Jenna Bush Hager’s ‘Heart Is Broken’ As ‘Today’ Prepares for Hoda Kotb’s Exit: ‘Shocked’

Jenna Bush Hager admitted that she didn’t see Hoda Kotb’s Today departure coming. The former first daughter opened up about her initial reaction to the news during an episode of her “Open Book With Jenna” podcast on Thursday, December 5.

“I mean, to be totally honest, I was shocked,” she said to podcast guest Matt Rogers during the episode. “Shocked.”

“I found out, like, the week before,” Jenna, 43, added. “She told me as soon as she’d made the decision, but it was — you know, Hoda does things. And this is why I admire her so much, is that she really listens to herself, and therefore she makes decisions which can feel surprising to others and just right for her.”

Hoda, 60, first announced on Today on September 26 that she would be leaving the talk show in January 2025. Needless to say, it was quite an emotional episode for the NBC broadcaster and her costars.

Jenna broke down in tears as Hoda delivered the news to the audience.

“It’s not over,” Jenna told Hoda during the heartbreaking broadcast. “I’m going to be showing up at your house like the stalker you are to Zac Brown. I will be there on your doorstep, and we are your friends forever.”

But she is completely supportive of Hoda’s decision to leave the show, as the pair have become great friends outside of Today With Hoda & Jenna. Hoda is a mom to daughters Haley and Hope, whom she will be spending more time with once she marks her final episode of Today on January 10.

“Now that I’ve had time to process it, I’m like, ‘Oh yeah, I totally get it,’” Jenna said. “But I was saying when everybody’s like, ‘Oh my God, congratulations,’ it’s like, I feel like I’ve been dumped. Not really, because she’s choosing herself. I get that. But my heart was — is broken a little.”

As Jenna is still searching for a permanent cohost for the show’s fourth hour, Craig Melvin was announced as Hoda’s replacement for the early morning hours of Today. And sources told Closer that Craig, 45, is feeling the pressure as his January 13 debut as Savannah Guthrie’s official coanchor nears.

“Nobody’s questioning whether he’s worth it, he’s a very talented guy who’s worked very hard for this opportunity,” an insider told Closer earlier this week. “The entire team is on board with him taking on this role, but of course, the pressure is really on because he’s got huge shoes to fill.”

“Hoda is a total legend,” the source added. “The audience loved her and so did the network. Craig has a lot of goodwill and no doubt he’ll throw himself into the job and give it everything he’s got, but ultimately it will come down to the ratings.”

But fans of the show know that Craig is up for the task and a great fit to take over for Hoda.

“Everyone seems to be confident that he’s up for the challenge and he and Savannah have a natural chemistry, if they start to tune out his job will be on the line, there’s just no getting around that,” the source said. “He’s definitely going to be in the hot seat for a while.”