need to know
- Jenna Bush Hager celebrates her 44th birthday with a surprise visit from former co-host Hoda Kotb Today with Jenna and friends
- Kotb brought Bush Hager’s favorite snack, chips and queso, and stopped by for a brief interview segment
- Kotb is gone Today in January to spend more time with her daughters, but has since made several guest appearances on the show
Jenna Bush Hager had a sweet reunion on Tuesday, November 25, which also happened to be her 44th birthday.
The TV personality got a greeting from her former co-host Hoda Kotb on her show, both virtually and in person Today with Jenna and friends,
This week’s celebrity co-host is Andy Cohen, who first shared Kotb’s birthday video message for Bush Hager, 61.
“JBH, good morning! It’s 5 in the morning, just getting ready to start the day and guess what was on my calendar? It’s your birthday!” Kotb says in the morning clip. “Happy birthday, my girl. I’m sure they’ll have a big, beautiful celebration for you. I love you. I wish I was with you, but know I’m with you in spirit.”
Today with Jenna and Friends/Youtube (2)
However, the video was completely a ruse as Kotb was actually waiting backstage to surprise Bush Hager. She walked onto the studio stage holding the Texas native’s favorite snack — a plate of chips and queso.
“Is that why you asked me if I was talking to Hoda?” Bush Hager asked Cohen as she jumped up to hug her longtime friend and former colleague.
“A little bit,” the Bravo host revealed.
Today with Jenna and Friends/Youtube
Bush Hager appeared stunned by the surprise, holding Kotb tightly and declaring, “I can’t believe you’re here. I can’t believe you came.”
After the surprise Kotb stuck around for a brief interview segment, sharing some details about his upcoming gig co-hosting the Macy’s Thanksgiving Day Parade for NBC with Savannah Guthrie and Al Roker. He also told about his Joy 101 Wellness App.
“What you’re doing is amazing, but we miss you!” Bush Hager said.
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Kotb stepped down from his role Today show further Today with Hoda and Jenna In January. The longtime journalist decided to leave the morning show to spend more time with her daughters Haley Joy, 8, and Hope Katherine, 6.
but kotb is back Today Show several times since his exit. Recently, he interviewed Jay Leno for the show, in which he discussed his life as a caregiver for his wife Mavis, who suffers from dementia.
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