Savannah Guthrie says she completely understands why Kelly Rowland left The Today Show as of late.
After the Destiny’s Child member and formerly scheduled Today Show guest host walked off last week due to ‘unfit’ dressing rooms, c0-anchor Savannah Guthrie chimed in in the situation.
“What can I say? Yes, our dressing rooms need a little TLC,” Guthrie, 52, told PEOPLE at the launch party for her new book, Mostly What God Does, at Peoplehood in New York City on Wednesday.
“But I have to say, we have a historic studio that has been around for 70-plus years. It’s a small space and it’s not that easy to renovate. So, you know, I totally get it.”
“I’ve actually gotten to see a lot of green rooms lately and there are some phenomenally beautiful ones,” she continued. “But I hope for what we lack in green room decor we make up for in the warmth and gratitude we have for the guests who come on because it means a lot to us. Let’s call it intimate. We’ll call it intimate. Cozy.”
Hota Kotb and Jenna Bush Hager, who also were there for the big occasion, also let PEOPLE know that the 43-year-old musician has an open invitation to come back in the future.
“I’ve been texting back and forth with Kelly and having a couple of phone calls,” Kotb, 59, said. “So, I mean, I love her. I think she’s one of the gentlest, kindest people that we’ve met.”
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In comparing Rowland to other guest stars, Hoda noted: “She’s one of those people who’s like, she may be one of the nicest celebs we’ve ever had. That’s who Kelly is, by the way. So, whatever the snafu was with the dressing room, we want to delete, delete, delete. And then, we want her to come back.”
Bush Hager, 42, also noted that she wants another visit from Kelly Rowland.
“She’s invited whenever. And our dressing rooms do need work,” she added.
Meanwhile, the entire team is celebrating the book launch, which broke Amazon as it debuted this past Tuesday.
“I can’t believe it! Overwhelmed and amazed. I can’t believe it. And I’m so grateful,” Guthrie said of her book breaking Amazon. “The ‘buy’ button is working again, and that’s good. And I’m just so touched because I really just think it shows that people want to connect and have these conversations about faith. The fact that God loves them. I mean, it’s pretty, pretty simple in the end, and that really touches me.”
Bush Hager stated, “feels great” being able to support Guthrie at Wednesday’s event. “We’ve known that she’s been working on this for a bit now and she’s been nervous about it,” she continued. “She’s taken out all of these personal, amazing stories to inspire others, put them into a book and we’re here just to tell her how proud we are.”
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Adding to that, Kotb said, “Imagine putting your heart in a book and handing it out, and you’re like ‘This is me!’ I think it’s beautiful, inspiring, funny, poignant. It’s got all the things. You’ll laugh, you’ll cry. So, we’re really proud of her.”
Rita Ora stepped in last minute to take the spot Kelly Rowland had on the show.
“Kelly walked out because she and her team didn’t like her dressing room,” a source told PEOPLE. “Rita Ora agreed to fill in at the last minute. Many people at the show, inside and outside of the show, were impressed with how great she was.”
Rowland’s visit was part of her press tour in promotion of her new Netflix film, Mea Culpa.
