Today's hosts have come forward to disclose the regulations they adhere to while on-air. This revelation offers a unique insight into their professional lives and the adjustments they've had to make.

Uncover the On-Air Rules of Today's Hosts

The Early Years and Network Bans

On the December 2 episode of Today with Hoda & Jenna, Hoda Kotb and Jenna Bush Hager shared their experiences upon joining NBC. Bush Hager, who began as a correspondent in 2009, recounted how the network once banned her from using a particular phrase. "They were like, 'Hey, y’all,’ isn’t for the whole country,'" she alleged. "And I was like, 'Well, but it’s who I am.' It's a strange situation that often occurs in life. When you have to change who you are among friends or in a professional setting, it can feel wrong deep down." She continued, "When they said, 'You can’t say y’all,’ in my gut, I was like, 'But why? We have to pretend to be news people?' Because whenever you try to pretend to be someone else, it feels crazy, as we all saw from our Titanic Halloween skit where I'm not a great actor."This rule seemingly extended beyond words to their appearances as well. Kotb claimed, "If you don’t fit, they want you to wear something a certain way, cut your hair a certain way, speak a certain way," referring to being on-air broadcasters. They later let go of the pressure to conform, realizing it was making them lose their true selves. It took Kotb, who has been with NBC since 1998 as a Dateline correspondent, longer than it did Bush Hager to do so.

Final Months on the Show and Emotional Goodbyes

December marks Kotb's final full month on Today after she announced her exit in September. She has been a co-host for 17 years and shared the news in a letter to NBC and later on-air surrounded by her colleagues. "I had my kiddos later in life and I was thinking that they deserve a bigger piece of my time pie that I have," she explained. "I feel like we only have a finite amount of time. And so, with all that being said, this is the hardest thing in the world." She continued through tears, "I’m gonna be here through the first of the year — past the first of the year — and I’m gonna stay in the NBC family, but it’s kind of a big deal for me." Bush Hager then lightened the mood by saying, "It’s not over. I’m gonna be showing up at your house, like the stalker you are to Zac Brown. I’m gonna be there on your doorstep. And we are your friends forever."Never miss a story — sign up for PEOPLE’s free daily newsletter to stay up-to-date on the best of what PEOPLE has to offer, from celebrity news to compelling human interest stories.