The excitement at Rockefeller Plaza on August 12 was palpable as the TODAY Show threw a 60th birthday celebration for host Hoda Kotb. Special guests, friends, and live performances filled the air, with two of Kotb’s favorite bands—Sugarland and Little Big Town—taking center stage.
Both country music groups were marking milestones of their own. Little Big Town celebrated their 25th anniversary with the release of their Greatest Hits album on August 9, while Sugarland dropped their first new EP in six years, There Goes the Neighborhood, on the same day.
Adding to the excitement for fans, the two bands announced a joint tour starting in October. Their collaboration at the event reached new heights as they performed a cover of Phil Collins’ classic “Take Me Home,” showcasing undeniable chemistry between the two groups.
Sugarland, made up of Kristian Bush, 54, and Jennifer Nettles, 49, has enjoyed a long-standing friendship with Little Big Town. In a touching moment, Jimi Westbrook from Little Big Town shared that early in their career, Sugarland gifted them guitar packs, enabling them to move freely on stage—solidifying their bond.
“This is why people love country music: It’s the community, it’s the sense of family,” remarked TODAY co-host Craig Melvin, perfectly summing up the atmosphere of the celebration.
