The Wisdom of Home: How Jenna Bush Hager’s Parents Guided Her Through Hoda Kotb’s Exit

The news landed like a bombshell in Studio 1A: Hoda Kotb, the beloved co-host and best friend of Jenna Bush Hager, was stepping down from the TODAY show’s fourth hour. Kotb’s departure, announced in September of 2024 and finalized in January of 2025, left the entire NBC family in shock, but none more so than Jenna, who had shared the desk with her for six years.¹ The immediate realization that she would be hosting a rebranded show, Today with Jenna & Friends, with a revolving door of co-hosts, was an overwhelming prospect.²

For a woman who grew up in the public eye, whose life has been a carefully managed balance of high-profile career and deeply cherished privacy, the emotional weight of this sudden professional shift was immense. In the immediate aftermath, Jenna did what many people do when facing a crisis of confidence: she picked up the phone and called her parents, former President George W. Bush and former First Lady Laura Bush.³

Jenna later recalled the moment she was speaking to her mother, crying and admitting her fears about navigating the new dynamic of the show alone. The comfort and wisdom offered by a parent, even a former First Lady, often transcends political or professional stature. Laura Bush’s advice was simple, yet profound. She told her daughter, “Listen, your job is to make people feel like they’re having a conversation with a friend.”

This was the gentle, grounding reminder that Jenna needed. Her strength has always been her authenticity and her capacity for genuine connection. By shifting her focus from the structure of the show—the empty chair beside her—to the core of what she does best, her mother instantly calmed her anxieties. The mission was not to replace Hoda, which was impossible, but to lean into her own natural ability to forge a warm, intimate atmosphere with the audience.

The advice from her father, George W. Bush, was equally simple and powerful. When he spoke to her, she was still feeling the acute pain of the loss, both personally and professionally. His message cut through the tears and self-doubt with the clarity of a leader who understands the pressure of high-stakes environments: “Your career is a marathon, not a sprint.”

This sentiment, often echoed in motivational speeches but rarely delivered in such a personal, poignant context, served as an immediate dose of perspective. For someone facing the biggest professional change of her adult life, the former President’s words reminded her that one transition—even a painful one—does not define the entire journey. It was a prompt to trust the process, embrace the uncertainty, and view this new chapter not as a stumble, but as another leg of a long, fulfilling race.

The transition to Today with Jenna & Friends has proven to be a testament to the wisdom of her parents’ counsel. While she openly admits that the adjustment was “a shock and… a disappointment at the time,” the new format has forced her to grow and showcase her adaptability.⁴ She has hosted alongside a star-studded rotation of “Friends,” including Taraji P. Henson, Eva Longoria, and Keke Palmer, demonstrating a lively versatility and an ability to create chemistry with anyone.⁵

Jenna Bush Hager’s journey after Hoda Kotb’s heartfelt departure is a powerful reminder that even the most accomplished people turn to the most trusted voices in their lives—their family—when facing difficult new beginnings. The daughter of a President and First Lady was ultimately guided not by complex strategy, but by the timeless, simple wisdom of a mother telling her to be a good friend, and a father reminding her to play the long game.