Jenna Bush Hager is dipping her toes back in the pond for her next onscreen partnership.
After all, as Hoda Kotb steps down from her anchor duties on Today, she will also step away from the fourth hour program, Today with Hoda & Jenna. And while Craig Melvin will take over for Hoda in the first hour of Today alongside Savannah Guthrie, following Hoda’s retirement from the morning show in January, the latter program will be renamed Today with Jenna & Friends.
“Here’s the thing, Hoda, you know this, I’m a serial monogamist, I met Henry Hager 20 years ago and that was it,” Jenna told Hoda on Nov. 14. “I haven’t dated in 20 years, I met Hoda, I fell so madly in love with you quickly, and we’ve had these years together which have been some of the best in my entire life.”
Likening the show’s upcoming format to dating, where she will have a rotation of guest host fill the seat next to her, the 42-year-old admitted that she’s ready to put herself out there, despite how sad she will be with Hoda’s absence.
“But here’s the thing it’s time for me to get out there guys,” Jenna quipped. “Roster dating, that’s what I’m going to be doing. I’m single, not at home, but in this work life. I am single and I am ready to mingle.”
Jenna, who joined the show in 2019 after Kathie Lee Gifford’s retirement, revealed that the heart and spirit of her and Hoda’s show will remain after the journalist departs on Jan. 10.
“This show is going to be all about friendship,” she said. “We have so many amazing guests and friends and family that are part of the DNA of this show, and they are going to be coming along for the ride.”
For her part, Hoda—who announced her retirement in September—is excited to see who will join her longtime fourth hour partner.
“Whoever gets the privilege of sitting here over the course of the next however long this phase goes on will be very lucky and privileged to sit next to you,” the 60-year-old said. “You have a way of attracting people into your world. This person in this chair, because it’s going to be some many people, they’re all gonna seem like they fit because of you.”
In October, not long after sharing her plans to step away from Today, Hoda revealed who she would like to see sit in the chair next to her longtime friend following her departure.
“The person who I want is someone who has beautiful chemistry with Jenna,” she told E! News. “That’s all I want. Because it’s never about either anchor, it’s about what’s between. So bring the chemistry.”
She continued, “I don’t care if it’s her best friend, I don’t care if it’s someone she’s worked with, if it’s some celeb. When she gets in sync, that’s it. If she has chemistry, it will be beautiful.”
(E! and NBC News are part of the NBCUniversal family).
