Hoda Kotb Gets Emotional at Jenna Bush Hager’s Farewell Gift from Author Charlie Mackesy: ‘I Love Him So Much’.

Jenna Bush Hager teamed up with one of Hoda Kotb’s favorite authors to make her final week at Today extra special.

On Monday, Jan. 6, Bush Hager, 43, began the NBC program’s weeklong “Hoda-bration” — a celebration of Kotb’s final days with the outlet — with a very thoughtful gift for her Today With Hoda & Jenna co-host.

“We wanna kick off the week with a little something, and we know you love this author, Charlie Mackesy,” Hager revealed. “He wrote The Boy, the Mole, the Fox and the Horse.”

“That’s one of my favorite books. I love him,” Kotb, 60, interjected as Hager said, “I know, and he adores you” — as she revealed the British writer’s gift.

Drawn in the same style as The Boy, the Mole, the Fox and the Horse, Mackesy made Kotb a painting that reads, “Every step you take is a victory.” He also wrote “Hoda” on the art, and signed it “Love, Charlie.”

Becoming visibly emotional at the gift, Kotb said, “First of all, I love him so much. His book has been life-changing for so many people, including me,” before revealing that she already has a sketch from his book hanging in her office.

“I can’t believe he did that,” she added. But that wasn’t all Mackesy did.

The British author, 62, also filmed a special message for the Today anchor, which Bush Hager showed live on the air during Monday’s program.

“Hoda, it’s Charlie Mackesy here. Hello,” he began. “I’m in the rain in London to say I’m wishing you all the luck in the world and all the blessings and I hope your next step is fun.”

Expanding on the message he included in her illustration, he continued, “You’ve given so much and give so much, and I hope you love what you’re going to do next, and every single step you take is a victory.”

“And thank you for including me on your journey with the book,” he added, as both Kotb and Bush Hager appeared to get emotional. “I’m so grateful to you, always will be so grateful. Thank you, Hoda.”

Reacting to the heartwarming video, Kotb said, “I love him. I love how he said he’s in the rain … Charlie, thank you.”

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Kotb first announced that she planned to depart her role at Today after nearly two decades in September, citing a desire to spend more time with her daughters, Hope Catherine, 5, and Haley Joy, 7.

Reflecting on her decision in October, she told PEOPLE, “There’s the guilt you carry because you can’t be 100% at work and 100% at home.”

“Something has to give if you want excellence,” she continued. “If you’re going to be excellent at work, something has to give at home. And if you want to be excellent at home — I mean excellent, and do all the things — something has to give at work. It can’t be equal.”

The moment was more than just a goodbye gesture — it was a tribute to Hoda Kotb’s legacy of empathy, resilience, and grace that has touched millions of viewers every morning. Charlie Mackesy’s gift wasn’t just art; it was a mirror of the emotional journey Kotb has shared on air for nearly two decades — her vulnerabilities, her strength, and her unwavering optimism.

The message — “Every step you take is a victory” — resonated deeply not only with Kotb but with viewers across the country. It reflected the essence of her on-screen presence: a woman who has faced life’s trials with courage, from her battles with illness to the quiet strength of single motherhood. Her eyes welled with tears not because the moment was sad, but because it was filled with love — a love that Jenna Bush Hager helped orchestrate so beautifully.

As the segment unfolded, fans flooded social media with messages of gratitude and admiration. One user wrote on X (formerly Twitter), “That moment with Charlie Mackesy and Hoda just broke me. What a beautiful soul she is.” Another added, “Hoda is the heart of the show. I’m not ready to say goodbye.”

Jenna Bush Hager, often a source of humor and heartfelt moments on the show, proved once again how deeply she values their bond. “I just wanted to honor you in the way you deserve,” she said quietly after the video, her voice catching with emotion. The two co-hosts shared a long, tearful hug, the kind that said everything words couldn’t.

Mackesy’s appearance marked just the beginning of a week full of tributes, surprises, and reflections as the “Hoda-bration” continues. Producers have hinted at appearances from past co-hosts, friends, and even surprise guests who have been part of Kotb’s life both on and off the air.

Kotb’s departure, though bittersweet, comes with a promise — not of absence, but of presence where it matters most. “I just want to be there for every bedtime story, every soccer game, every scraped knee,” she told PEOPLE. “This is not the end. It’s a new beginning.”

Indeed, as Mackesy’s words lingered in the studio, the message was clear: this isn’t a farewell — it’s a celebration of a journey still unfolding. And for Hoda Kotb, every step forward is not just a victory. It’s a legacy in motion.