Jenna Bush Hager and her co-host on “Today with Hoda & Jenna,” Hoda Kotb, have revealed some of the rules they have had to follow as on-air personalities. They made the revelation on the show’s December 2 episode, highlighting the metamorphosis they had to go through when they joined NBC.
Jenna Bush Hager, a correspondent since 2009, claimed there was one phrase the network said she was prohibited from using at the time. Their reason? It “isn’t for the whole country,’” she alleged. This did not sit right with her at the time, especially because she claimed it was like asking her to be somebody else.
“It’s so weird, and this happens in life, too,” she said. “If you have friends and then, all of a sudden, you’re acting not who you are, and you’re like, ‘Wait,’ something in your gut feels wrong.”
What Phrase Was Jenna Bush Hager Banned From Using?
According to Jenna Bush Hager, the higher-ups told her not to use the phrase “y’all” to address the viewers. The rule sounded ridiculous to her. “I was like, ‘But why? We have to pretend to be news people?’” Bush Hager claimed.
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“Because whenever you pretend to be a news person, I felt like I was acting. And we all know from [our Titanic Halloween skit] I’m not a great actor. When you try to pretend you’re somebody else, it feels crazy,” she added.
The rules that helped them seem more like they worked in the news allegedly also covered their looks. Kotb claimed it felt like they were being told, “Welcome in, but you have to change.” “If you don’t fit, they want you to wear something a certain way, cut your hair a certain way, speak a certain way,” she said, referring to being an on-air broadcaster.
How Jenna Bush Hager and Hoda Kotb Responded to the Rules
Kotb explained that she and Jenna Bush Hager ultimately had to let go of the pressure to maintain that front, as it can make someone feel like they are “losing who you are.” However, she also admitted that gathering the courage to do that took a long time. “It took me longer than, I think, it took you,” Kotb said to Bush Hager.
The Revelation Comes As Hoda Kotb Prepares To Say Goodbye to the Today Show
This month is Hoda Kotb’s last full month on Today as she announced her exit from the morning talk show in September. Kotb, who has been a co-host for 17 years, shared the news in a letter to NBC and later on air surrounded by her colleagues Al Roker, Craig Melvin, Savannah Guthrie, Bush Hager, and Sheinelle Jones.
Speaking about her reason for stepping down as co-host, she references her kids. “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 shared. “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.”
“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,” she continued tearfully.
Bush Hager lightened up the mood when she said, “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.”
How Rich Is Jenna Bush Hager?
Reports claim Jenna Bush Hager and her husband, Henry Hager, have a combined net worth of $14 million. Most of her fortune comes from her take-home pay at NBC, book profits, and other media engagements. She and her husband also invest in real estate, which has contributed significantly to their portfolio.
How Much Does Jenna Bush Get Paid on the Today Show?
Jenna Bush Hager’s exact take-home salary as a co-host on the Today show has not been publicly disclosed. However, we know it must be substantial since it contributed immensely to her overall wealth.
How Did Jenna Bush Hager Meet Her Husband?
Jenna Bush Hager was reportedly introduced to her husband, Henry Hager, by mutual friends during her father’s 2004 re-election campaign.
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Their first meeting was at a football game viewing party at the TV host’s house, where a mutual friend invited Henry. Their shared political background contributed to them ending up together. In fact, when they met, Henry was working for Jenna’s father, President George W. Bush.
How Old Is Jenna Bush Hager?
The Today Show co-host Jenna Bush Hager is currently 43 years old. She was born on November 25, 1981, to former U.S. President George W. Bush and former First Lady Laura Bush.
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