'Today' Hoda Kotb Knows With 'Certainty' That Love Will Happen For Her Soon

Hoda Kotb is not letting age stop her from manifesting some true love.

The 58-year-old opened up about wanting some love in her life during Tuesday's "Today with Hoda & Jenna" episode, including making an unexpected confession about having a crush on a late male celeb. Her admission comes several months after she announced that she and her longtime partner, Joel Schiffman, were splitting after nearly a decade together.

Just before Kotb opened up about her desire for a romantic relationship, she confessed to Jenna Bush Hager that she had a crush on the late actor Brian Dennehy. In her words:

"There was something about him. He had that whole, police officer strong [quality]. Like, there was something about him. He was big, but he was hot."

After her 40-year-old co-host asked if that's what she should be looking out for when trying to set her up, Kotb responded:

"For everybody who is at a phase in their life where they may or may not be with a partner. My sister said to me once, 'Are you afraid of being by yourself?' And I know this is so weird, but I said to her, 'I am not going to be by myself.' Like, I actually know it, as sure as I'm sitting next to you at this desk. I have two beautiful daughters who I am wild about, obviously."

After explaining that she knew "with certainty — and it's the strangest feeling to know that," Kotb claimed that she could "sometimes feel him, but I don't see what he looks like, but I feel like it will happen." The former "Dateline NBC" correspondent was so assured of her love story that if she were told that she would meet someone by Christmas, she would be okay with that.

The mother-of-two finished her statement by noting that even though she was not actively "on the hunt," she had a "tingly Spidey-sense about it." You would recall that the broadcast journalist had announced her new single state during an episode of "Today" in January.

The Blast noted that Kotb clarified why she had been going out without her engagement ring during the NBC News morning show. She revealed that after she and her ex had had several "prayerful" and significant conversations, they decided they were better off "as friends and parents" than as an engaged couple.

The NBC personality added that she and Schiffman were forging a new path as friends and co-parents to her two kids — Haley Joy Kotb and Hope Catherine Kotb in 2022. She admitted that even though nothing terrible had happened to cause their split, she figured their relationship "was meant to be there for a season."

The broadcaster further mentioned that although she felt uncomfortable and awkward about breaking the personal news to the public, she had to be open about the life-changing parts of life that she wanted to forget. Elaborating on that, Kotb remarked:

"I think a lot of women know what this feels like in this moment to be changing course in life, and I feel really brave in this moment … Sometimes in your life, you just have to say [sic] the truth."

Her honest speech was endearing to her fans, who wasted no time showering her with support, love, and best wishes while also expressing their sadness about the end of her engagement.

In May, The Blast observed that during a red-carpet interview, Kotb divulged that she was focusing on enjoying her time with her kids. The former WINK reporter, who attended The Hollywood Reporter's Annual Most Powerful People in New York Media with Hager and Savannah Guthrie, said:

"I'm really enjoying my kids and my life. I'm treasuring this time."

Her friends seemed supportive of her decision, with Guthrie proclaiming that anybody who wanted to date Kotb would have to go through her and Hager. At this point, Hager chimed in, "Yeah, and good luck," adding that the older journalist had "two sisters who are wildly protective."

Before entering the eight-year relationship with Schiffman, Kotb walked down the aisle with former University of New Orleans tennis coach Burzis Kanga in 2006. The pair's union barely lasted three years, as they got divorced in 2008.