Jenna Bush Hager recently confessed to accidentally losing a Christmas gift from departing Today show co-host Hoda Kotb, sparking laughter on the set. The humorous incident unfolded during a segment of “We Listen and We Don’t Judge” on January 7th.
“You gave me a beautiful Christmas present this year, and I think it somehow got thrown out,” Bush Hager admitted. “I can’t find it anywhere. I’ve been searching and searching and searching.” Kotb, seemingly amused by the situation, responded by playfully claiming ownership of a pink blazer she had borrowed from Bush Hager. “I borrowed your pink blazer a long time ago, and now I own it. It’s mine,” Kotb quipped.
This lighthearted exchange comes just days before Kotb’s final appearance on the Today show on January 10th, following her September announcement of departure after 25 years with NBC. Kotb has revealed her plans to launch a wellness app and company this spring, encompassing retreats, a podcast, and transformative experiences.
:max_bytes(150000):strip_icc():focal(750×303:752×305)/new-years-eve-specials-hoda-kotb-jenna-bush-toast-to-2024-121824-ebcd30258db949cbbea1ef821f158185.jpg)
Hoda Kotb and Jenna Bush Hager share a moment on the ‘Today’ show.
Kotb’s final week on the show has been celebrated as a “Hoda-bration,” featuring a reunion with 70 of her Tri Delta sorority sisters from Virginia Tech and a special painting gifted by author Charlie Mackesy, orchestrated by Bush Hager.
In anticipation of Kotb’s absence, Bush Hager announced a series of celebrity guest co-hosts, including Taraji P. Henson, Eva Longoria, and Keke Palmer, for what she dubbed “our month of wonder women.” She emphasized that while “nobody will ever fill this chair,” these prominent figures will bring their unique talents to the show. Additionally, Scarlett Johansson will join Bush Hager as a guest co-host starting January 21st.
Bush Hager expressed her excitement about Johansson’s upcoming appearance, citing their shared love of reading and Johansson’s iconic film career. “Scarlett Johansson is the queen! …She’s also a big reader, which will be so much fun. We have so much in common.” Bush Hager shared. She highlighted Johansson’s participation as “a testament to the show that we have built.”
Bush Hager added, “It’s just a wild dream… We’ve never seen Scarlett Johansson host a daytime show before!”
Kotb’s final episode marks the end of an era on the Today show, but the lineup of guest co-hosts promises a dynamic and engaging start to the new year.
