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Jenna Bush Hager is starting a new era of the Today show’s fourth hour.
Following Hoda Kotb’s final episode on January 10, Today With Hoda & Jenna relaunched under the new title Today With Jenna & Friends. Bush Hager, 43, will appear alongside a rotating panel of celebrity guest hosts until Kotb’s official replacement is selected.
“Whoever sits in this seat is going to have the easiest job in the world ‘cause they’re sitting next to you,” Kotb, 60, said on a September 2024 episode of Hoda & Jenna after announcing her Today exit. “I mean, the only thing they have to do is not laugh so hard they pee their pants. That’s it. They just have to hang on. You are this bright light, you always have been, and it’s your turn.”
At the time, Bush Hager replied: “If I’m bright, it’s because I’m sitting in your glow.”
Jenna Bush Hager Compares Hoda Kotb’s ‘Today’ Exit to Being Dumped
Kotb helped Bush Hager announce her first lineup of guest hosts during her final week of Today, describing her first three picks as “heavy-hitter, homerun [and] wow” on the January 6 episode of Hoda & Jenna.
After hearing the brand-new Jenna & Friends theme song, Kotb tearfully told her TV partner: “I was picturing you and how proud I’m gonna be of you walking right here from that wall to this desk with that song. It’s gonna be awesome. It’s gonna be amazing.”
Scroll down to see which celebs will be sitting next to Bush Hager on Today With Jenna & Friends:
Taraji P. Henson
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Hosting dates: January 13 and January 17
Eva Longoria
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Hosting dates: January 14
Keke Palmer
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Hosting dates: January 15
Michelle Buteau
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Hosting dates: January 16
Scarlett Johansson
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Hosting dates: January 21 through January 24
Kelsea Ballerini
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Hosting dates: January 27
Kimberly Schlapman
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Hosting dates: January 28 (filling in for Jordin Sparks)
Ciara
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Hosting dates: January 29 and January 31
Wynonna Judd
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Hosting dates: January 30
Ego Nwodim
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Hosting dates: February 3 through February 7
Amy Poehler
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Hosting dates: February 10
Ana Gasteyer
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Hosting dates: February 11
Mikey Day
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Hosting dates: February 12
Cheri Oteri
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Hosting dates: February 13
Chloe Fineman
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Hosting dates: February 14
Willie Geist
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Hosting dates: February 17 and March 4
Justin Sylvester
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Hosting dates: February 18 through February 21
Heather McMahan
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Hosting dates: Week of February 24
Savannah Guthrie
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Hosting dates: March 3
Regina Hall
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Hosting dates: March 5 through 7