Jenna Bush Hager Exposes Kathie Lee Gifford for Regifting Bracelet Meant for Hoda Kotb

Jenna Bush Hager revealed a major snafu once made by Kathie Lee Gifford during an episode of Today With Hoda & Jenna on Tuesday, November 12.

Jenna, 42, and Hoda, 60, began talking about giving gifts during the holiday season and making sure the gift you give is something the recipient will like. Hoda said that it’s a no-no to do something “like me giving you a sweater that I like.”

It was then that Jenna remembered a rather funny experience when receiving a gift, giggling while recounting the tale to viewers. The former first daughter explained that Kathie Lee, 71, gave her a gift that was meant for colleague Hoda Kotb. The way she uncovered the truth was actually rather funny.

“It’s kind of like the time that Kathie Lee gave me that bracelet that said, um, ‘Choose your joy,’ or ‘Joy is not negotiable,’” Jenna remembered while chatting with Hoda during the episode.

“Our joy is non-negotiable,” Hoda chimed in to say, correcting Jenna. “She gave it to Jenna.”

Perhaps the funniest thing about it is that the bracelet was obviously personalized to Hoda because it had a nod to her eldest daughter, Haley Joy, on it.

“And then it said Haley Joy on the back,” Jenna explained to the audience. “Because that was for Hoda and then she regifted it to me.”

Hoda is also a mom to daughter Hope Catherine, whom she shares with ex-fiancé Joel Schiffman. The TV host recently announced plans to leave Today in early 2025. She has been cohosting the show’s fourth hour with Jenna since 2019. Prior to that, Hoda cohosted the fourth hour with Kathie Lee until the longtime broadcaster officially left the show in 2019. Now, Kathie Lee currently lives in Nashville, Tennessee, where she has pursued singing, songwriting, acting and book writing among other things.

Kathie Lee shared a comforting message for Hoda, her longtime friend and confidant, on X after hearing of her plans to depart the talk show.

“Bittersweet news as my dear friend @hodakotb steps away from the Today Show,” Kathie Lee wrote alongside photos with Hoda at the news desk. “Her warmth, laughter, and incredible spirit have brightened our mornings and touched countless hearts. Here’s to new adventures!”

For Hoda, the revelation to leave the show and spend more time with her kids came while celebrating her 60th birthday on the Today plaza.

“I realized that it was time for me to turn the page at 60, and to try something new,” she explained during her September 26 announcement. “I remembered standing outside looking at these beautiful bunch of people with these gorgeous signs, and I thought, ‘This is what the top of the wave feels like for me.’ And I thought it can’t get better, and I decided that this is the right time for me to kind of move on.”

Hoda broke down in tears while addressing her departure with her colleagues by her side. “It’s kind of a big deal for me,” she said. “I’ve been practicing so I wouldn’t cry, but anyway, I did.”