Former Today show host Koda Kotb may have left her TV audience behind months ago, but she can still command a crowd. Just ask the 1,100 attendees of the 2025 Chick Lit Luncheon benefiting Community Partners of Dallas.

Presented by Dr. Robert and Lara Tafel on Friday, March 28 at the Hilton Anatole, the beloved spring luncheon featured a conversation with NBC5’s Laura Harris and Kotb, an award-winning anchor and journalist, New York Times best-selling author, podcast host and adoptive mother.

Following a champagne reception, Waldorf salad lunch, and award presentations, Kotb and Harris sat down in the Chick Lit "living room" on stage for a thoughtful, fun-filled chat. On the heels of Kotb's well-publicized decision to step away from co-hosting Today in January, they covered topics from Kotb’s new post-retirement "minivan life" and how she now has time to take her kids to school, to how she knew it was time to retire.

Kotb also delighted the audience with thoughts on her journey to adopting her two daughters, Haley Joy and Hope Catherine. And, given the luncheon's focus on authors, books and storytelling, they discussed lessons she has learned from some of the stories she has told as a journalist, like the Peabody Award-winning “The Education of Ms. Groves,” featured on NBC’s Dateline.

Hoda Kotb FaceTimes former co-host Jenna Bush Hager during a chat with NBC5's Laura Harris. Photo by Tamytha Cameron, Celeste Cass, Thomas Garza, Nate Rehlander

In a charming high point of the chat, Kotb FaceTime'd her former co-host (and Dallas native) Jenna Bush Hager from the stage and showed the screen for the room to see and hear. Kotb later posted about it on Instagram, and Hager commented, "I love you so much!" (She also tried to FaceTime country singer-songwriter Walker Hayes, with whom she co-wrote the song "Wednesdays.")

In the final moments, Harris shot Kotb a lightning round of questions:

• What are you currently reading? “Maria Shriver’s book ‘I am Maria’ – it’s so good y’all!”
• Favorite celebrity you’ve had on your podcast Making Space – “Probably Viola Davis.”
• Where is your happy place? “Lately in my bed with my kids.”
• What’s your favorite trash TV? “It’s not trash – but Kate Hudson’s new series Running Point- we need more stuff like that.”
• Who would you pick as Jenna’s new co-host? “Oh… you’re going to get me in trouble, but Scarlett Johansen!”
• If you were to get stuck in an elevator with someone, who would you want? “You know who it would be? Kelly Clarkson! She would sing to me!”
• What’s the best compliment you have ever received? “I met your mom and I love her.”
• What’s a belief that shaped who you are today? “You have to be, like I am, spirit-led.”

As part of the event's awards presentation, a video highlighted the transformational support this year’s Paige McDaniel Partners for Children Award recipient, Toyota Motor North America, gave to CPD and the Dallas nonprofit community. President and CEO Joanna Clarke presented the award to Toyota representatives Denita Neville and JW Washington, who accepted on their company’s behalf.

Toyota Motor North America's Denita Neville and JW Washington accept the Paige McDaniel Partner for Children Award from CPD president and CEO Joanna Clarke (center). Photo by Tamytha Cameron, Celeste Cass, Thomas Garza, Nate Rehlander

From stage, Chick Lit co-chairs Alison Malone and Kelley Schadt, as well as CPD vice president of development and communications Samantha Eppler, underscored the mission of Community Partners of Dallas to serve thousands of abused and neglected children annually across greater Dallas.

Among the 1,100 patrons and supporters of the event were: Chick Lit Luncheon honorary chair Kameron Westcott, Sarah Novakov, Madelaine Lam, Elisabeth Landry, Sharon Lee, Beth Thoele, Kim Quinn, Mary Martha Pickens, Catherine Jaynes, Anne Besser, Christie Carter, Carolyn Murray, Carrie Hill, Courtney Johnson, Deri Hartman, Caycie Briner, Kristie Raymond, Alexandra Lovitt, Karen Foster, Ashley Coursey, Cathy Sewell, Katie Schutz, Maggie Foreman, Emily Harris, Angela Cianciolo, Erin Phillips, Kyle Yohe, Brittany Miller, Lindsey Dyer, Lauren Thompson, Stephanie Hannagan, Allyson Blow, Lisa Ogle, Cathy James, Terra Najork Peterson, Dawn Greiner, Breah Brown, Machelle Davenport, Margo Coughlin, Ginger Martin, Heather Baker, Madeline Giamello, Kate Phillips, Jourdan McClish, Megan Pharis, Brooke Bailey, Elizabeth Dacus, Michael White, Kimberly Casey, Lynn McBee, Jeff Netzer, Morgan Kennedy, Tiffany Lawson, Amy Martinez, Katie Robbins, Tanya Rice, and Mary McGreevy.