For longtime Today show viewers, Wednesday morning’s broadcast brought a surprise that immediately softened the tone of Studio 1A. Hoda Kotb, who has spent years inviting America into her life through stories of motherhood, vulnerability and joy, opened the show with a beaming smile — and an announcement that made the studio audience erupt.

“It is a special morning because my whole family is here,” she said, practically glowing as she stood beside co-host Jenna Bush Hager. And she meant everyone: her daughters, Haley and Hope, her brother, sister-in-law, and her nieces — a rare full-family appearance timed with the start of the Thanksgiving holiday.

Kotb’s children, now 6-year-old Haley and 4-year-old Hope, are rarely seen on camera, especially together. Their appearance immediately became the emotional centerpiece of the episode, blending pure childlike joy with Hoda’s trademark warmth in a way that felt both intimate and celebratory.

The moment wasn’t just a casual drop-by. Kotb and Bush Hager were hosting a Thanksgiving-themed “Yuck or Yum” segment — a tradition where the hosts sample unusual holiday-inspired treats. But this time, the kids were the official delivery team.

First to emerge was Haley, striding out with the serious focus of a young professional — albeit one wearing a grin she couldn’t suppress. In her hands was a platter of two ice cream dishes, including Baskin-Robbins’ famously quirky “Turkey Day Fixin’s” flavor. Kotb couldn’t resist offering her daughter a small bite, spooning the cold treat into Haley’s mouth as cameras rolled.

Haley’s verdict — an initial emphatic “Yuck,” quickly reversed to a delighted “Yum” as she flipped her paddle — brought laughter from the hosts and crew. She skipped offstage with the confidence of a kid who knows she just stole the show.

Next came Hope.

The youngest of Kotb’s daughters walked carefully toward the hosts, clutching a tray of chocolates designed to mimic Thanksgiving side dishes. Wearing a white sweater and dark jeans, accessorized with a sparkly purple headband and a butterfly sticker pasted to the middle of her forehead, the 4-year-old radiated pure sweetness.

“I love your butterfly sticker — it’s awesome!” Kotb told her, visibly melting at the sight.

The candies turned out to be another “Yuck” from the hosts, but Hope responded with her own paddle flip to “Yum,” prompting applause from the room.

When Kotb said, “Hopey, love you,” the little girl giggled and dashed offstage — one of several moments that revealed how much joy the children bring her, even in the middle of a busy broadcast.

For fans, seeing Hope back in the studio carried an emotional weight. The last time she appeared on the Today show was before her frightening hospitalization earlier in the year — an ordeal Kotb has spoken about with honesty but guarded privacy.

Hope spent over a week in the hospital, including several days in the ICU, during what Kotb described as a “really scary” medical situation. The anchor took time off the show to be by her daughter’s side, and although she has shared only minimal details, she has been open about the lingering emotional effects of the ordeal.

Her return to the studio now, surrounded by family, brought a sense of healing and celebration for viewers who remember Hoda’s anxiety and fear during that period.

Once both children finished their segment duties, they circled back to join their mother. The studio filled with laughter as Jenna Bush Hager joked that the girls should take the “Yuck or Yum” paddles home and use them on Hoda’s cooking.

Kotb’s nieces also joined in, turning the traditionally polished morning show into a lively family gathering. It felt spontaneous, messy, real — a welcome contrast to the seriousness that often defines morning news programs.

As the broadcast wrapped, Kotb scooped Hope into her arms, standing among her entire family as the team signed off. The moment was warm and lightly chaotic, in the way all family moments are.

Later, Kotb posted a photo of her family celebrating Thanksgiving in New York City — a reminder of how much these small appearances reflect her bigger life outside the studio.

For Hoda Kotb, motherhood has always been intertwined with her public identity. She has spoken candidly about adopting both of her daughters with ex-fiancé Joel Schiffman, navigating single motherhood, juggling work, and grounding herself despite the emotional turbulence of the past year.

Seeing her daughters on set wasn’t just a cute television moment — it was a reminder of resilience, gratitude and the way families come together during seasons of recovery and celebration.

Their appearance came at a time when the Today show — and its viewers — have been craving uplifting, human moments amid difficult news cycles. Haley and Hope delivered exactly that.

Their smiles, their giggles, their tiny butterfly stickers and dessert trays transformed a weekday morning into something bigger: a glimpse at the love that drives one of America’s most beloved anchors, and the gentle reminder of how meaningful it is to hold family close.

As Kotb carried her daughter in her arms at the end of the show, surrounded by nieces, siblings and co-hosts, the message was unmistakable — gratitude for health, gratitude for reunion, gratitude for the simple joy of sharing breakfast-table moments with the nation that has watched their family grow.

On a holiday morning, it was the perfect kind of TV magic.