Hoda Kotb is fully embracing this new chapter in her life after stepping away from her longtime role on Today
and it seems love might be part of the equation, too!
The beloved television host recently sparked major dating speculation after sharing a photo of herself alongside none other than Hollywood icon Kevin Costner.
The image, which Kotb posted from her trip to New Orleans for Super Bowl weekend, quickly ignited a frenzy among fans and even caught the attention of her former Today co-hosts.
The Photo That Started It All
Kotb, 59, returned to her hometown of New Orleans over the weekend to take in the excitement of Super Bowl LIX.
She shared a series of photos from the event, capturing moments with friends and soaking in the electric atmosphere. However, one picture stood out from the rest.
In the now-viral snapshot, Hoda is seen beaming beside Kevin Costner, who is wearing dark sunglasses and sporting a coy smile. Kotb has her arm wrapped around the Yellowstone star, radiating happiness.
While Kotb kept her caption simple—”Oh what funnnn!!!”—her former Today co-host, Savannah Guthrie, wasted no time stirring up romance rumors.
“New couple alert cc @jennabushhager,” Guthrie playfully commented, tagging their fellow former co-host Jenna Bush Hager.
Fans were equally intrigued, flooding the comment section with questions like:
💬 “Was this a hard launch?”
💬 “Go girl!”
Jenna Bush Hager chimed in as well, teasing, “We have been waiting for this moment,” followed by a red heart emoji.
A Spark That’s Been Brewing?
The flirtatious exchange isn’t the first time Kotb and Costner have been at the center of dating buzz.
Just last year, Hoda interviewed Kevin Costner, and viewers immediately picked up on their undeniable chemistry. So much so, that Costner was later put on the spot about whether he would consider dating Kotb.
During an interview with Entertainment Tonight, Costner was asked about the fan-driven romance rumors.
“Fans are hoping that the two of you could be a couple,” reporter Rachel Smith told him.
Costner, 69, laughed before responding, “Well look, I’m not on a national dating service. I appreciate the goodwill.”
He went on to praise Kotb, saying, “She’s been great to me. When I go back there, people treat me well. They treat me good. And she’s got a spark. But we’ve never had coffee together.”
Hoda’s Reaction to the Dating Rumors
When Kotb herself learned about the growing matchmaking movement, she was stunned.
During an appearance on Watch What Happens Live with Andy Cohen, Kotb was caught off guard when a fan asked about the possibility of a romance with Costner.
“Wait, what?” she said in disbelief. “I have never heard that, not one time.”
But after taking a moment to process, Kotb seemed amused by the idea, adding, “Well, if the viewers want it…”
Savannah Guthrie, never one to pass up a fun moment, egged Kotb on, telling her to “give the people what they want.”
Jenna Bush Hager also admitted she had been hearing the same chatter, revealing, “People were coming up to me on the street, and people were like, ‘You should set up Hoda and Kevin Costner.’”
Could There Be Something More?
While there’s no confirmation of a romance between Kotb and Costner just yet, the photo certainly has fans—and her former Today co-stars—rooting for something more.
Costner, who has been linked to several high-profile women over the years, is currently single following his highly publicized divorce from Christine Baumgartner in 2023. Meanwhile, Kotb has also been open about navigating life after her split from longtime fiancé Joel Schiffman in early 2022.
With both of them unattached and clearly enjoying each other’s company, fans can’t help but wonder: Could this be the start of something special?
For now, Kotb is keeping quiet about the speculation, but one thing is clear—whether it’s love or just a great friendship, Hoda and Kevin are having a blast together!
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