Jenna Bush Hager Welcomes Guest Hosts on the Today Show: Featuring Olivia Munn and Others
Jenna Bush Hager is embarking on a fresh chapter of the Today show’s fourth hour.
After Hoda Kotb aired her final episode on January 10, Today With Hoda & Jenna was rebranded as Today With Jenna & Friends. Bush Hager, 43, will be joined by a rotating panel of celebrity guest hosts until Kotb’s permanent successor is appointed.
“Whoever takes this seat is going to have the easiest job in the world because they get to sit next to you,” Kotb, 60, remarked during a September 2024 episode of Hoda & Jenna after announcing her departure from Today. “I mean, all they need to do is not laugh so hard they might pee their pants. That’s it. They just have to stay on the ride. You are this shining light, and you always have been, and now it’s your moment.”
In response, Bush Hager said: “If I shine, it’s due to standing in your brightness.”
Kotb assisted Bush Hager in unveiling her initial lineup of guest hosts during her last week on Today, labeling her first three selections as “heavy-hitter, homerun [and] wow” on the January 6 episode of Hoda & Jenna.
After listening to the brand-new Jenna & Friends theme song, Kotb tearfully expressed to her TV partner: “I can envision you and how proud I’m going to be of you walking right from that wall to this desk with that song. It’s going to be fantastic. It’s going to be incredible.”
Scroll down to see which stars will be joining Bush Hager on Today With Jenna & Friends:
Taraji P. Henson
Hosting dates: January 13 and January 17
Eva Longoria
Hosting dates: January 14
Keke Palmer
Hosting dates: January 15
Michelle Buteau
Hosting dates: January 16
Scarlett Johansson
Hosting dates: January 21 through January 24
Kelsea Ballerini
Hosting dates: January 27
Kimberly Schlapman
Hosting dates: January 28 (filling in for Jordin Sparks)
Ciara
Hosting dates: January 29 and January 31
Wynonna Judd
Hosting dates: January 30
Ego Nwodim
Hosting dates: February 3 through February 7
Amy Poehler
Hosting dates: February 10
Ana Gasteyer
Hosting dates: February 11
Mikey Day
Hosting dates: February 12
Cheri Oteri
Hosting dates: February 13
Chloe Fineman
Hosting dates: February 14
Willie Geist
Hosting dates: February 17, March 4, March 17 and March 18
Justin Sylvester
Hosting dates: February 18 through February 21
Heather McMahan
Hosting dates: Week of February 24
Savannah Guthrie
Hosting dates: March 3
Regina Hall
Hosting dates: March 5 through March 7
Dwyane Wade
Hosting dates: March 10 through March 14
Donna Farizan
Hosting dates: March 19
Brooke Shields
Hosting dates: March 20 and March 21
Barbara Bush
Hosting dates: March 24 through March 25
Wendy Stapleton and Sam Bush LeBlond
Hosting dates: March 26
Henry Hager
Hosting dates: March 27 through March 28
Olivia Munn
Hosting dates: Week of March 31
