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Hoda Kotb's Most Memorable and Emotional 'Today' Show Moments
Hoda Kotb’s tenure on the Today show was full of many memorable moments.
The TV personality announced in September 2024 that she would be departing the iconic morning show after 26 years on NBC, 16 years as a Today cohost and seven years as Savannah Guthrie’s co-anchor.
“I just turned 60, and it was such a monumental moment for me when I turned 60 years old because I started thinking about that decade, like, what does that decade mean? What does it hold? What’s it gonna have for me?” she shared on the show at the time. “And I realized that it was time for me to turn the page at 60 and to try something new.”
Kotb went on to explain that her daughters Haley and Hope, whom she shares with ex-fiancé Joel Schiffman, played a large part in her decision to depart Today. “I had my kiddos late in life, and I was thinking they deserve a bigger piece of my time, the pie that I have,” she explained. “I feel like we only have a finite amount of time. And so, with all that being said, this is the hardest thing in the world.”
'Today' Show Hosts React to Hoda Kotb's Surprising Exit
Prior to her final episode in January 2025, Kotb revealed on The Kelly Clarkson Show that she was developing a “wellness app and company that will involve retreats and a podcast and all kinds of things that we can get together, do things that I love.” She added: “It’s not like going to Mexico with your girls, which is fun, but this is something that when you leave, you’ll go like, ‘Oh my gosh, I feel transformed. I feel different.’”
Scroll down to take a look back at some of Kotb’s biggest — and most tear-jerking — Today show moments:
Becoming a Mom
Kotb cried while announcing she had adopted her eldest daughter, Haley, via a call-in on a February 2017 episode of Today. She broke the news by sharing a sweet photo of herself holding her then-newborn with her on-air cohosts.
“She is the love of my life,” Kotb happily told her colleagues over the phone. Her announcement prompted tearful reactions from Jenna Bush Hager and Kathie Lee Gifford.
“My mom who’s here with me … [she] goes, ‘Hello, miss Haley. We’ve waiting so long for you.’” Kotb stated.
Hoda Kotb and Ex Joel Schiffman Celebrate Daughter Haley's 8th Birthday
Anniversaries and Reunions
While on maternity leave, Kotb celebrated her 9th anniversary cohosting Today’s fourth hour with Gifford in April 2017. “I want to say something to you, Kath, on our ninth anniversary, that my life has changed so profoundly since I met you. Profoundly,” she told Gidfford while calling into the show to commemorate the occasion. “I told you this before, but I cannot believe the path my life took after our lives intersected, so for every single day of the nine years, I love you.”
Kotb’s words made Gifford tear up. She quipped: “I think she said, ‘I love you.’ I hope that’s what she said.”
Kotb, for her part, also got dewey-eyed on air during her first episode back from maternity leave that same month. “I don’t think I’ve ever been this happy,” she said before grabbing a box of tissues.
Making History
Kotb took over as Guthrie’s Today coanchor in January 2018 after Matt Lauer was fired following sexual harassment allegations made against him. The promotion was a historic decision as she and Guthrie became the first female co-anchor duo in Today history.
“This has to be the most popular decision NBC News has ever made, and I am so thrilled,” Guthrie said during their first episode together. She added: “Hoda, you are a partner and a friend and a sister, and I am so happy to be doing this.”
Kotb replied: “Well, there’s no one I’d rather be sitting next to in 2018 than you.”
A Guide to the 'Today' Show Hosts' Families: Meet Their Kids and Spouses
Mother of 2
Similar to her first baby announcement, Kotb called into Today in April 2019 to reveal she adopted her daughter Hope. Just like the first time, Bush Hager burst into happy tears along with more of the Today crew.
“In your life, you think that maybe you’ve gotten what you deserve, but man, I’m so happy she’s here,” Kotb gushed, noting that Haley was “digging” being a big sister.
“Joel and I were standing there when they hand you the baby, and it’s the closest thing to a live birth, I think, you’ll ever see,” she added. “But in that moment, I was like, ‘Oh, my God! My heart just grew ten times. It’s amazing!’ Anyway, I just can’t believe it’s happening, y’all.”
Willie Geist followed up Kotb’s heartfelt words by joking, “I’ve been giving out Kleenex, but I think I’m gonna need a mop.”
Put a Ring on It
Kotb continued her trend of sharing major life moments on Today by announcing she and Schiffman were engaged during a November 2019 episode of the show. “A friend of mine, a friend of ours asked me to let you guys in on a secret,” she stated. “I’ll give you her initials. Her initials are Hoda Kotb and she’s engaged.”
The news came as a major shock to her cohosts, who cheered and jumped out of their seats and gave Kotb congratulatory hugs. “You’ve got two built-in flower girls,” Al Roker quipped, to which Bush Hager responded, “Who? Savannah and me?”
Getting Serious
During a March 2020 episode of Today, Kotb got choked up after Drew Brees announced he would be making a $5 million donation to help Louisiana COVID-19 efforts. The pair share a special connection to New Orleans, as Brees formerly played for the city’s NFL team the Saints and Kotb got her career started at one of the city’s local news stations.
“I’m sorry,” she said while attempting to fight back tears after the interview. Guthrie comforted her cohost by stating, “I know, it’s a lot. Hoda, I’m so sorry, hun. Take a moment.” Guthrie then offered to read Kotb’s tease for the episode’s next segment.
Hoda Kotb and Ex Joel Schiffman's Relationship Timeline
End of a Romance
Bush Hager was by Kotb’s side as she revealed that she and Schiffman had ended their engagement during a January 2022 episode of Today With Hoda & Jenna. “We decided that we are better as friends and parents than we are as an engaged couple, so we decided we are going to start this new year on our new path as loving parents to our adorably delightful children and as friends,” she revealed at the time.
“They say sometimes, relationships are meant to be there for a reason, for a season or for a lifetime, and I feel like ours was meant to be there for a season,” she said, adding that she was “struggling” with how to announce the news.
Bush Hager supported her cohost by stating, “Watching you sit right here strong, I can’t think of anybody stronger.”
Kotb wrapped up the discussion by noting: “[Joel is] a great guy. He’s a very kind and loving person, and I feel privileged to have spent eight years with him.”
Hope’s Health Scare
Kotb was noticeably absent from several episodes of Today in early 2023 after her daughter Hope experienced a health scare. Upon returning to the show that March, Kotb revealed that Hope had been “in the ICU for a few days and in the hospital for a little more than a week.”
She added: “I’m so grateful she’s home. … I was waiting for that day to come. And we are watching her closely. I’m just so happy.”
Everything Today's Hoda Kotb Has Said About Dating, Breakups and More
Personal Life Ups and Downs
Kotb got emotional while talking about going “through a divorce and breast cancer simultaneously” during an October 2023 episode of Hoda & Jenna. Kotb fought breast cancer in 2007, around the same time she and her ex-husband, Burzis Kanga, had called it quits. (The exes were married from 2005 to 2008.)
“I remembered in that time barely functioning, and I was thinking to myself, ‘Is this it? Is this how it goes?’” she shared at the time. “I was thinking about some of my lowest moments during that time what was contributing to all of it was I was in horrible health, and I didn’t care about that piece of it, and you don’t realize how bad it gets and then you’re compounding it, your health gets worse, because you’re not well, and [it] went on and on.”
Celebrating Partnerships
Kotb gushed about her friendship with Bush Hager while celebrating their 5th anniversary as Hoda & Jenna cohosts in April 2024. “We started off as colleagues/friends. We didn’t really know each other. Over the five years, there’s such a deep understanding of the other’s soul and purpose, we have traveled down these roads together,” she shared. “A lot of times, friendships don’t grow. They are: you talk about the old days. Not ours.”
She also thanked Bush Hager for leading her “down a path because of people who you know in your life and people who are, kind of, healers who’ve helped heal me. And, I mean, it’s all meant to be. This is all meant to be.”
Getting Sentimental
Hoda got choked up while reminiscing on her father, Abdel Kader Kotb, on what would have been his 91st birthday, particularly about how he would be as a grandfather today. “I was actually thinking about him with the girls,” she told Bush Hager on a May 2024 episode of Hoda & Jenna. Bush Hager finished Hoda’s thought by noting her father would be “so, so proud” of her and her daughters.
Hoda Kotb's Ups and Downs: Broken Engagement, 'Today' Exit and More
60th Birthday Celebrations
The Today cast and crew commemorated Hoda’s milestone birthday with a special dedicated to her, during which Guthrie surprised Kotb by bringing back the subjects of some of her most memorable human interest stories over the years. The guests greeted her with hugs and bouquets of flowers, causing her to cry.
She shed many more tears during her birthday episode of Hoda & Jenna after Bush Hager presented Hoda with a painting of her and her daughters created by former President George W. Bush. “It’s too much,” a speechless Hoda managed to get out while admitting the homemade gift.
Starting a New Chapter
“Hoda, we love you so much, and when you look around and you see these tears, they’re love. You are so loved. And honestly, I don’t think any of us can imagine — we don’t want to imagine this place without you,” Guthrie told Hoda after she announced her exit from the series in September 2024. “So, it’s complicated ‘cause we love you so much and we don’t want you to ever go. But also, I just want to say I am so proud of my friend.”
Guthrie went on to praise Hoda for having “guts” to “leave at the top of their game, to leave something that’s wonderful, that you love, where it’s easy and comfortable and beautiful and fun and say, ‘But I dream even bigger for myself.’”
Bush Hager kept the waterworks flowing later that day on Hoda & Jenna, telling her cohost: “You’re who I come to when I’m feeling joyful, when I’m feeling unsure. You are who I come to and you believed in me first. We have a lot of bosses and I love them, but this lady, on October 28, 2013 — I looked it up — said, ‘Hey, wanna come sit next to me? There’s room.’”
Kotb cheered Bush Hager up by telling her it’s “your turn” to shine, adding, “And whoever sits in this seat, whoever sits in this seat, is going to have the easiest job in the world ‘cause they’re sitting next to you.”
Time to Say Goodbye
Several of Kotb’s celebrity friends gathered together to celebrate Kotb’s final episode of Today in January 2025, including Gifford, Jimmy Fallon, Gayle King, Simone Biles and Maria Shriver. While Bush Hager shared her own heartfelt tribute to Kotb on their last Hoda & Jenna episode, Kotb read a “love letter” she wrote to the fans and those who have joined her on her Today journey.
“I’ve become who I am on this hour of this show, and you were there with me every step of the way,” she said in an emotional video package. “So, as I sit here today in my final moments on this final day in this chapter of my career, I want to say thank you from the bottom of my very full heart for the ride of a lifetime. I love you.”
Kotb’s daughters and dozens of Today cast and crew members stood by her side during her final send-off, during which she thanked Hoda & Jenna’s executive producer, Talia Parkinson-Jones. “You’ve loved me and Jenna since the very beginning, the day you started, and I just want to say thank you,” she gushed.
In her final moments on Today, a clip was shown of Kotb and her daughters riding away from 30 Rock in her minivan, which had cans and a “Just Repotted” sign attached to the back.
12 Oversized Scarves that Make the Ultimate Fashion Statement
‘Tis the season to bundle up. Old Man Winter continues to rage on with massive snowstorms in cities like Atlanta and Dallas. The chilly temps are the perfect time to showcase your personality with the help of cold-weather accessories, like oversized scarves.
23 Winter Accessories That Seriously Look Designer — Gloves, Scarves and More on Sale
Most of Us like to bundle up with classic outerwear styles that we can wear again and again. Oversized scarves are a fun way to add a pop of personality to your look no matter what your winter coat looks like. We’ve rounded up everything from bestselling styles that shoppers can’t get enough of to trendy ones that come in viral shades. Get ready to bundle up in style with our cozy oversized scarf picks below!
1. Our Absolute Favorite: More than 900 shoppers snagged this chocolatey brown infinity scarf in the past month, proving just how popular it is!
2. We Also Love: Looking for a style from a celeb-loved brand? A-listers ranging from Goldie Hawn to Kylie Jenner have been spotted in Kurt Geiger. The brand’s Yarn Dye Rainbow Fringe Scarf is an effortless way to nail the viral trend and stay warm at the same time!
3. Fuzzy Find: Love soft fuzzy fabric? This Urban Outfitters Scarf features a fringe trim and a lively color pattern!
4. Night Out: Heading to a festive occasion? This oversized shawl looks amazing layered over evening gowns!
5. Trending Topic: This Topshop Sydney Plaid Scarf has an assortment of brown shades, including one that looks just like Pantone’s 2025 color of the year mocha mousse!
6. Colorful Cutie: This vibrant scarf features so many colors that you’ll be able to wear it with just about everything in your closet!
7. All About Oversize: This Alo Merino Wool Scarf puts the over in oversized. Made from buttery soft fabric, this lightweight scarf comes in a versatile black shade that you can style with so many outfits!
8. Sophisticated Style: If you ask Us, cashmere is one of the best fabrics to wear in the winter. This sophisticated scarf earned Amazon’s ‘Customer’s Usually Keep’ badge proving just how much shoppers love it!
9. Flirty Fringe: This cozy Old Navy Fringed Scarf comes in six fun shades!
10. Bestseller: This shopper-loved scarf has a cool pattern and is so oversized it looks like a blanket!
11. Massive Markdown: This J. Crew Brushed Woven Scarf delivers rich mom vibes and it’s on sale starting at just $26!
12. Last but Not Least: You’ve got to be seen in this gorgeous green scarf. It’s made from luxurious wool fabric that’s sure to protect against winter’s chilly weather!
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Us Weekly has affiliate partnerships. We receive compensation when you click on a link and make a purchase. Learn more!
Tom Holland Asked Zendaya's Dad for Permission to Propose
Tom Holland’s dad, Dominic Holland, is giving insight on his son’s recent engagement to Zendaya.
“The big news this week is a good example of just such an opportunity for me — are they/aren’t they engaged? Zendaya wearing a ring and Tom nowhere to be seen adding to the intrigue,” Dominic, 57, wrote in a Friday, January 10, blog post via his Patreon account. “The engagement has now been confirmed and why I am writing about it here but without adding anything new and juicy like a date, venue, guest list …”
On his Patreon page, Dominic, who is an author and comedian, usually shares unseen blogs, snippets from his books, podcasts that sometimes features members of his family. But in the recent post, he wanted to highlight the news of Tom and Zendaya’s relationship milestone.
Dominic confessed that while he’s been “showered with parenthood praise” over the years, he joked that it’s more of a “fluke” how great Tom and his other kids turned out. (In addition to Tom, Dominic is also the father of Paddy Holland, Harry Holland and Sam Holland.)
Tom Holland's 'Low-Key' Proposal Was Exactly What Zendaya Wanted: Source
However, Dominic teased that Tom’s plan to pop the question to Zendaya, 28, was thoroughly thought out.
“And this I can demonstrate now by contrasting the different approaches of father and son to proposing marriage.Tom, as you know by now was very incredibly well prepared,” Dominic continued. “He had purchased a ring. He had spoken with her father and gained permission to propose to his daughter.”
While Tom, 38, had “everything planned out” from the location to his speech, Dominic confessed that his proposal to wife Nikki Holland was not done in a similar fashion.
“I on the other hand was woefully ill-prepared, almost as though I wasn’t taking it seriously,” he said. “I do fret that their combined stardom will amplify their spotlight and the commensurate demands on them and yet they continually confound me by handling everything with aplomb.”
While Dominic acknowledged that his son and Zendaya’s relationship is in the public eye, he has no doubts that the couple will achieve a lifetime of happiness.
“And even though show-business is a messy place for relationships and particularly so for famous couples as they crash and burn in public and are too numerous to mention,” he continued. “With us an example, with Nikki helming this family and my ‘wisdom’ on tap and a study in getting things mostly wrong and yet somehow right at the same time, I am completely confident they will make a successful union.”
Tom Holland Shared Fatherhood Plans Just Before Zendaya Engagement
Us Weekly confirmed that Tom and Zendaya were engaged after the actress was spotted rocking a diamond on her ring finger while attending the 2025 Golden Globes Awards.
“Tom figured the holidays were the best time to propose in a very low-key way,” a source exclusively told Us shortly after news of Tom and Zendaya’s engagement broke on Monday, January 6. “She didn’t want anything over the top.”
Following their engagement news, Tom and Zendaya got matching tattoos of each other’s initials.
Why Noah Wyle Was ‘Not Sorry’ to See Planned 'ER' Revival Get Scrapped
Noah Wyle is “not sorry” about playing a new doctor on The Pitt instead of reprising his role as John Carter in a now-scrapped ER revival.
After The Pitt premiered on Thursday, January 9, Wyle, 53, was asked about how plans to bring back ER ultimately turned into an entirely new show instead.
“That calls into question all the various chronologies of this and all the different sorts of iterations. You’re absolutely right, the intentionality was born in 2020 during the pandemic,” Wyle told TVLine on Thursday. “The idea was to take a look at what was happening to the people that were on the front lines, and also take a look at the population that was getting sick and dying, and seeing how there appeared to be two different health care systems in our country — those for people who have money and insurance, and those who don’t.”
The similarities between The Pitt and ER were there for a reason.
ER's Noah Wyle Returns to Medical Dramas With ‘The Pitt’: Everything to Know
“Those were all issues we tried to talk about back in the ’90s, when 22 million Americans were going without health insurance and using emergency rooms as their primary source of health care. All of these themes were really significant to us then, and they have remained significant to us,” Wyle, who played John Carter on the long-running series, noted. “Then it just became, ‘Is the old IP [intellectual property] the easiest and most advantageous delivery system?’ It seemed to be the one that people were most excited about trying, but it wasn’t really the point of the exercise.”
Despite there being an interest in ER being revived, Wyle was more excited about doing a new take on the subject, adding, “The more we went down that road, the more the point got obscured in the reunion aspect, the retread aspect and the reboot aspect. So I was not sorry when we were sort of forced to pivot and figure out how to tell the story in a new way.”
Wyle continued: “In a lot of ways, [not reviving ER] unburdened us from narrative limitations that we would have had to adhere to, and pay homage to.”
ER, which aired from 1994 to 2009, followed the inner life of an emergency room in a fictionalized version of Chicago’s real Cook County Hospital. Wyle starred alongside George Clooney, Julianna Marguiles, Anthony Edwards, Eriq La Salle and Sherry Stringfield (and later John Stamos, Mekhi Pfifer and Linda Cardellini, among others).
‘ER’ Turns 30! See What the Cast Is Doing Now
More than a decade after ER ended, Wyle has returned as the star and executive producer of a new medical series on Max. The Pitt is described by the streaming service as “a realistic examination of the challenges facing healthcare workers in today’s America as seen through the lens of the frontline heroes working in a modern-day hospital in Pittsburgh.”
The Pitt highlights the highs — and lows — of the job while making the 15 episodes showcase 15 hours of one shift.
“[Fellow EP] John [Wells], Max and Warner Brothers were on board to try to make use of this new platform of streaming, to see whether or not we could tell the story in a visually more arresting way than we did back in the ’90s,” Wyle explained. “It is a more photorealistic way than we were ever able to do, and in a more organic, performance-based way. Because you’re no longer to standards and practices and language [barriers], you really can paint with all the colors on the palette. The question isn’t ‘What can you show?’ Instead it is, ‘What should you show, in discretion and taste?'”
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Wyle found it “really gratifying” getting to bring a new medical drama to life.
“I wanted it to feel like what it used to feel like — and what it hadn’t felt like for a long time. Could we make it feel that way again? John and [creator] R. Scott [Gemmill] were on board for that because they, too, have been looking for that feeling that we all [last] had 15 years ago, when we did this the first time,” he continued. “The work felt good, and we had a good time, and we liked each other while we did it, and everybody was respectful. It was inclusive, and it was groundbreaking. And we wanted to see if lightning could strike twice — and, in some ways, it already has.”
In addition to The Pitt, Thursday also marked the premiere of Wyle’s former costar La Salle’s Prime Video series On Call. Wyle was asked about the coincidence by TVLine, to which he replied, “No [I didn’t know], but what can I say? The ’90s are back.”
New episodes of The Pitt stream Thursdays on Max.
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L.A. Church Offering 150 Beds & Counseling to Those Affected by Fires
Khloe Kardashian, Sophia Bush Condemn Arson Suspects During L.A. Wildfire
Khloé Kardashian, Sophia Bush and Henry Winkler have been supporting those in need following the Pacific Palisades wildfires — and have a no-nonsense attitude for the suspected arsonists adding fuel to the fire.
“You sick motherf—ers,” Kardashian, 40, wrote via Instagram Stories on Thursday, January 9. “What the f— is wrong with people?!?! Arson!!!! may you be fully prosecuted!!! What scum!!!”
A string of wildfires broke out in Los Angeles on Tuesday, January 9, prompting widespread devastation across the city. Over 10,000 structures were leveled and at least 10 people died, and most residents followed mandatory or voluntary evacuation orders.
Not only were locals battling wind-caused wildfires, but also a string of human-set fires. One suspect was arrested on Thursday for allegedly causing the Kenneth Fire, according to multiple outlets.
DWTS' Jenna and Val Evacuate L.A. Fires Before Son Rome's 2nd Birthday
According to NewsNation, the Los Angeles Police Department assistant chief, Dominic Choi, said there was not enough probable cause to arrest the individual for arson. Instead, the suspect was booked for a felony probation violation.
The L.A.’s district attorney Nathan Hochman, meanwhile, told the outlet that if the fire was determined to be the result of arson, the suspect could face homicide charges and a potential life in prison sentence.
“Justice will be swift. It will be firm, and the maximum punishment will be sought,” Hochman said on NewsNation’s Banfield.
Like Kardashian, Bush, 42, was also outraged by the alleged arson attempt during the “unimaginable” natural disaster.
“Thank you all for the check-ins, texts, the DMs. I know it’s really intense when you don’t hear from people. We’re all really trying our best,” the One Tree Hill alum said in a Thursday video posted to her Instagram Stories. “These last two days have been absolutely horrific for our city. My family’s been evacuated twice. We are all safe, so I feel very, very blessed.”
Bush continued, “So, many people have lost so much and it’s pretty unimaginable, unfathomable and inexplicable. The folks who have jumped on this horrific climate disaster with hurricane-force winds and set fire to some of our surrounding communities are monsters.”
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Bush echoed Kardashian’s sentiments and hoped the apparent arsonists would be “prosecuted to the full extent of the law.”
“Everyone out there, be the second [group of people and help], not the first,” Bush added, citing examples of good samaritans aiding victims in the wake of the wildfire devastation.
Winkler, 79, similarly condemned the arsonists, sharing news coverage on his X page. “One has been caught so far !!!!” he wrote on Thursday.
All three celebs have been lending their support, as well. Bush has shared resources online and also cold-called six local fire departments. Kardashian, meanwhile, and her famous family have donated meals from Carousel Restaurant to local first responders.
Dancing With the Stars pro Peta Murgatroyd, for her part, also called out the alleged arsonists. “These people are starting fires everywhere,” she said in a Friday, January 10, social media video. “Like, three people have been caught right down here in the Valley area. I mean, these people are sick in the head.”
Check the LAFD website for local wildfire alerts and click here for resources on how to help those affected.
A Guide to the 'Today' Show Hosts' Families: Meet Their Kids and Spouses
The hosts of the Today show have shared several glimpses into their family lives on the show and online over the years.
Savannah Guthrie, Hoda Kotb, Al Roker and more of the NBC morning show stars have welcomed children over the years. Kotb, who left the series in January 2025, became a mother in February 2017 when she adopted her daughter Haley with then-partner Joel Schiffman.
“She’s a Valentine’s baby. She is the love of my life,” Kotb gushed on the show at the time. “I didn’t know my heart could feel like this. This is a moment in my life that I never thought would happen, and here it is, happening to me.”
The pair’s family continued to grow with the addition of their daughter Hope in April 2019. “She is laying on the pillow right now,” Kotb told her cohosts while calling in to the show. “I’m feeding her. I can’t believe it. Like, I’m sitting here and, you know, you think that maybe you have gotten what you deserve, but man, I’m so happy she is here.”
Kotb and Schiffman have continued to coparent their girls following their split in January 2022.
Keep scrolling to get to know the families of the Today show hosts:
How Did 'TSITP' Ask Taylor Swift for Permission to Use Her Music?
The Summer I Turned Pretty team had their work cut out for them when trying to get permission to include Taylor Swift‘s music on the show.
During the Thursday, January 9, episode of Jenna Bush Hager‘s “Open Book” podcast, TSITP creator and showrunner Jenny Han recalled her attempts to get a Swift song for the season 1 finale of the hit Prime Video show.
“I was kind of trying to Inception it into everyone’s heads that we need this,” Han, 44, recalled about how she was willing to do “whatever it took” to get “The Way I Loved You” from Swift’s Fearless album for the season 1 finale. “I don’t think anyone thought we were gonna get it, honestly.”
A rep at Amazon Music suggested to Han that she write a letter to Swift, 35, about why it was “really important” to feature the song on screen.
Every Taylor Swift Song Used in 'The Summer I Turned Pretty'
“I wrote a handwritten note about how much it would mean — not just to me — but to the fans. That was the gift I really wanted to give because I’m like, ‘They’re gonna go crazy for this,'” she recalled. “We were so lucky to get more than one [song].”
Prime Video’s The Summer I Turned Pretty centers on Belly (Lola Tung) and her brother, Steven (Sean Kaufman), who spend the summer visiting a beach house belonging to their childhood friends Conrad (Christopher Briney) and Jeremiah (Gavin Casalegno). After initially having a crush on Conrad, Belly’s life gets more complicated when she finds herself developing feelings for Jeremiah.
Han, who is a self-proclaimed Swiftie, has previously discussed how the show’s viewers influenced its soundtrack.
“I think for me just as a fan, to be able to give the book fans that moment is what is really meaningful to me, because if you’re a fan of The Summer I Turned Pretty, I’m pretty sure you’re a fan of Taylor Swift,” she told The Wrap in June 2022. “And I know this because so many fans have asked me to put her music on the show and I just never knew if we were going to be able to or not. So when we were, I just, I couldn’t believe it. That’s probably the most excited I’ve been in the whole process and the fact that we got like five total, which I’m really excited for the fans to see, because it will be like, I think maybe unexpected at times at certain big moments.”
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Season 1 used Swift’s discography for romantic cues revolving around Belly’s crush on Conrad, with “Cruel Summer,” “Lover,” “The Way I Loved You (Taylor’s Version)” and “This Love (Taylor’s Version)” setting the scene as the characters fell in love.
The second season raised the stakes with nearly twice as many Swift songs including “August,” “Sweet Nothing,” “Delicate (Taylor’s Version),” “Bigger Than the Whole Sky” and “Exile.”
“I felt like Taylor is someone who bets on women. And I felt like she bet on me,” Han added on Thursday. “And I can’t say enough how thankful I am that she let us use her music. And I think she knows, too, her fans would like the show.”
The Summer I Turned Pretty is currently streaming on Prime Video.
QB Riley Leonard’s Girlfriend Has ‘Pinch Me’ Moment After Notre Dame Win
Notre Dame quarterback Riley Leonard had quite the cheering section at the Orange Bowl on Thursday night — including his longtime girlfriend, Molly Walding.
Walding was in the stands at Miami Gardens’ Hard Rock Stadium next to Leonard’s parents, Chad and Heather, for the Fighting Irish’s dramatic 27-24 victory over Penn State, which earned Notre Dame a trip to the College Football National Championship on Monday, January 20.
“PINCH ME!!!!!!! ,” Walding posted via her Instagram Story, showing a wide shot of Leonard, 22, and his teammates celebrating on the field under a shower of confetti.
Walding eventually found her way to Leonard after the game and posted a selfie of the happy couple via her Story. “I’m GIDDY! Turning dreams into reality!!!!!!!! ,” she captioned a photo.
Notre Dame QB Riley Leonard and GF Molly Walding's Relationship Timeline
During his postgame interview with SEC Network’s Alyssa Lang, Leonard said he was anxious to see Walding and give her an orange that he was saving from the team’s postgame celebration.
“I’m looking for my girlfriend, hopefully I can give her one,” Leonard said. “She loves oranges…Let’s hope we find her right now.”
Leonard and Walding, currently a student at Auburn University, have been dating since December 2017, when they were students together at Fairthorpe High School in Fairthorpe, Alabama.
Their friendship dates back even further, as evidenced by a picture Walding posted via Instagram in September 2016 when the two were students at Fairthorpe Middle School.
When the couple celebrated their six-year anniversary in December 2023, Leonard gushed via Instagram, “Even a blind squirrel finds a nut every once in a while. Happy 6 years.”
Notre Dame’s Marcus Freeman Was ‘Angry’ After James Franklin's Age Joke
As for Leonard’s on-field performance on Thursday night, it came with a bit of a scare. Near the end of the first half, the quarterback was pulled from the game due to concussion protocol after taking a big hit. Backup quarterback, Steve Angeli, executed the team’s final drive of the half in Leonard’s absence.
However, Leonard returned for the second half after being cleared and helped lead Notre Dame to the school’s first national championship game since 2013.
“I knew I was going to get back out there,” Leonard told ESPN after the game. “Obviously, safety first on the football field. I just kind of had to prove to everybody that I was fine. I got up a little wobbly, but it’s all good.”
Notre Dame will play the winner of the other College Football Playoff semifinal between Ohio State and Texas — who face off in the Cotton Bowl on Friday, January 10 — when in the National Championship from Atlanta’s Mercedes-Benz Stadium on January 20.
Recreate Jennifer Lopez's Cozy Platform Bootie Look for Just $45
Now that it’s award season, I’m so excited to see all of the red carpet looks — especially those of Jennifer Lopez. However, what I find even more intriguing is what she wears when she’s off duty. When it comes to the iconic singer’s winter looks for this year, she’s reaching for a cozy pair of platform booties.
Captured by The Daily Mail, Lopez was spotted in out Los Angeles, California on January 5, 2024 — just hours before the Golden Globes! For a brief encounter with her ex Ben Affleck, she wore a cozy-casual fit that still had touches of her classic New Yorker style. She wore some light wash baggy jeans and an oversized beige top, which she matched with her winter booties.
We don’t know where she got her exact boots, but we’d be willing to bet money that they’re the UGG Classic Ultra Mini Platform Boot. A shopper-favorite style, these Uggs come in at a somewhat attainable price point of $160. However, why spend that when you can get this near-exact lookalike version for 72% less on Amazon? With that kind of savings, you not only make extra room to tack on other cozy weather staples like a chunky scarf, you also get a celeb-approved shoe style as well.
Get the Project Cloud Genuine Suede Platform Ankle Boots (Originally $100) on sale for just $45 at Amazon! Please note, prices are accurate at the date of publication, January 10, 2024, but are subject to change.
Jennifer Lopez Elevates Baggy Jeans With a Fitted Turtleneck
We truly can’t tell the difference between Lopez’s pick and the Project Cloud Genuine Suede Platform Ankle Boots. Like the Jenny From the Block singer’s pair, these boots have a chunky platform sole, a soft faux fur lining, an ankle shaft height, a rounded toe and suede outer. What makes them a great winter shoe pick, is not only their cozy-chic style, but also their ultra warm shearling inner and anti-slip EVA outsole.
Another benefit you may not think about with these booties is their tall height. Oftentimes with these suede styles that are closer to the ground, they more easily make your feet accessible to snowy, cold weather, which can leave your feet sopping wet. This style, with a height of 1.75 inches, helps further protect your feet from the elements.
Not to mention, these boots are generally a popular cozy classic for winter fashion. They’re one of those closet staples that’ll really never go out of style due to their functional design that’s bound to keep your feet warm. Even if they have a season where they’re not as trendy, they’re still a style you can wear throughout the house and throw on for errand-running too.
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These are far beyond just a Lopez-loved boot though, they’re a major favorite of shoppers on Amazon as well. Seemingly getting ready for the winter season, over 1,000 shoppers have bought the booties just within the last month. On top of that, several hundred shoppers have also left them a five-star rating as well — over 500 to be exact!
One of those shoppers claimed that the boots were “still comfortable even after a few hours of walking” while doing an “all-day holiday shopping trip.”
“I love these boots so much,” they said. “They seem to be sturdily made and have good traction. The platform is super trendy and the shaft height makes them extremely versatile. They’re great to wear with baggy or flare jeans as well as skinny jeans, leggings, and even more casual skirts and dresses.”
If you’ve found yourself inspired by this Lopez-loved boot style, we suggest you act quick on buying! They’re currently marked down to 55% off, which is a savings of $55! We don’t know how long this sale will last and we want you to get them while they’re less!
See it: Project Cloud Genuine Suede Platform Ankle Boots (Originally $100) on sale for just $45 at Amazon! Please note, prices are accurate at the date of publication, January 10, 2024, but are subject to change.
Looking for something else? Explore more from Project Cloud here and more suede booties here! Don’t forget to check out all of Amazon’s Daily Deals for more great finds!
Martha Stewart's Favorite Comfy Slip-On Sneakers are 29% off
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6 Body Serums To Keep Your Skin Hydrated This Winter
Smooth, supple skin can be difficult to maintain year-round, but more especially during the winter. Changes in the weather often lead to dryness and flaking. Popular wintertime fabrics like wool can trap moisture, resulting in dryness and irritation. Thankfully, many of our favorite brands have released nourishing body serums to help our skin thrive through the winter and beyond.
Out of Thousands of Beauty Products, These 5 Were Our Favorite Launches of 2024
From drugstore finds to celeb-loved brands, we’ve rounded up hydrating body serums that get the job done. Get ready to upgrade your body care routine!
Naturium Urea 5% Body Serum
When you think of Naturium, you probably think of lavish body washes and nourishing skincare products. The trusted brand kicked off the new year by launching the Urea 5% Body Serum. The brand’s first serum for the body, this milky serum is enriched with skin-loving ingredients that nourish and plump while improving the appearance of skin firmness.
It’s super easy to use. Apply a generous amount to the body and massage until it’s fully absorbed. You can use it to prep your skin before your daily body care routine or use it alone to restore moisture throughout the day.
Get the Urea 5% Body Serum for just $22 at Naturium!
Credo Skincare Seascape Ceramide Body Serum
No matter the weather, you can transport yourself to a tropical oasis with the help of Credo Beauty’s brand-new Seascape Ceramide Body Serum. This silky serum melts into the skin and is enriched with nourishing properties to restore moisture and improve skin elasticity. It leaves behind a dreamy scent that lingers on throughout the day.
Get the Seascape Ceramide Body Serum for just $52 at Credo Beauty!
OSEA Hyaluronic Body Serum
We love OSEA’s lightweight Hyaluronic Body Serum because it instantly moisturizes and leaves behind a subtle glow. It’s enriched with nutrient-rich ingredients to achieve long-lasting hydration.
Get the OSEA Hyaluronic Body Serum for just $48 at Amazon! Please note, prices are accurate at the date of publication, January 10, 2025, but are subject to change.
BYOMA Smoothing Body Serum
Looking for an affordable find? Say hell to the BYOMA Smoothing Body Serum. Barrier Lipids work together to target rough and bumpy skin. It gently exfoliates and soothes sensitivity and redness to deliver smooth and clear skin. Plus, you can snag it online or in-store at Target.
Get the BYOMA Smoothing Body Serum for just $14 at Target!
Nécessaire The Body Serum
There’s nothing worse than a product that takes forever to rub in. Nécessaire’s The Body Serum uses facial-grade ingredients to strengthen the skin’s natural barrier through multilevel hydration. The fragrance-free, non-comedogenic gel is safe for sensitive skin and prevents water loss.
Get the Nécessaire The Body Serum for just $48 at Sephora!
Shani Darden Skin Care Body Reform Treatment Serum
Jessica Alba and Chrissy Teigen are two of the lengthy list of A-listers who are fans of celebrity esthetician and skincare founder Shani Darden. She released the Body Reform Treatment Serum to minimize the appearance of fine lines and wrinkles while firming and brightening. The multi-tasking body serum has retinol and a slew of other ingredients to smooth, firm, brighten dark spots and fade stretch marks.
Get the Shani Darden Skin Care Body Reform Treatment Serum for $72 at REVOLVE!
Shoppers Say This Customizable Makeup Stack Is Their ‘Go-To Everyday Solution’
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‘So You Think You Can Dance’ Alumni Are Rallying Around tWitch's Mom
Connie Boss Alexander, mother of the late Stephen “tWitch” Boss, has an army of So You Think You Can Dance alumni behind her as she deals with allegations of her son’s drug abuse from her daughter-in-law’s memoir.
Boss Alexander took to Instagram on Thursday, January 9, where she refuted the claims from Allison Holker’s upcoming book, This Far: My Story of Love, Loss, and Embracing the Light. In it, Holker says she found a “cornucopia” of drugs, including mushrooms, pills and “other substances I had to look up on my phone” after Boss died by suicide in December 2022. Holker also claimed Boss was a victim of sexual abuse as a child.
“Our family is absolutely appalled by the misleading and hurtful claims made about my son, Stephen Boss,” Boss Alexander wrote. “The recent publications spreading untruths about Stephen have crossed every line of decency. As his mother, I will not let these accusations go unanswered. We will not stand by while his name and legacy are tarnished. He doesn’t deserve this, and the kids don’t deserve this.”
“For the last two years, I have remained quiet and away from the public eye to protect my family,” she continued. “My primary focus has been on healing and attempting to remain connected to my grandchildren. But when I read these dreadful claims about my baby, our beloved Stephen, I realized I could not stay silent any longer. Our family will ensure his name and memory are protected, and we are committed to defending his honor.”
Stephen 'tWitch' Boss' Family, Friends React to Allison Holker's Memoir
As her post has made the rounds on social media, other So You Think You Can Dance contestants have flocked to the comments section in support.
Boss competed on the show four times, finishing as runner-up in season 4. He was named a judge for season 17, the last season to air before his death.
Keep scrolling for all the reactions from So You Think You Can Dance alumni to Boss Alexander’s statement:
Comfort Fedoke
Fedoke competed with Boss on his first season on So You Think You Can Dance and jumped into the comments to support “mama Connie.”
“Yes mama Connie! Yes ,” she wrote.
Former 'Ellen' Producer Andy Lassner Sends Support to Late tWitch's Mom
Gaby Diaz
Season 12 winner Diaz responded with three yellow heart emojis.
Jim Nowakowski
Nowakowski, who also competed on season 12, added three heart-hands emojis.
D–trix
Dominic “D-trix” Sandoval appeared alongside Boss as an all-star in season 7 and added three white heart emojis of his own.
Lauren Gottlieb
Gottlieb was also an all-star in seasons 7 and 8. She sent a message of solidarity to Boss Alexander, writing, “We are all standing with you .”
Jenna Dewan Supports Allison Holker Amid Backlash Over tWitch Comments
Eddie “Neptune” Eskridge
Eskridge was on Boss’ “Team Street” on season 12, placing in the top eight.
“ we are right with you,” he wrote.
Blake Andler McGrath
McGrath’s time on So You Think You Can Dance predates Boss’, but he made sure to send his support to his mom.
“Sending you so much love. we stand with you!” he commented.
Hannahlei Cabanilla
Cabanilla, the season 15 winner, commented with a heart and prayer hands emoji.
If you or someone you know is struggling or in crisis, help is available. Call or text 988 or chat at 988lifeline.org.
If you or someone you know is struggling with substance abuse, contact the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA) National Helpline at 1-800-662-HELP (4357).