Girl power has united two very precious little girls: Savannah Guthrie’s daughter Vale and Kelly Clarkson’s tot River Rose.
While celebrating International Day of the Girl at the Today show October 11, Guthrie and Clarkson brought their adorable 4-year-olds out on stage to take part in the festivities, which included performances by Meghan Trainor, Jennifer Hudson and Clarkson herself.
“They are best friends now and cannot be separated!” the Today cohost, 46, gushed to Us after the fete. “They actually cried when they had to say goodbye to each other. It is a long distance relationship since they live in Nashville and we live in New York.”
Though Michelle Obama, Zendaya, Hoda Kotb and Karlie Kloss were also on hand in honor of the special occasion, Vale was most in awe by her new BFF. After all, River is the heroine in her favorite book: Clarkson’s River Rose and the Magical Lullaby. (The singer is also mom to song Remington, 2, and shares stepkids Savannah and Seth with her husband Brandon Blackstock.)
“For her, the biggest star today was River Rose,” said the journalist. “She doesn’t know who Kelly Clarkson is — no idea! It’s all about River Rose.”
And for Guthrie, it’s all about Vale’s smile. “My favorite moment was seeing my daughter out there dancing like nobody’s watching because that’s just who she is,” she told Us. “I love her fearlessness. And that’s what this whole day is about! It’s about girls who have that fire in them. Girls who have potential. Girls who want to dance or sing or be doctors or scientists. Girls getting an education so they can be whoever they want to be.”
It’s a lesson she instills in both Vale and her son Charles, 22 months. “I care so much about their souls and their spirits, way more than I care about book smarts or what school they go to,” added the NBC star, wed to media consultant Michael Feldman. “I hope that my daughter and son are simultaneously bold and gentle and humble. If I can somehow create that magic combination then I know I’ll be truly blessed and I’ll know it’s God’s hand on them because that’s a hard one to pull off.”
The Today show airs weekdays on NBC beginning at 7 a.m. ET.
