“Hoda Kotb and Daughters Celebrate Al Roker’s Birthday — Four Months Late! QN”

In the world of morning television, where smiles are as bright as the studio lights, Hoda Kotb and Al Roker share a bond that’s as heartwarming as it is entertaining.

This week, as the beloved TODAY weatherman celebrated his birthday on August 20, Hoda took to Instagram to wish him well — but not without spilling the tea on a side-splitting mix-up that left Al puzzled, her daughters giggling, and fans swooning over their unbreakable friendship.

The story? A birthday bash for Al that was four months late, complete with a homemade cake, party hats, and a FaceTime call that had the veteran broadcaster scratching his head. Buckle up, because this tale is pure tabloid gold!

Picture this: December 2020, the holiday season in full swing, and Hoda Kotb, the ever-effervescent TODAY co-anchor, is in full mom mode with her adorable daughters, Haley, 8, and Hope, 6.

Determined to spread some cheer, Hoda and her girls decided to whip up a surprise for their favorite TV uncle, Al Roker. “We’re making a chocolate cake for Al because we love him!” little Haley declared in a video Hoda shared at the time, her eyes sparkling with excitement.

With flour-dusted aprons and party hats perched on their heads, the trio got to work, pouring their hearts into a sweet treat for the man who’s been a fixture in their lives.

The plan? Surprise Al with a virtual birthday party via FaceTime, complete with a rousing rendition of “Happy Birthday.” What could go wrong?

Well, everything — in the most hilarious way possible! As Hoda later confessed on Instagram, the whole shebang was based on a colossal misunderstanding.

“I thought an internal TODAY newsletter said it was Al’s birthday,” she admitted, chuckling over the memory.

But here’s the kicker: Al’s actual birthday is August 20, not December! The newsletter was actually celebrating the special day of Al’s assistant, leaving Hoda and her girls blissfully unaware that they were throwing a party four months late.

When they dialed Al up on FaceTime, proudly displaying their cake and belting out the birthday tune, the look on his face said it all. “He looked puzzled!” Hoda wrote, laughing at the memory. “Later I learned that his birthday is NOT actually in December… it’s in August!”

Al, being the good sport and class act that he is, didn’t miss a beat. “I didn’t want to burst the kids’ bubble,” he recalled on TODAY, his signature grin lighting up the screen. “They had done such a lovely job.” He and his wife, Deborah Roberts, were admittedly baffled, but Al’s heart melted at the sight of Haley and Hope’s earnest efforts.

The homemade cake, the party hats, the sheer joy radiating from the Kotb household — it was too sweet to correct. Instead, Al leaned into the moment, making the girls feel like their gesture was the highlight of his day, birthday or not.

“Al, you are loved, baby,” Hoda told him on air, her voice brimming with affection.

The blunder became instant TODAY show lore, with co-anchor Savannah Guthrie chiming in with her trademark wit: “It’s the thought that counts!” The studio erupted in laughter as Hoda recounted the story, admitting she’d been “laughing all weekend” over Al’s bewildered reaction.

Fans on social media ate it up, flooding Hoda’s Instagram post with heart emojis and comments praising the wholesome friendship between the two TV icons. One follower gushed, “This is why we love Hoda and Al — they’re family!” Another wrote, “Those girls are lucky to have Uncle Al in their corner!”

Hoda’s Instagram tribute this year was a love letter to that unforgettable moment. Alongside her heartfelt caption, she shared a carousel of photos that captured the magic of their bond.

The first snap showed Hoda, Haley, and Hope in their party hats, beaming as they FaceTimed Al, whose face was projected on their TV.

The second was a group shot featuring Hoda, Al, Hoda’s mom Sameha Kotb, and Al’s wife Deborah, all smiling like the extended family they are.

The third? A heart-melting image of Al wrapping Haley and Hope in a big bear hug, their faces glowing with adoration for their favorite uncle.

For Hoda’s daughters, Al isn’t just a TV star — he’s family. “They’ve always called him their favorite uncle,” a source close to Hoda tells us, revealing how the weatherman’s warmth and humor have won over the girls’ hearts.

Whether he’s cracking jokes on set or indulging their off-the-cuff celebrations, Al’s ability to make everyone feel special is his superpower. “He’s the kind of guy who makes you feel like you’re the only person in the room,” the source adds. “Haley and Hope adore him, and that birthday mix-up only made them love him more.”

As Al celebrated his actual birthday this week, Hoda made sure to get it right. “Happy birthday — on time this year,” she teased in her post, proving that some friendships are so strong, even a four-month-late cake can’t shake them.

The TODAY gang, known for their tight-knit camaraderie, marked the occasion with their usual flair, with tributes pouring in from colleagues and fans alike.

But it’s the story of that December 2020 blunder that’s stealing the show, reminding us all that in the world of Hoda and Al, love, laughter, and a little bit of chaos make for the best memories.

So here’s to Al Roker, the man who can make a belated birthday cake feel like the greatest gift of all — and to Hoda Kotb, whose heart is as big as her laugh. In the crazy world of morning TV, their friendship is the real headline, and we can’t wait to see what wholesome hijinks they get up to next!