Jenna Bush Hager Stuns Fans With Sudden ‘Today’ Show Shake-Up
Jenna Bush Hager Misses Morning ‘Today’ Show for Family Baptism
What Happened on Monday Morning?
On Monday, August 10, 2026, something unusual happened on NBC’s Today show. Jenna Bush Hager — one of the regular hosts — was missing during the early morning hours. She wasn’t there at 7 a.m. or 8 a.m. Eastern Time. But don’t worry! She showed up right on time for the 10 a.m. hour to co-host Today With Jenna & Sheinelle with her partner, Sheinelle Jones.
Important Point: Jenna wasn’t the only one missing! Several other popular hosts were also absent that morning.
Jenna’s Normal Monday Schedule
Usually, Jenna has a very busy Monday morning. Here’s what her typical schedule looks like:
- 7:00 a.m. ET — "Jenna’s Morning Boost" segment
- 8:00 a.m. ET — "Pop Start" segment + greeting fans outside on 30 Rockefeller Plaza
- 10:00 a.m. ET — Co-hosts the fourth hour (Today With Jenna & Sheinelle) with Sheinelle Jones
Why Was She Missing?
Jenna had a very good reason to miss the early hours. She was in Maine with her family for a special occasion:
- Her little nephew got baptized (a Christian ceremony welcoming a baby into the church)
- The baptism took place in the same church where:
- Jenna has gone with her grandparents her whole life
- Her own kids were baptized
- Many family memories live
The Sweet Family Moment
When Jenna arrived at the 10 a.m. show, she shared the beautiful story with Sheinelle:
"I’m straight off a flight, because I was in Maine with my family, and my little nephew got baptized, which was so sweet."
Jenna got emotional during the service when she read a poem by Mary Oliver. She explained why it was so touching:
- She was in her childhood church
- She looked up and saw her twin sister, Barbara Bush, holding the baby
- She called it "something sort of evolutionary" — like watching the family circle continue
- She admitted: "I couldn’t help it. I was kind of weepy."
Jenna also said it was "so fun to have all the cousins together" at the baptism, and she thanked the Today crew for letting her miss the earlier hours.
Sheinelle Jones Holds Down the Fort
While Jenna was away, Sheinelle Jones handled the morning solo — and she had a sense of humor about it!
- People kept asking Sheinelle all morning: "Where’s Jenna? Is Jenna gonna make it?"
- Sheinelle joked: "I’m not Jenna’s keeper!"
- She also said: "Well, she didn’t text me, so that means it’s gonna be just fine."
When Jenna finally arrived, she laughed and said the questions meant they’ve been "cemented as a pair." She added: "But then I came in, and I was like, ‘Oh, no.’ But you know what? It’s Monday. We’re all chill."
Other Hosts Also Missing
Jenna wasn’t alone! Several other Today hosts were missing that same Monday morning:
- Al Roker (weather anchor)
- Carson Daly (co-host)
- Dylan Dreyer (meteorologist)
Weekend Today personalities filled in for all the missing hosts during the early hours.
Jenna’s ‘Today’ Show Journey
Jenna has had quite the journey on the show:
| Year | What Happened |
|---|---|
| 2019 | Took over Kathie Lee Gifford’s spot as co-host of the 4th hour |
| 2019–2025 | Co-hosted with Hoda Kotb for several years |
| January 2025 | Hoda Kotb left the show |
| After Hoda left | Show renamed Today With Jenna & Friends with celebrity guest hosts |
| January 2026 | Sheinelle Jones became Jenna’s permanent co-host |
| Now | Show is called Today With Jenna & Sheinelle |
Friday Episodes Are Different
Here’s a fun fact: Fridays are prerecorded!
- Both Jenna and Sheinelle were also absent on Friday, August 7
- That’s because Jenna & Sheinelle usually airs a pre-recorded episode on Fridays
- On that Friday, Willie Geist (from Sunday Today) filled in for Sheinelle
Summary
- Jenna Bush Hager missed the 7 a.m. and 8 a.m. hours of Today on Monday, August 10, 2026
- She was in Maine for her nephew’s baptism at her family’s childhood church
- She got emotional reading a poem and seeing her twin sister Barbara hold the baby
- Sheinelle Jones handled the morning solo with humor
- Several other hosts (Al Roker, Carson Daly, Dylan Dreyer) were also missing
- Weekend Today anchors filled in for the early hours
- Jenna made it back for the 10 a.m. show (Today With Jenna & Sheinelle)
- Fridays are pre-recorded, so the hosts are often absent then too
FAQ
Q: Why did Jenna Bush Hager miss the early morning show on August 10, 2026?
A: She was in Maine attending her nephew’s baptism at her family’s longtime church.
Q: Was Jenna the only host missing that day?
A: No! Al Roker, Carson Daly, and Dylan Dreyer were also absent. Weekend Today anchors filled in for them.
Q: Did Jenna make it to work at all that day?
A: Yes! She flew back and arrived just in time for the 10 a.m. hour (Today With Jenna & Sheinelle).
Q: Who is Jenna’s current co-host?
A: Sheinelle Jones became her permanent co-host in January 2026. Before that, Jenna hosted with Hoda Kotb (2019–2025) and then a series of celebrity guest hosts.
Q: Are Jenna and Sheinelle on the show every weekday?
A: They co-host the 10 a.m. hour Monday through Thursday. Fridays are pre-recorded, so they’re often not live that day.
