Jenna Bush Hager has officially kicked off her solo hosting role on the Jenna and Friends show after Hoda Kotb’s departure on January 10. During her first appearance on the morning segment, Bush Hager shared that she believes she’s entering her “dating era.”
Feeling a mix of excitement and nerves, she revealed on air that her heart was full, though she was a bit anxious about stepping into the new role. Before the show started, she gave herself a pep talk in front of the mirror, saying, “Okay, JBH, it’s a new show. It’s a new era. You got this! My mind is clear, and my heart is full. I haven’t been this nervous since that Texas product of Les Mis.”
Her nerves were calmed when Taraji P. Henson knocked on her dressing room door and reassured her with, “Relax, you got this! I got you!”
Once on set, Henson and Bush Hager began the broadcast, with Henson expressing how happy she was to be there, adding, “Humans need humans, and we step up and bring the world joy. We can’t all go dark.”
Bush Hager, feeling a bit more at ease, jokingly shared, “I haven’t dated, and this is kind of my dating era, and you’re my first date.”
As for Hoda Kotb, she made her emotional exit from the Today Show on January 10 after 17 years. She had announced her departure in September, explaining that she needed to focus more on her family and children. Her exit has been a heartfelt moment for both the Today cast and crew, who have shared a close bond with Kotb over the years.
