Hoda Kotb reveals her biggest dating regret as Today cohost Jenna Bush Hager admits she wishes she dated more before meeting her husband Henry

Hoda Kotb has opened up about some of her biggest dating regrets during a candid conversation with her Today cohost Jenna Bush Hager and has admitted that she used to worry about ‘fitting in’ to a man’s life.

Hoda, 59, and Jenna, 42, were discussing Kate Hudson’s recent comments about how she took a year off from dating, when the former First Daughter revealed that she wishes she had dated more before meeting her now husband Henry Hager.

‘So you got married young,’ Hoda commented as Jenna confirmed: ‘Yeah, I was 26 but I dated in college, I dated in high school, I didn’t date enough, which is what I’ve realized,’ before she admitted: ‘I was a serial monogamist, which was fine, but I should have dated more.’ 

Referring to her 46-year-old husband, Jenna continued: ‘I’m glad I met the right person early and it’s great and we have built a really incredible life and I’m proud of it.

‘But also you should have fun and date while you can. I think girls are taught, “be careful because otherwise you will get a bad reputation” and it’s like, you can do both: you can date a lot of people and stay true to yourself,’ the mother-of-three added.

Hoda Kotb has opened up about her dating regrets while her cohost Jenna Bush Hager (right) says she wishes she had dated more

Jenna, 42, said she ‘didn’t date enough’ before meeting her now husband Henry Hager in 2004

Hoda, who recently revealed that she was dating again, agreed with her cohost and said: Exactly, that’s right, you can. And I think people think, “something’s wrong with me if I don’t meet someone by this time or this time”.

‘But you are right about dating and trying it and not every person you have a relationship with is meant to go the distance,’ the mother-of-two added.

Jenna replied: ‘No, but I think when we were growing up it was like you had this dream of the prince, so therefore I went into relationships – if I’m honest – thinking “is this one gonna go the distance?” at a young age.’

Hoda responded: ‘Right! Imagine thinking, “yeah, is this gonna be the person I’m gonna marry?” Because when you meet someone, you already edit ahead… you’re like, “Oh my gosh, a family, a wedding, kids, like you think, “do I see it, do I see it?”‘

The TV host then revealed: ‘One of the things I used to want when I met someone was, “does he like me? I so hope he likes me”. Not, like, “this is who I am”.

‘You can be the juiciest orange in the bunch but some people don’t like oranges. I can’t help you if you don’t like oranges, I’m that,’ Hoda continued.

‘But I was so worried about fitting into his life… “This is his ideal, I can be that”, as opposed to, “do I want him?”‘