience became the foundation for her newest project: a wellness app called Joy 101, which Kotb announced this week, offering tools for mindfulness, emotional balance, and daily joy.

And while Kotb is flourishing creatively, she made clear that her children were the biggest factor in her decision to leave the demanding schedule of live morning television.

“I wasn’t able to bear witness to my kids’ daily lives,” she told PEOPLE. “I thought, ‘Where am I going to fix my gaze? Where is my energy going to flow?’”

That shift became urgent following Hope’s Type 1 diabetes diagnosis — something Kotb has only recently spoken about publicly.

Hope, 6, requires ongoing monitoring and care.

“It’s constant,” Kotb explained. “Four or five shots a day for a year. We’re doing less now thanks to new tools, but there’s a lot to manage. Some kids can have sweets — she can’t. If she’s up at night, we’re up too.”

Even so, Kotb emphasized that her daughter is much more than her diagnosis.

“She is a happy, healthy, rambunctious, amazing kid. Diabetes is a part of her, but not all of her.”

Kotb first announced she would be departing TODAY last September. In a heartfelt letter to the NBC staff, she acknowledged the bittersweet nature of the choice.

“My heart is all over the map,” she wrote. “Two things can be right at the same time. I love you — and it’s time for me to leave the show.”

Her final week on air was turned into a celebratory “Hodabration,” honoring her legacy, leadership, and impact on morning television.

Bush Hager delivered a particularly moving message at the time:

“You are teaching us the most important lesson of all — how to say goodbye with grace.”

Now, months later, Kotb affirmed she remains confident in her path — grateful for her past but fully committed to the present.

“There’s something about knowing that you can mother your kid from right there,” she said, referring to being physically present at home. “I don’t worry now because I see her.”

Kotb’s return — even for just a day — brought comfort to viewers and co-workers alike, a reminder that there are connections that time and distance simply can’t weaken. The tears shed on air weren’t just nostalgia — they reflected love, gratitude, and the rare gift of a friendship that grew under the glare of studio lights.

Kotb may not be back permanently, but this reunion showed that the space she once filled is still full of warmth and memory. And if the joy on set was any indication, fans can expect more visits from her in the future.

For Bush Hager and Kotb, the chairs, cameras, and lights may change — but sitting beside each other will always feel like coming home.