Jenna Bush Hager Reveals What Kathie Lee Gifford Gifted Her Ahead of ‘Today’ Debut (Exclusive)

By Leena Tailor‍ 6:09 PM PDT, April 8, 2019

Jenna Bush has revealed the special gift Kathie Lee Gifford handed her ahead of her first day as a co-host on the Today show’s fourth hour.

The 37-year-old daughter of former president George W. Bush and his wife Laura Bush, made her debut replacing Gifford as Hoda Kotb’s co-host on the NBC morning show on Monday morning. And, she was so overwhelmed with emotion that she forgot to mention the sweet welcoming present.

“[Kathie Lee] left me a bracelet that says, ‘Your joy is non-negotiable,’” Bush Hager told ET. “I can't believe I forgot. What is wrong with me!”

Bush Hager’s first day was filled with such sweet moments, like surprise messages from her family, including her famous parents.

"Hey Jenna, your old dad here on film to tell you how much I love you and how proud I am of ya,” George said in a video message played on the show.

Laura then appeared alongside Hager’s new mother-in-law, Margaret, saying, “Jenna your mother and your mother-in-law calling to say we're so proud of you.”

Bush Hager told ET there was “a lot of blubbering,” amid such support, and it only heightened when her husband, Henry, and their two daughters, 5-year-old Mila, and 3-year-old Poppy, stopped by!

“What is wrong with me?” she said of her emotions. “I need therapy!”

Kotb got more insight into Hager’s first day with a fun quiz covering topics like what time she got up. “My alarm went off at 5:43 … because I always pick arbitrary numbers like that,” Bush Hager shared.

Kotb also quizzed her on how many outfits she tried on before finding the winner -- “I picked this baby out. I tried on one,” -- and how many glasses of wine she had enjoyed.

“We’ll see,” she said. “Will till later.”

See more on Bush Hager below.