TV

Hoda Kotb says she’s open to dating Kevin Costner after learning fans are ‘shipping’ them

Hoda Kotb admitted she’s open to dating Kevin Costner after learning fans have been “shipping” them together.

During a Q&A session on “Watch What Happens Live” Tuesday, the “Today” show host learned fans are wanting her and the “Yellowstone” star to date.

“How do you feel about viewers ‘shipping’ you and Kevin Costner after he appeared on ‘Today’ last month?” a fan asked Kotb, who was sitting next to her co-anchor Savannah Guthrie. “And have the two of you connected since?”

Hoda Kotb flirtatiously admitted that she’s open to dating Kevin Costner after learning fans want them together. Charles Sykes/Bravo via Getty Images
The “Today” show host learned fans were shipping her and the “Yellowstone” star while responding to a Q&A on “Watch What Happens Live” Tuesday. NBCU Photo Bank/NBCUniversal via Getty Images

Kotb, 59, appeared visibly shocked as she responded, “Wait, what?”

Host Andy Cohen explained the online phenomenon, saying, “The viewers want the two of you together.”

“I have never heard that, not one time,” the talk show host claimed.

“How do you feel about viewers ‘shipping’ you and Kevin Costner after he appeared on ‘Today’ last month? And have the two of you connected since?” a fan asked. Charles Sykes/Bravo via Getty Images
The TV personality was visibly confused as host Andy Cohen explained, “The viewers want the two of you together.” Charles Sykes/Bravo via Getty Images

“Well, you heard it now, you up to it?” Guthrie instigated while clapping her hands together. “Give the people what they want.”

“Well, if the viewers want it,” Kotb flirtatiously joked while smirking at the camera.

The journalist’s potential love match was also brought up during Wednesday’s episode of “Today With Hoda and Jenna,” as co-host Jenna Bush admitted she knew fans were rooting for Kotb and Costner, 69.

“I have never heard that, not one time,” Kotb responded. TODAY
She then looked at the camera, adding, “Well, if the viewers want it.” Variety via Getty Images

“I didn’t know you and Kevin were shipping! I didn’t even know what shipping meant,” Bush quipped.

“I actually did know because people were coming up to me on the street, and people were like, ‘You should set up Hoda and Kevin Costner,'” she continued. “And I was like, ‘wow, I didn’t know they were flirting behind my back.”

Producers then played back clips of Kotb and the Academy Awards winner on set of the talk show last month as Bush teased her co-anchor was nervously “rubbing [her] arm” while talking to Costner.

Kotb also addressed the phenomenon during Wednesday’s episode of “Today With Hoda and Jenna.” TODAY
“I actually did know because people were coming up to me on the street, and people were like, ‘You should set up Hoda and Kevin Costner,'” co-host Jenna Bush admitted. AFP via Getty Images

After the actor’s interview with Kotb and Bush, a behind-the-scenes clip saw Costner showing the two a picture of his dog before giving Kotb a low waist hug with both hands.

“Kevin and Hoda should date! They look cute together,” one fan commented.

“I see a little chemistry there ❤️,” another chimed in.

“I noticed the way he put his hands when he hugged her,” a third added.

Bush also joked that Kotb was nervously “rubbing [her] arm” while chatting with the actor on their show last month. TODAY
Costner recently finalized his divorce from Christine Baumgartner. Getty Images for Omnipeace Foundation
Meanwhile, Kotb was last in a relationship with ex-fiancé Joel Schiffman. FilmMagic

Kotb was previously wed to Burzis Kanga from 2005 to 2008.

She was then in a long-term relationship with ex-fiancé Joel Schiffman from 2015 to 2022.

As for Costner, he was wed to Christine Baumgartner from 2004 to 2023 and Cindy Costner from 1978 to 1994.