Jenna Bush Hager’s Daughter Poppy Makes a Special Appearance on Today
Jenna Bush Hager welcomed a very special visitor on Today.
In the episode aired on Thursday, June 25, of Today with Jenna and Sheinelle, the camera panned to Bush Hager, 44, who had her arm around her 10-year-old daughter Poppy, alongside cohost Sheinelle Jones.
“Well, look who’s visiting us today,” Jones, 48, said, as Poppy waved excitedly at the camera.
“Yes, it’s Poppy Louise Hager who stopped by,” Bush Hager added, while Jones greeted, “Hi Poppy Louise Hager.”
Bush Hager welcomed Poppy in 2015 with her husband Henry Hager. The couple, who married in 2008, are also parents to daughter Mila, 13, and son Hal, 6.
In 2025, Bush Hager revealed the touching story behind Poppy’s name, which honors her grandfather, George H. W. Bush.
“While I was pregnant with Poppy, we watched a documentary about my grandfather. There was this elderly man, who was filming at the end of his life, who spoke about facing antisemitism in school,” she shared during an episode of Today, hosted alongside Hoda Kotb at that time.
“He said, with tears in his eyes, ‘Then Poppy Bush — my grandpa’s nickname — said stop,’” she continued. “I turned to Henry and said, ‘That’s her name. We want our child to be someone who stands up for others, who promotes inclusivity and love.’”
That same year, Bush Hager reflected on parenting, noting her approach mirrors that of her parents, George W. Bush and Laura Bush. The Today host shared that her parents’ influence of cherishing the moment led her to delay giving Mila a cellphone.
“She’s in sixth grade. Many kids her age have them, but we’re choosing to wait,” Bush Hager told Us Weekly at the time. “Instead, she knows to approach others for help, and I say, ‘If you need me, go into a store and call me.’”
Bush Hager expressed that her parents focused on “creating joy” throughout her upbringing alongside twin sister Barbara.
“They aimed to make our world filled with creativity and magic. When you’re young, everything feels enchanting,” she noted. “It’s about both parents being involved in their children’s lives and truly seeing the humor and fun in the world.”
She added, “Parents can illuminate the magic of life for their children, but perhaps more importantly, they can also experience that magic through their kids’ eyes. In a world that can often feel dark and challenging, it’s a wonderful choice to embrace the joy that comes from viewing life through your children’s perspective.”
