Hoda Kotb Breaks Down After Interviewing New Orleans' Saints Quarterback Drew Brees About Coronavirus

From Good Housekeeping

• Hoda Kotb became emotional after interviewing New Orleans' Saints quarterback Drew Brees, who just donated $5 million to support those affected by the coronavirus pandemic.

• New Orleans and Louisiana is among the hardest impacted areas in the United States, with reports claiming that the virus causing COVID-19 has spread faster here than anywhere else in the world.

• Hoda once lived and worked in New Orleans, and has long shared her love for the Southern state.

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Longtime fans of NBC's Today show are well aware of Hoda Kotb's personal stance on trying to help any community impacted by the novel coronavirus pandemic, which has affected more than 85,000 Americans and counting thus far, per recent data. Recently, the 55-year-old news anchor took to Instagram to ask all viewers to think about "helping others" in their communities — and on Friday, she had a chance to thank someone who has been doing just that in Louisiana. It quickly became clear, though, that the COVID-19 pandemic has hit close to home for Hoda.

New Orleans' Saints quarterback Drew Brees ended up on the Today show after making an announcement that he and his wife would donate $5 million to five different organizations in Louisiana, working to deliver more than 10,000 meals to those in need on a daily basis "for as long as it takes." He said he made his decision based on his love for Louisiana, which has been particularly affected by an alarmingly rapid spread of COVID-19, forcing many businesses in cities like New Orleans to close in the interim. Reports from The New York Times suggests that Louisiana is seeing the fastest spread of the novel coronavirus compared to other cities and principalities across the globe, with as much as 2,300 individuals affected by Friday.

"The state of Louisiana thrives on small businesses,” Brees, 41, shared during the segment. “We’re a hospitality state, and so many people have been affected by this around the country but especially in New Orleans. So when Brittany and I think about one of New Orleans' basic needs, that is to make sure that they and their family are fed and they can continue to sustain. So that’s where we wanted to start.”

For Hoda, the donation seemed to be inspiring enough on its own — but what some Today viewers may not have known is that she began her career in journalism by working at a local news station, WWL-TV, in New Orleans for six years. She spent most of the 1990s working as an anchor in Louisiana and in Florida, per her NBC profile, and has always shared her love for New Orleans and its NFL football team, the Saints, on her social media profiles.

At the end of the interview, Kotb told Drew that she hoped others in Louisiana and across the country would be inspired to help after his announcement. "I actually think a lot of things are contagious, including generosity. Our hope is that because you let us know you made this big generous donation, other people can look and say, ‘Hey, maybe I can help out too,'" she explained. "Drew, we love you.”

Right before the broadcast transitioned back to Hoda, who is currently in the studio alone as Savannah Guthrie is hosting from home, Brees replied, "Love you too, Hoda," which prompted her to begin to cry. She takes a second before apologizing on air to the audience, and it's another few heart-wrenching seconds before Savannah kindly steps in to comfort her colleague. "Oh, Hoda, I know — it's a lot. Hoda, I'm so sorry, hon," Savannah says, seemingly embracing Hoda's emotional response in the moment. "I know where your heart is, my dear, I do."

Hoda wasn't the only one who became emotional after the exchange; thousands of viewers chimed in to say they are feeling the weight of the situation, too.

Later on during Today's last show of the day, which is normally hosted by Jenna Bush Hager as well, Hoda acknowledged her emotional moment, explaining that she's too aware of how dire the need for medical attention and relief is in New Orleans.

After sharing Brees' segment again, Hoda admitted she's struggling to deal with the severity of the COVID-19 pandemic, just like many of her viewers: "You sort of look around for someone to hug, just because." Her co-host Savannah summed it up perfectly, too: "We all get it, there's moments where it kinda just gets you from out of nowhere… Everyone feels a lot of pressure right now."

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