Jenna Bush Hager, the news personality and daughter for former President George W. Bush, will join Hoda Kotb as co-host of the “Today” show’s fourth hour.
Hager is replacing Kathie Lee Gifford, who announced she would step away from the popular NBC morning show several months ago. Hager will join the show later in the year.
She also spoke about what her father told her.
“My dad just wrote me three words, which made me weep. He said, ‘Very proud dad,’” Jenna said, adding: “Which I’m like, what is there to be proud about? I’m just drinking wine in the morning!”
She then told Gifford: “You have been such a role model and so generous with your time. ... You are beloved here in so many ways and if I can use some of your grace and have a half of what you’ve done, my life will be a very happy one.”
Notable Personalities Leave ‘Today’
In December, Gifford issued a statement on why she is leaving the program.![Former Today executive producer Don Nash and former Today anchor Matt Lauer. (Rommel Demano/Getty Images) (Jason Kempin/Getty Images for The Rolling Stones)](/_next/image?url=https%3A%2F%2Fimg.theepochtimes.com%2Fassets%2Fuploads%2F2018%2F01%2F18%2FNash-Lauer-600x338.jpg&w=1200&q=75)
She added: “I stayed year after year making a million memories with people I will never forget. I leave ‘Today’ with a grateful heart but I’m truly excited for this new creative season in my life. Many thanks to all the wonderful people who made the years fly by.”
Her departure came about a year after longtime host Matt Lauer stepped down due to allegations of sexual misconduct.
Also, Megyn Kelly departed the program after a Halloween episode of “Today” when she questioned dressing up in blackface, which prompted a significant social media campaign for her ouster amid cries of alleged racism.
![Megyn Kelly speaks onstage at the Fortune Most Powerful Women Summit 2018 at Ritz Carlton Hotel in Laguna Niguel, California, on Oct. 2, 2018. (Phillip Faraone/Getty Images for Fortune)](/_next/image?url=https%3A%2F%2Fimg.theepochtimes.com%2Fassets%2Fuploads%2F2018%2F11%2F21%2FMegyn-Kelly-at-the-Ritz-Carlton-Hotel-in-Laguna-Niguel-California-600x400.jpg&w=1200&q=75)
The morning-long “Today” show is known as a revenue generator for NBC and has made hundreds of millions for the network.
Over the years, “Today” has maintained its status as the most-watched morning program among viewers between the ages of 25 to 54, which are the most coveted among advertisers.