Jenna Bush Hager reveals what she really thinks about Hoda Kotb leaving today

On November 25, 2024By Littum

Jenna Bush Hager is preparing for a huge shakeup of her NBC show in the new year when her co-host Hoda Kotb leaves her role to focus on family.

The announcement was made in September, then Today the family tearfully supported Hoda as she revealed she wanted to spend more time with her daughters, Haley and Hope, and loved ones.

Jenna would always miss her partner in crime, but as a mother of three herself, fans assumed she could relate.

Recommended videoYou also likeWATCH: Hoda Kotb makes big blunder on Today during interview with Cher

But in Thursday’s episode of Today with Hoda and Jenna – which she will now host herself – Jenna confessed her true feelings about Hoda’s decision.

During an emotional interaction with their guest, DJ Khaled, Hoda’s impending departure became a talking point.

Hoda Kotb, Savannah Guthrie and Jenna Bush Hager get emotional over the former's decision to leave the Today Show — Everyone is sad to see Hoda go

The record executive thanked Hoda for bringing so much joy to the morning show over the years.

He gushed over her upbeat personality and embraced her before saying: “You put beautiful energy out there. We don’t want you to go. But we understand.”

To which Jenna giggled, “Do you get it? Because I don’t get it.”

Still from the Nov. 14 episode of 4th Hour with Hoda & Jenna, where hosts Hoda Kotb and Jenna Bush Hager announced it would switch to Today with Jenna & Friends following the former's upcoming departure — Jenna announced that their show will switch to Today with Jenna & Friends

Jenna, clearly still struggling with Hoda leaving, hugged her colleague and friend.

This isn’t the first time Jenna has questioned her co-host’s decision to leave the show.

Jenna Bush Hager in the Today Show studios — Jenna says she doesn’t understand why Hoda is leaving

Shortly after the announcement, she talked about it on air. “I’m so proud of her,” she said. “Although I will say that I walk around even here and people say, ‘Congratulations, Hoda!’ And I feel like the girl who just got dumped.

“And people say, ‘You’ve made the best choice, Hoda!’ And I say, ‘Did she make the best choice?’

Hoda Kotb revealed that Savannah Guthrie and her family came to visit her new house — for 30 minutes! — Hoda wants to spend more time with her family

She also joked that she would start showing up at her door like a stalker.

“I’ll be there on your doorstep and we’ll be your friends forever,” she added.

Regardless of the feelings of others during her move, Hoda is excited about her future.

Photo shared by Jenna Bush Hager on Instagram August 2024 with her husband Henry Hager and their daughters Mila and Poppy while on a family summer vacation in Texas — Jenna is also a mother

“I realized it was time for me to turn the page at 60 and try something new,” she said. “I remembered standing outside and looking at these beautiful bunch of people with these beautiful signs, and I thought, ‘This is what the crest of the wave feels like to me.’ And I thought, it can’t get any better, and I decided , that it is the right time for me to move on.”