President George W. Bush Painted Hoda Kotb a Portrait of Her Kids for Her 60th Birthday — See Her Tearful Reaction (2024)

The mother of two was given the gift by her 'Today with Hoda and Jenna' co-host Jenna Bush Hager

Hoda Kotb is feeling the birthday love!

The television anchor was brought to tears on Today with Hoda and Jenna on Monday, Aug. 12, as her co-host and friend Jenna Bush Hager surprised her with a special gift: an original painting by former President George W. Bush, made from a photograph of Kotb and her two daughters,Haley, 7, and Hope, 4.

"I know how much your girls mean to you," Bush Hager, 42, said. "I had my dad, who has started painting, paint your favorite photo of you holding your girls."

The image showed Kotb in a park holding Hope's hand as big sister Haley walked ahead. It was signed in red with a number "43" in the bottom right corner, a nod to Bush being the 43rd president of the United States.

"This is just for you," Bush Hager told Kotb. "This is something that I hope you can hang in your new home."

Kotb, who had already been emotional during the segment, immediately began crying as she unwrapped the painting. She then showed it to the audience, who responded with a resounding, "Awww."

"It's too much, it's too much," an equally emotional Bush Hager said, after hugging her friend. "We have to go to a video, it's too much.'

Problem was, the tears barely stopped all morning for Kotb, who was greeted with one surprise after the next.

It began on the Today show, where her mother, and Haley and Hope, sent in a special birthday message. Girls from the Groove With Me dance studio in Harlem — an organization Kotb has long supported — later performed a dance to one of her favorite songs: "Lil Boo Thang" Paul Russell.

The NBC morning news show then reunited Kotb with a trio of families she'd reported on over the years, including former NFL lineman Devon Still and his daughter, Leah, 14.

Ten years prior, Kotb had reported on Leah's diagnosis with stage 4 neuroblastoma. "It was a powerful moment that gave me a lot of hope that allowed me to be brave," Still said, before appearing with his Leah, who is now 9-years cancer free. "If Leah was having a bad time in the hospital, I would just tell her Hoda was on the phone. She would just have a big smile on her face. People like Hoda really showed up for our family."

There was also Bart Conley, whose wife Jill Brzezinski-Conley died in 2016 from breast cancer. Before her death, Kotb, a breast cancer survivor herself, met her at a fundraiser and later shared her story with the world.

"We always felt so close to you, from the beginning, like a true friend, not like a celebrity on TV," Bart recalled. "You sharing our story meant so, so much to us."

The segment wrapped with Frank and Stacy Parrado, who were surprised by Kotb on air in 2018 with the happy news that they were going to adopt a baby. Daughter Addison, now 6½ years old, was there to gift Kotb flowers.

"All we tell her is that Hoda gave us the most amazing news that we could ever ask for and it was the best day of our lives," Stacy told Kotb, who had adopted Haley and Hope. "We're just so incredibly blessed and lucky to have her."

Next, Kotb joined Savannah Guthrie, Al Roker and Craig Melvin outside on the Today plaza where she was shown a touching mural painted byThrive Collection, a New York City nonprofit that connects artists with public schools students. The image featured Kotb's the phrase "Right on Time," which the journalist has adopted as a personal mantra over the years.

By her side was Hope and Haley, who Kotb says came into her life "right on time."

There was music, too, from Little Big TownandSugarland — two of Kotb's favorite groups. They all ended the broadcast by toasting Kotb with champagne and cake.

"I just want to say that if you're in your 40s, your 50s, your 60s or beyond, and you wonder, 'When are my blessings coming?' They're coming y'all," Kotb said. "And when they come, they're going to be, as we like to say, 'Right on time!' Cheers!"

Over on Today with Hoda and Jenna, Kotb was brought back out to Rockefeller Plaza where a huge crowd of fans were gathered, including 60 women in the crowd who were also turning 60.

But there was a message from one woman in particular who had Kotb in tears: Sandra Bullock.

"I had so many brilliant and funny things prepared for you for this message that were just going to slay, but you know girl, I'm just too tired," said Bullock, who turned 60 on July 26. "Tired because I had to make my way up that mountain before you got there so I could check out. the terrain and see what things look like and just get the feel so I can fill you in. And it's weird because people seem to want us to be afraid of what it might look like when we get there. Turns out, it's pretty damn great. It's pretty awesome."

"Thank you for being so incredible to so many people," she continued. What you do for a living and how you have to shape-shift every single day, how you navigate your kindness, even when that's not what's coming you r way. How you are to those you care about and how you keep them safe, and just who you are as a human being. We're all pretty lucky to have you, especially your kids."

"So happy birthday, my sweet friend," Bullock continued. "Thank you for allowing me to be in your circle. I feel pretty grateful."

Elsewhere on the show, Kotb was greeted by some of her college friends from Virigina Tech as well as current students, who opened up about how much she has inspired them. The school's mascot was on hand, too, to cheer Kotb on from the Plaza.

She was also reunited with longtime friends Maria Shriver, Jane Lorenzini, Jennifer Miller andKaren Swensen.

"On behalf of everybody, everybody wants to raise their glass to Hoda," Shriver said. "Happy Hoda Day! I hope you feel the love that exists for you. I hope you know what an incredible family you have built, how much love there is for you here and in everybody's heart."

"You're about to enter the best decade of your life," she added. "You're going to try new things, you're brave enough to recreate everything, and your'e surrounded by all the love family and friendship you need. You've got it all going so cheers!"

In December 2023, Kotb told her Today with Hoda & Jenna co-host Jenna Bush Hager how she was "so excited about turning 60.”

“First of all, I can’t even believe this is me saying this. I look atBrad Pitt,Sandra Bullock— all these people who I sort of came up watching and admiring.Lenny Kravitz,Michelle Obama— all these people who you’re like, ‘You’re kidding me?’ 60 is amazing.”

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At the time, she reflected on the “crazy” chapters she’s experienced in life, noting that she's “so glad” that “all of my stuff is happening now” in a culture where aging has been embraced.

“There was a time when people hid their ages,” she added. “‘Don’t say it, don’t say it.’ Whatever that was.”

“I feel vibrant, excited, and I feel like I’m evolving. I feel like I’m different. I feel like I’m different than I was a month ago, six months ago, a year ago. And, it’s like this great, crazy adventure and I think we used to dread it,” theDatelinecorrespondent continued, noting how the leading ladies ofThe Golden Girlswere “all 50."

Today airs on NBC beginning at 7 a.m. ET, with Today with Hoda and Jenna airing at 10 a.m. ET.

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