Hoda Kotb and Jenna Bush Hager’s Friendship Quotes

The bond between Today cohosts Hoda Kotb and Jenna Bush Hager has been a joy to watch for fans of the popular NBC program. Both successful mothers, authors and journalists, the dynamic duo have so much in common. Their sweet friendship has translated both on and offscreen since they began sharing the screen in 2019.

Hoda first started hosting Today with Kathie Lee Gifford in 2008. The pair stole the show with their friendly banter and ability to make the audience laugh at any given time. The First Wive’s Club actress left the show in 2019, leaving fans wondering who would become Hoda’s new cohost.

Jenna took on the cohosting role after years in the spotlight as 43rd President George W. Bush’s daughter. The Texas native previously worked as a teacher’s aide and later worked as a correspondent for NBC News. Though Hoda was sad to see Kathie Lee go, the I Really Needed This Today author tweeted her excitement to welcome Jenna to the show officially.

“So much love today. @JennaBushHager will be joining me as a cohost of the 4th hour … my heart is bursting!! and to be honest, breaking a little too … as we get set to say goodbye to @KathieLGifford. A legend and my friend,” the mom of two tweeted at the time.

The blonde beauty made her debut as the official cohost of Today’s fourth hour on April 8, 2019. Jenna was presented with a gift from a fan to mark the occasion, wine glasses that were engraved with her name. Their first episode together was full of laughs and jitters but viewers knew it was the start of something special. Jenna explained just how excited she was to take on the role the night before.

“I got in bed and I was calm. [Husband] Henry and I went out for a date night,” she shared. “I got on Instagram right before bed and I saw our new Instagram page … At first, I was like, ‘My head looks huge!’ But then I got over that … And I just screamed and I woke him up … Then, I got really hyper. And Henry said he was about to tranquilize me, and then I fell asleep.”

Jenna has settled into her Today role nicely, forging an amazing bond with Hoda. The pair chat about everything from relationships to the feeling they got when they became moms for the first time. Jenna shares kids Mila, Poppy and Hal, with her husband, Henry Hager. Hoda is coparenting daughters Haley Joy and Hope Catherine with ex-fiancé Joel Schiffman.

Keep scrolling to see Hoda and Jenna’s sweetest friendship quotes.

Hoda on Working With Jenna

In Jenna’s first few days as a cohost on Today, Hoda already had nothing but good things to say about their onscreen partnership. “Jenna is full of depth and wisdom and humor,” she told Entertainment Tonight in March 2019. “For a person who spent her life in front of [the world], she’s so strangely down to earth.”

Jenna on How Hoda Believed in Her

During an October 2021 segment on Today, Jenna and Hoda broke down in tears talking about how they were able to establish their careers in the journalism world. The Oklahoma native shared her experience getting rejected from 27 news stations before a producer named Stan Sandroni gave her a chance in Mississippi. Jenna revealed that Hoda was the one person who believed in her and gave her hope that she could get her big break in broadcasting.

“I know that sounds cheesy, and I almost didn’t say it,” she said. “But I was here for years, doing a lot of different things, and I worked really hard and I had producers say, ‘Well, you’re a correspondent. That’s where you are.’ And that was good. That was what I wanted to be. I wanted to tell stories.” She continued, “You asked me to fill in with you and I’ll never forget it, so my one is you.”

Hoda on Jenna’s Sweet Gesture

Hoda welcomed her first daughter, Haley, in 2017 via adoption. Jenna gave her costar some of her daughters’ clothes to wear.

“That’s what I love about Jenna,” the former Dateline anchor said during a January 2019 episode of Today. “She shows up with a grocery bag, paper, full of — there’s like one shoe in there, some clothes.”

Jenna on Sharing Mommy Moments

Before Jenna welcomed her son, Hal, in August 2019, her closest friends threw her a baby shower. The Sisters First author shared snaps from the event on Instagram and gave a special shout-out to her coworker.

“Tearing up — because I felt so much love from all of these awesome women who lift me up every day, celebrate me, and make me laugh,” she captioned the post. “Sharing this magical, motherhood moment with this mama @hodakotb is one great gift. And to you all who have encouraged, laughed along and supported me, my gratitude is endless. Can’t wait to meet this babe and yes, be reunited with my Hoda on @hodaandjenna.”