Celebrities Congratulate Hoda Kotb for 'Historic and Deserved' Today Co-Anchor Gig

Hoda Kotb is officially Today’s new co-anchor, and her celebrity friends and fans couldn’t be more thrilled.

On Tuesday, NBC announced that the 53-year-old veteran journalist — who has been filling in for ousted anchor Matt Lauer after he was fired for alleged inappropriate sexual behavior in November — is taking the seat alongside Savannah Guthrie permanently.

The move was met with cheer from stars like Chelsea Clinton, Andy Cohen and Mindy Kaling, who shared their support on Twitter. “Congratulations @hodakotb!” Clinton and Cohen wrote, with Kaling echoing the statement and adding, “Looking forward to you lighting up my morning in a brand new way.”

Kotb’s immediate and extended Today family — both past and present — also spread love for their co-worker. Kathie Lee Gifford, Tom Brokaw, Meredith Viera, Carson Daly, Jenna Bush Hager, Al Roker, Lester Holt, Dylan Dreyer, Megyn Kelly, Craig Melvin, Natalie Morales, Nicole Wallace, Jacob Soboroff, and Andrea Mitchell all sent messages.

“Congratulations to my friend @HodaKotb on the announcement of her taking over that prime seat next to @SavannahGuthrie in the mornings! The best team!!” Gifford wrote, adding later. “Nobody does it better!!”

“Historic and so deserved,” said Brokaw, 77. “One more step in what I believe will the hallmark of the 21 century: women having full parity.”

Meanwhile, Kotb — who will continue hosting the show’s 10 o’clock hour alongside Gifford — and Guthrie, 46, sat down with PEOPLE in an exclusive interview for this week’s issue (on stands Friday) and gushed about their friendship.

“When you click with someone, man, woman, it doesn’t matter. If it works, it works,” Kotb said of their synergy. “We’re sort of like sisters, and everybody wants a sister.”

Added Guthrie: “There’s so much of this that was unexpected. But what’s really cool about this is just getting to get up everyday and do the things you love to do with your really good friend who you trust and love and enjoy. Our biggest problem is that we actually talk about other things all throughout the show. Sometimes we’re like, ‘Okay, pay attention. Do your jobs ladies!’ ”

• For more on Hoda and Savannah, pick up this week’s issue of PEOPLE, on stands Friday

They also revealed how they leaned on one another in the wake of Lauer’s dismissal, which they broke on air.

“That morning was so hard, but Hoda and I were in it together,” Guthrie said. “We are family, and families do go through hard times, and when that happens in good families, you just get closer.”

“We were just trying to make it through those days together,” Kotb said. “Sometimes when you go through something with someone, you see something special. I think that’s what happened.”