Hoda Kotb on Kathie Lee Gifford Leaving ‘Today’ — ‘Every Good Thing in My Life Happened After We Met’

Everyone is feeling pretty bummed out about Kathie Lee Gifford‘s exit from Today, especially her coworker Hoda Kotb, who revealed in a new interview just how much of an impact KLG has had on her life.

The 54-year-old appeared on The Tonight Show without her pal, Savannah Guthrie, who is under the weather, on Wednesday, February 20 and shared some very kind words about Kathie Lee, 65, who is scheduled to leave the morning program in April. “It’s funny, I met Kathie Lee and I got to sit next to a television legend and that doesn’t happen in your lifetime,” the Dateline NBC alum said. “A legend, she really is. And we’ve been together for 11 years. The show is a blast.”

“I just said to Kath the other day, ‘You know what’s funny?’ I said, I feel like every good thing in my life happened after she and I met. I got to go speak at some event — because I worked with Kath, they asked me to speak — and I happened to have met my boyfriend, [Joel Schiffman], there, who I’m with today,” she continued. “Because I met my boyfriend, we adopted [my daughter] Haley. I was just saying, it’s bizarre to think that one thing happens [and it’s a domino effect]. And I said to Kath, I feel like that happened with me, I got to live all these cool dreams after meeting her. It’s pretty cool.”

“Well, the best part is that you’re not going anywhere,” host Jimmy Fallon responded, to the delight of the crowd. And while Hoda isn’t going anywhere on Today, the network is still working on finding a replacement for Kathie Lee. A recent report revealed that NBC may be looking to fill the spot from within, with numerous names being thrown around.

“NBC execs are looking to hire from within. They don’t want to make another mistake like Megyn Kelly again,” an insider told Life & Style. “Kathie Lee likes Jenna [Bush Hager], but producers are looking for someone who can laugh and joke with Hoda. Both Sheinelle Jones and Dylan Dreyer’s names have been thrown into the mix.”

Well, the folks in charge still have a couple of weeks to figure it out. Until then, let’s all enjoy Kathie Lee’s remaining appearances on Today because we’ll miss her so much when she leaves!