Fans have been rooting for a Hoda Kotb and Kevin Costner romance ever

since the newly single Yellowstone star made an appearance on the Today show last month.

During an appearance on Watch What Happens Live, the Today show host was asked if she had ‘connected’

with the handsome star since their interview – prompting her to playfully reveal she was open to the prospect of dating the actor.

The exchange all started after a fan called in to ask Hoda how she felt about viewers ‘shipping’ her and Kevin, 69, and if she had spoken with the actor since his appearance on her show.

‘The viewers want the two of you to be together,’ host Andy Cohen elaborated.

‘Wait, what!?’ Hoda replied.

‘I have never, ever heard that,’ Hoda insisted. ‘Not one time.’

‘Well you’ve heard it now, are we doing it?’ Savannah Guthrie, who was also appearing as a guest, replied, prompting Hoda to reply with her playful response.

‘Well if the viewers want it!’ Hoda said before she re-iterated, ‘I’ve never heard that.’

Hoda followed up on her response during Thursday’s episode of Hoda & Jenna after her co-host Jenna Bush Hager revealed she had been asked about the possible romance.

‘People were coming up to me on the streets. I’m telling you, people were like, “You should set up Hoda and Kevin Costner.” And I was like wow, I didn’t realize they were flirting behind my back,’ Jenna said.

‘There’s no flirting!’ Hoda insisted before a montage of their seemingly flirtatious moments appeared on screen, set to romantic jazz music.

‘You all are ridiculous! The slow-moing and the music really helps,’ Hoda said.

‘But you know he’s not dating anybody,’ Jenna said.

Hoda was skeptical, reminding her co-star that the actor has been linked to singer Jewel. ‘They said that he was dating Jewel,’ Hoda said.

But Jenna insisted the actor is single – ‘No, no, I know “they” said that, but then he was asked in an interview,’ Jenna said.

‘And he said he was “just friends,”‘ a skeptical Hoda chimed in. ‘Is that what you think?’

But Jenna was undeterred: ‘No, no. That’s what he said.’

Kevin was indeed linked to singer Jewel following the end of his marriage to Christine Baumgartner, but the actor has since shut down the rumors and insisted they are just friends.

After Kevin appeared on Hoda & Jenna last month to promote his new film Horizon, fans starting rooting for the actor to get with Hoda.

The Hoda & Jenna Instagram account posted video of the actor showing the hosts a photo of his dog, but all several fans could talk about was a potential relationship between Kevin and Hoda.

‘Kevin and Hoda should date! They look cute together,’ one posted.

‘Hoda single and Kevin single….’ another wrote.

‘Hoda!! Kevin Costner is single. I see a little chemistry there,’ another posted.

As far as Hoda’s love life, she was previously engaged to Joel Schiffman but they called it quits in 2022. During their relationship, they adopted daughters Hope Catherine, four, and Haley Joy, seven.

She was also previously married to Burzis Kanga from 2005 to 2008.

Recently, Hoda revealed she is currently ‘in the process’ of being set up with a new man because she prefers not to use dating apps.

During an appearance on Busy Philipps’ talk show Busy This Week, the mother-of-two got very candid about her personal life and said she often asks herself: ‘What do I have room for?’ when it comes to meeting new men.

When Busy, 45, asked the TV star if she goes online to look for romantic connections, Hoda replied: ‘No I don’t do an app. I have met a couple of people through…’ as Busy suggested: ‘Friends?’ and Hoda confirmed: ‘Yeah.’

When Busy commented: ‘Set ups are the best,’ Hoda agreed before divulging: ‘One person I happened to meet on the show and she said, “I have this guy, he’s really sweet, he might be the right one for you. Would you like me to make an introduction?” And she did, that’s in process right now.’

The NBC presenter then revealed: ‘Also, you know what question I ask myself? This is weird, but I thought about it… it’s like “what do I actually have room for right now in this moment?”

‘Sometimes I’m like, “I want a relationship, wouldn’t it be great”, and then I think, “okay let me pause for a second, what do I have room for? Do I have room for Friday night? Maybe that’s what I have room for in this moment. Maybe it’s lunch during the week and once a week”… and that’s an okay thing.

‘But I think sometimes we think, “I want, I need..” and then I’m like, “slow down man, what’s the gap? What do I want?” and I want someone who’s in the addition business and not in the subtraction… sometimes you meet someone and you’re like, “how can you help me?”‘ Hoda added.

Moving her arms forward, she then said: ‘A relationship should not all be going this way, but sometimes… I mean I’m a fixer, someone who wants to help.’