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'Historic and so deserved' Congratulations pour in for TODAY co-anchor Hoda Kotb

Friends, colleagues and fans express their excitement after Hoda is officially named to her new role.
/ Source: TODAY

Everyone is excited about how TODAY has kicked off the new year — by officially making Hoda Kotb the co-anchor of TODAY!

“This has to be the most popular decision NBC News have ever made,” Savannah Guthrie noted immediately after the program opened Tuesday with the news.

After Savannah announced a hashtag in honor of the occasion, it immediately began to trend as the duo’s colleagues and friends began offering their congratulations.

“The team of @SavannahGuthrie +@hodakotb happens to be two of the best, smartest, hilarious people I know!! #SavannahHodaTODAY,” Jenna Bush Hager said in a tweet.

Al Roker posted a selfie of himself with the official new anchoring team, while fellow meteorologist Dylan Dreyer tweeted her congratulations to "two of the brightest stars to wake up to."

Legendary NBC journalist Tom Brokaw remarked on the historic pairing of having two women anchor TODAY. (The first ever all-female morning show duo was ABC News' Diane Sawyer and Robin Roberts from 2006-2009).

Hoda, who joined NBC News in 1998 as a correspondent for "Dateline," has been a frequent substitute in the TODAY anchor chair over the years, and her promotion was cheered heartily by both colleagues and fans, including Chelsea Clinton and Mindy Kaling!

Kathie Lee Gifford returned from her Florida holiday vacation to frosty New York to help celebrate the news — and make sure everyone knows that Hoda will continue to co-anchor TODAY’s fourth hour with her in addition to her other responsibilities.

"It could not happen to a sweeter, better, more beloved person," Kathie Lee said. "We adore you, sweetie!"