January 10, 2024, marked Today Show co-anchor Hoda Kotb’s last day on NBC after 17 years. The going-away celebration featured reels of past footage of Kotb on NBC along with surprise visits from family, former friends, and colleagues, including NBC neighbor Jimmy Fallon and her former co-host Kathie Lee Gifford, among others. Dubbed the Hoda-Bration, the anchor was also surprised when friend and “Fancy Like” singer Walker Hayes walked out on Today with Hoda and Jenna, to perform a song he co-wrote with Kotb and Lori McKenna, “Wednesdays.”
Kotb, who recently had Hayes as a guest on her Making Space podcast, explained the inspiration behind the song to co-host Jenna Bush Hager. “Life is full of exclamation points: ‘It’s a girl! She said yes! You won!” And sad days: ‘He didn’t make it. You have cancer. It’s over,’” said Kotb. “But I said, most days are just Wednesdays, regular days. If you love your Wednesdays, you’ll love your life.”
As Hayes sang through the heart-warming ballad Hager wiped away tears, while Kotb sang along. Kotb’s message behind the song revolves around appreciating time with loved ones, a fitting send-off for the NBC anchor, who joined Today in 2007 as a co-host with Gifford, and as a substitute co-anchor on Today.
In 2017, Kotb became co-anchor of the morning show before working with Savannah Guthrie and Hager. By the end of 2024, Kotb announced her decision to leave her post at NBC to spend more time with her two daughters.
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[RELATED: Songs You Didn’t Know Kathie Lee Gifford Wrote]
“Most days are just Wednesdays”
Lyrically, “Wednesdays” spans the passing of time, the good and bad, life and death—Some days are the worst days, on the taillights of a hearse days—love, marriage, children, faith, and relishing the simple memories and moments.
Some days are the best days
Some days are she said “yes” days
Some days it’s a girl
Good lord how in the world
Did I get this blessed days
Some days are the worst days
On the taillights of a hearse days
And I can’t figure out it
And I don’t want to talk about it
Guess that’s why we go to church days
But most days are just Wednesdays
Get up and do the same old same again’s days
Coffee Kisses out the door
Tell the kids I love them more
Go out try to get the rent paid
Walker and Lolly Rendition
Days before performing the song live on Kotb’s last on NBC, Hayes posted an acoustic version of the song, as a duet with his daughter Loxley (Lolly) Hayes.
“New one with [Lori McKenna] and [Hoda Kotb],” wrote Hayes in the YouTube description. “Lolly said this one’s always stuck in her head. Happy New Year y’all. Here’s to appreciate the ones we get to do life with—especially on the Wednesdays. Cuz I mean, most days are just Wednesdays.”
After Hayes’ Today With Hoda & Jenna performance, Kotb said, “By the way, I feel like that’s what I love the most about our show.” She added, “They’ve just been like, Wednesdays—every day has been a good Wednesday.” Hager replied, “And it’s been the pleasure of a lifetime to be next to you.”
Watch Walker Hayes’ performance of “Wednesdays” on Today With Hoda & Jenna here.
Photo: Helen Healey/NBC/Getty
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