NBC News’ Today with Hoda & Jenna had to scramble to find a guest host this week after singer Kelly Rowland left.
On Thursday, Rowland had guested in the 8 a.m. hour of Today, and was scheduled to fill in for Jenna Bush Hager in the fourth hour as guest host, joining Hoda Kotb, didn’t like her dressing room, leaving singer Rita Ora, who also had been a guest that morning to step in at the last minute, according to a source familiar with what happened.
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A Today representative declined to comment, and a spokesperson for Rowland did not immediately respond to the request for comment.
On her Instagram page, Ora posted photos and clips from the show and wrote, “Well, this happened! We had two minutes to prepare ahhh, thank you @hodaandjenna for asking me to co-host the show… Everyone was so lovely and kind, I had SO much fun doing it!! 💗💗💗 Love to everyone that tuned in, maybe we should do more??!!!” In one clip, Ora’s sister, who had been with her at the studio, made an appearance, surprising her. “Wait a minute, Is today real? Because I just don’t even know what is even happening today.”
The New York Post first reported on the reasons for the last-minute change. Rowland, who was promoting her new Netflix movie Mea Culpa, was offered other options but declined. The dressing rooms at 30 Rock are not large, due to the age of the historic building and the cramped nature of studio space in midtown Manhattan.
