Overview

• On June 5’s Watch What Happens Live, Kotb named Savannah Guthrie and Justin Sylvester as her leading picks for the fourth-hour role while also praising Scarlett Johansson, Matt Rogers and Sheinelle Jones.
• Jenna Bush Hager has recast the segment as Today With Jenna & Friends with rotating celebrity co-hosts booked through summer as she methodically evaluates permanent candidates.
• Kotb stepped down in January after 17 years to support her daughter’s Type 1 diabetes care and to focus on her new wellness app Joy101 and a September book release.
• She denied reports she might replace Kelly Clarkson on her daytime talk show, calling herself a “never-say-never” person but stressing she’s enjoying her current projects.
• Craig Melvin succeeded Kotb as Savannah Guthrie’s news co-anchor on Today’s main desk, leaving the fourth hour as the only remaining vacancy.