During the Tuesday, Dec. 3 episode of Today with Hoda & Jenna, Bush Hager admitted that she was coping with her frustrations by teasing Kotb about journalist Gayle King, who is the NBC morning show’s competitor on CBS Mornings. Calling King, 69, her "bestie," Bush Hager, 43, addressed Oprah Winfrey 's longtime pal, saying, "There's a seat open."

I think you know when you’re pretending, no matter what it is — and you start losing like who you are,” Kotb said.