Hoda Kotb Finally Met the Celebrity of Her Dreams at the Paris Olympics

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Hoda Kotb’s chance meeting with Tom Cruise at the Paris Olympics turned out to be her “dream” come true.

At the 2024 opening ceremony on Friday, July 26, one moment in particular truly amazed Kotb: an unexpected encounter with Cruise on the bridge over the Seine, according to ANDSharing his excitement on Instagram, Kotb, 59, posted a selfie with the actor, both soaking wet in the pouring Paris rain.

The show’s host captioned the photo, “You know when you dream of meeting Tom Cruise… And then it finally happens,” to illustrate the surreal nature of their encounter. In the image, Kotb smiles with joy, wrapped in a poncho, while Cruise, his hair soaking wet, stands next to her, dressed all in black.

The funny scene prompted her co-star Jenna Bush Hager to comment, “In your dream, were you wearing a poncho?” and TV personality Carson Daly to add, “Okay, you won the day. 🙌.” TODAY Host Savannah Guthrie also commented: “Icons only 👏.”

Fans of the morning show host also chimed in with their comments, leaving mixed opinions of Cruise, 62. “I had to look twice: am I really seeing who I think I’m seeing?!?!” one user noted, while another said, “I would never be happy to meet him.” A third fan commented on Kotb’s rainy day look, saying, “Hoda, only you could be this happy and beautiful meeting Tom Cruise in a rain poncho!”

THE Hoda and Jenna The show’s host recently found herself at the center of romance rumors with fellow actor Kevin Costner. During a July 9 episode of Watch What Happens Live with Andy CohenA caller asked her what she thought of fans “sharing” her with Costner after their previous interview on TODAY. Laughing, Kotb looked genuinely stunned and turned to her co-host Guthrie and exclaimed, “Wait, what? That’s a new thing.” She added playfully, “Well, if the viewers want it…” which sent the audience into a frenzy of cheers and laughter.