Hoda Kotb Cries On ‘Today’ As Jennifer Garner’s Mom Pays Tribute To Her Late Husband

When Jennifer Garner and her mother came to the NBC studios, things got emotional.

This week, the Golden Globe award-winning actress, along with her mother Pat, stopped by Today to chat with hosts Hoda Kotb and Savannah Guthrie about their “Pretend Cooking Show” series, where the Garner girlies dish cooking tips and recipes to her massive online following. 

Though Jen has been on the show countless times, Monday marked Pat’s Today show debut, an understandably exciting moment for the 86-year-old mother of three.

Though it was a mostly light-hearted interview in which they chatted about all things family and memories, towards the end of the interview Kotb brought up the recent passing of the Garner family patriarch, William, who died in March. 

“I think another thing we admire about you is that your husband passed a little bit ago, and I can only imagine how hard it was to get out of bed, to just start another day,” Kotb said. “But one day, you just decided, ‘Today is the day.'”

Pat replied, “Well, I pretty much decided anyway before that I would be alright. I was so worried about being a widow, and then, one day, I had an epiphany: You will be alright, Pat.”

Jennifer agreed, commenting that her mother really did make a conscious decision to prepare herself. Pat then went on: “Now, I miss him, and I so wanted to tell him that I was going to be on the Today show.” 

Pat’s emotional tribute to her husband of fifty-nine years brought Kotb to tears, which she could be seen wiping away when Jennifer told her mother, “He loved how much people love you. He would be right there smiling,” before expressing her appreciation for both of her parents. “How lucky to grow up with parents like mine! I’ve always been aware of it.”

Back in April, Garner took to Instagram to publicly share the news that William had passed away peacefully over Easter weekend.

“While there is no tragedy in the death of an 85 year old man who lived a healthy, wonderful life, I know grief is unavoidable, waiting around unexpected corners,” she wrote.

She singled out her father’s many loving qualities in her tribute, calling him an “all in, ever patient girl dad” with a “mischievous smile,” “gentle demeanor” and “quiet strength.” She shared her gratitude for his “work ethic, leadership and faith” and thanked the medical communities who cared for her father in his last days. 

Later, Pat and the Daredevil star wrapped up their wholesome guest spot on the Today show by showing all of America how to make their favorite recipe: a blackberry cobbler.

Today airs weekday mornings on NBC.