George W. Bush Paints Portrait for Hoda Kotb’s 60th Birthday

Hoda Kotb received a special present in honor of her 60th birthday from former US president George W. Bush. On August 12, during the Today show, Kotb was surprised with a portrait of herself and her two daughters, Hope and Haley. The portrait was created by Bush, the 43rd US president, making it an even more memorable gift.

Jenna Bush Hager, Kotb’s co-host and Bush’s daughter, presented the portrait, revealing that her father had painted Kotb’s favorite family photo. “I had my dad, who has started painting, paint your favorite photo,” Hager told Kotb.

Tearing off the wrapping paper, Kotb unveiled the artwork, which depicted her walking between Hope and Haley in front of a line of bare trees. The painting had been autographed in the corner by George W. Bush with “43” in red paint.

Overwhelmed with emotion, Kotb struggled to find words to adequately thank Hager for the heartfelt gift. In a touching moment captured on the show, Kotb choked up while sitting beside her co-host. “You have to go to a video. It’s too much,” Hager tearfully exclaimed.

Kotb became a mother at 52, welcoming her daughter Haley Joy via adoption in February 2017. She expanded her family two years later, adopting her second daughter, Hope Catherine, in April 2019.

Along with the heartfelt gift from Hager’s father, Kotb received several birthday wishes from friends, family, and followers, including an unexpected video from actor Sandra Bullock. During the August 12 show, Kotb watched Bullock’s message.

“Hoda, Hoda, Hoda. I had so many brilliant and fun things prepared for you, for this message, that were just going to slay. But you know, girl, I’m just too tired. I’m tired because I had to make my way up that mountain before you got there so I could check out the terrain, see what things look like, and just get the feel so I could fill you in,” the 60-year-old actor began.

Continuing, Bullock said, “It’s weird because people seem to want us to be afraid of what it might look like when we get there. It turns out, it’s pretty damn great. It’s pretty awesome.”

“We’re all pretty lucky to have you, especially your kids. So, happy birthday, my sweet friend. Thank you for allowing me to be in your circle. I feel very grateful,” Bullock added.

The touching tribute was followed by thousands of kind messages on Instagram. “Happy 60 Birthday when I tell you turning 60 feels amazing,” one woman commented under Kotb’s post.

Another fan shared how Kotb inspired her to become a mother, even without being married. “I want you to know that YOU are the reason I have my son at home now. I was in my late thirties (seems so young now) and I still hadn’t met my person,” she wrote. “Despite feeling the call to motherhood my whole life, I felt the grief of that door closing. Then I saw you announce the adoption of your daughter and it was like a veil was lifted.”