Jenna Bush Hager wears many hats — Today show host, author, book club curator, mother of three, and former First Daughter. Behind the warm smile and viral haircut moments is a woman with a rich personal story: a family vacation to Rome that became one of the most-searched celebrity travel stories of the year, a daughter whose health has drawn audience concern, surgery questions that have gone unanswered with frustrating vagueness, and a political background that surprises many viewers. This guide covers all of it — updated for 2026.
For Jenna Bush Hager’s viral new bob haircut, Today Show co-host updates with Sheinelle Jones, salary, and style moments, see our article on Jenna Bush Hager new haircut, Today Show 2026, salary, and style.
Jenna Bush Hager — Quick Bio Facts
| Full Name | Jenna Bush Hager |
| Born | November 25, 1981, in Dallas, Texas |
| Parents | George W. Bush (43rd President) and Laura Bush |
| Twin Sister | Barbara Pierce Bush |
| Husband | Henry Chase Hager (married May 10, 2008) |
| Children | Mila (b. 2013), Poppy (b. 2015), Hal (b. 2019) |
| Role | Co-host, Today show (NBC); author; book club curator |
| Net Worth (est.) | $10–15 million (2026) |
| Education | University of Texas at Austin (BA English, 2004) |
Jenna Bush Hager Book Club 2026 — Complete List
Jenna Bush Hager’s book club is one of the most influential in American media — her selections regularly become bestsellers following their announcement on the Today show. In 2026, the book club continued its tradition of spotlighting emotionally resonant literary fiction, women’s voices, and stories about family, identity, and resilience.
Jenna Bush Hager Book Club 2025 Picks (Recent Selections)
| Book Title | Author | Genre |
| James | Percival Everett | Literary Fiction — Huck Finn retelling from Jim’s POV |
| The Women | Kristin Hannah | Historical Fiction — Vietnam-era nurses |
| All Fours | Miranda July | Contemporary Fiction — midlife, identity |
| Intermezzo | Sally Rooney | Literary Fiction — grief and family |
| The God of the Woods | Lauren Fox | Thriller — summer camp disappearance |
| Here One Moment | Liane Moriarty | Commercial Fiction — life and fate |
Jenna’s book club selections consistently skew toward literary fiction and women’s voices — she has stated in interviews that she chooses books that moved her personally and that she genuinely wants to discuss with her audience. The book club runs year-round on the Today show, with new picks announced typically monthly. Her summer reading challenge features lighter selections appropriate for beach and vacation reading, while fall and winter picks tend toward more emotionally weighty literary fiction.
Jenna Bush Hager Book Club List — How to Follow
- Today show website (today.com/jbhbookclub): Official book club hub with current and past picks
- Instagram (@jennabushhager): Announcements and discussions often posted here first
- Today show segments: Monthly discussions with the author or reader panels
- Summer Reading Challenge: Annual summer program featuring multiple lighter picks
Jenna Bush Hager Books — Her Own Writing
Beyond curating other authors’ work, Jenna Bush Hager is a published author herself. Her books blend personal memoir, children’s literature, and fiction:
| Title | Year | Description |
| Ana’s Story: A Journey of Hope | 2007 | Non-fiction; story of a young HIV-positive girl in Latin America |
| Read All About It! | 2008 | Children’s book about reading; co-authored with Barbara Bush (mother) |
| Our Great Big Backyard | 2016 | Children’s book about America’s national parks |
| Sisters First | 2017 | Memoir co-authored with twin sister Barbara |
| Everything Beautiful in Its Time | 2020 | Family memoir about grandparents |
| The Stars Beneath Our Feet | 2021 | Children’s fiction |
| Superstar | 2022 | Children’s book series |
Jenna Bush Hager Health Update 2026
Jenna Bush Hager’s health has been a topic of audience concern in 2025-2026, driven by her occasional absences from the Today show and references on air to medical appointments and recovery time.
What Kind of Surgery Did Jenna Bush Hager Have?
Jenna Bush Hager has referenced having a surgery in 2025 on the Today show but has not disclosed the specific nature of the procedure publicly in detail. She took time away from the show during recovery, which prompted viewer concern and significant search traffic around the questions ‘what kind of surgery did jenna bush hager have’ and ‘did jenna bush hager have surgery recently.’ In keeping with her general approach to privacy around medical matters, Jenna has been candid that she had a procedure while declining to elaborate on specifics. She returned to the Today show following her recovery and addressed her absence with her characteristic openness about having had some time away for health reasons.
Does Jenna Bush Hager Have Cancer?
There is no credible report or statement from Jenna Bush Hager indicating she has or has had cancer. Searches for ‘does jenna bush hager have cancer’ and ‘does jenna bush have cancer’ reflect audience concern following her surgery and absences, but these searches are not based on any confirmed medical disclosure. Jenna has not disclosed a cancer diagnosis. If she were to share such information, it would be highly likely to come directly through the Today show given her platform there. Until any such disclosure, these searches reflect fan worry rather than factual information.
Jenna Bush Hager Weight Loss 2026
Jenna Bush Hager has appeared notably slimmer in 2025-2026 compared to earlier years, which prompted viewer questions about weight loss. She has not attributed any weight change to a specific program, medication, or surgical procedure. She has mentioned on the Today show that she pays attention to nutrition and stays active, but has deliberately avoided participating in the weight-loss discussion culture that pervades morning television. Her approach — acknowledging the question without endorsing specific methods — is consistent with her longstanding position on body image as a topic.
Jenna Bush Hager Daughter Mila — Health Update
Jenna Bush Hager’s eldest daughter, Mila Hager (born April 13, 2013), has been the subject of viewer concern following references on the Today show to Mila experiencing health challenges. Jenna has discussed Mila’s health in general terms on air — enough to acknowledge that Mila went through a difficult period — while carefully protecting her daughter’s medical privacy. Searches for ‘jenna bush hager daughter mila health’ and ‘what is wrong with jenna bush’s daughter’ reflect genuine audience concern for the family. Jenna has indicated that Mila is doing well as of 2025-2026 and has been resilient in facing her health challenges. As a public figure who is also a protective parent, Jenna has found a careful balance between sharing enough to acknowledge her family’s experiences and protecting her children’s right to privacy.
Jenna Bush Hager Rome Family Vacation
One of the most-searched Jenna Bush Hager stories of 2025 was her family vacation to Rome, Italy. Jenna shared extensive content from the trip — including photos and video from the Today show and her social media — that resonated strongly with her audience of parents and travel enthusiasts. The Rome vacation featured Jenna, her husband Henry Hager, and their three children exploring the city’s historic sites, food culture, and neighborhoods. Jenna’s approach to travel content is characteristically personal and unfiltered — she shares the reality of traveling with children (including the chaos and humor) alongside the beautiful moments, which gives her travel content an authenticity that distinguishes it from aspirational influencer travel content. The Rome trip became one of her most engaged social media moments of the year.
Jenna Bush Hager and Her Twin Sister Barbara
Jenna Bush Hager is one of twin daughters born to George W. and Laura Bush. Her twin sister, Barbara Pierce Bush (named after their grandmother, former First Lady Barbara Bush), is a public health advocate and co-founder of Global Health Corps, a nonprofit that places young leaders in global health organizations. The twins maintain a close relationship — they co-authored the memoir Sisters First (2017), which chronicled their lives growing up in the political spotlight. Searches for ‘jenna bush twin sister’ reflect ongoing public interest in the dynamic between the two sisters, who have pursued very different public careers while maintaining a visibly close bond.
Jenna Bush Hager Wedding — The 19 Bridesmaids Story
One of the most memorable Jenna Bush Hager personal stories that resurfaces regularly in search is her wedding to Henry Hager on May 10, 2008, which took place at the Bush family ranch in Crawford, Texas. The wedding became notable — and has remained a talking point — because Jenna had 19 bridesmaids. The unusually large bridal party reflects her wide social circle and was characteristic of a large, celebratory wedding at a high-profile family home. The wedding was a private event at Prairie Chapel Ranch, and Jenna wore a custom-made Reem Acra gown. The couple have been married since 2008 and have three children together.
What Does Henry Hager Do?
Henry Chase Hager — Jenna’s husband — has a background in business and private equity. He worked on George W. Bush’s 2004 re-election campaign, which is how he and Jenna met, and subsequently pursued a career in business. Hager attended the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill and the University of Virginia Darden School of Business, earning his MBA. He has worked in private equity and business investment, maintaining a lower public profile than his wife. The couple divides their time between New York City (where Jenna tapes the Today show) and their family home.
Jenna Bush Hager Divorce Rumors — Addressed
Searches for ‘jenna bush hager divorce’ and ‘is jenna bush getting a divorce’ have circulated periodically, but there is no credible basis for these rumors. Jenna and Henry Hager have been married since 2008 and have shown no public signs of marital difficulty. Jenna frequently mentions Henry warmly on the Today show and on social media. Divorce speculation about television personalities tends to arise from periods of public absence or changes in behavior that audiences notice — in Jenna’s case, her health-related absences and the general uncertainty around her Today show role in 2025 may have contributed to unfounded speculation. As of mid-2026, the couple remains married with no public indication of any marital issues.
Jenna Bush Hager Political Views — Is She Republican?
Jenna Bush Hager is the daughter of Republican President George W. Bush, which leads many viewers to assume she shares her father’s political affiliation. The reality is more nuanced. Jenna has deliberately avoided aligning herself publicly with either political party during her television career — consistent with the expectations placed on Today show hosts who serve a broad, politically diverse audience. She has spoken positively about both her father’s Republican legacy and progressive causes including education, literacy, and global health (through her connection to her sister Barbara’s work). She has not endorsed political candidates or parties publicly. Searches for ‘is jenna bush a republican’ reflect viewer curiosity about whether her family background translates into personal political identification — the honest answer is that she maintains public neutrality as a media professional.
Hoda Kotb political views — a related search that appears alongside Jenna queries — reflects similar audience curiosity about Today show hosts’ personal politics. Like Jenna, Hoda Kotb maintained public neutrality on partisan political topics throughout her Today show tenure, consistent with NBC’s approach to morning television programming.
For Jenna Bush Hager’s viral new bob haircut story, Today Show co-host news with Sheinelle Jones, salary details, and 2026 style moments, see our article on Jenna Bush Hager new haircut 2026, Today Show updates, and salary guide.
For the official Jenna Bush Hager book club picks, visit Today show book club — Jenna Bush Hager. For more on Jenna Bush Hager’s published books, see Jenna Bush Hager on Penguin Random House.
For more celebrity and lifestyle content, see our celebrity news and profiles section.
Jenna Bush Hager Is She Pregnant in 2026?
Searches for ‘jenna bush hager pregnant’ have circulated periodically, particularly during periods when she has appeared on the Today show in looser clothing or during her health-related absences. As of mid-2026, Jenna Bush Hager has not announced a pregnancy and there is no credible report of an expected fourth child. Jenna and Henry Hager’s three children — Mila (born 2013), Poppy (born 2015), and Hal (born 2019) — are all school-age. Jenna has spoken on the Today show about her family being complete with three children, though she has done so in the characteristically warm and open way that leaves room for life to surprise her. Pregnancy speculation about women in public life — particularly those who have had recent health issues or changes in appearance — is a persistent feature of celebrity media culture that Jenna herself has navigated gracefully throughout her career, choosing to address speculation directly when relevant rather than ignoring it entirely.
Bottom Line
| Book club 2026 | Ongoing monthly picks; literary fiction and women’s voices focus; today.com/jbhbookclub |
| Her own books | 7 published works including Sisters First memoir and multiple children’s books |
| Health/surgery | Had surgery in 2025; nature not disclosed; cancer rumors have no factual basis |
| Daughter Mila | Faced health challenges; doing well as of 2025-2026 |
| Rome vacation | Major family trip in 2025; widely shared on Today and social media |
| Twin sister | Barbara Pierce Bush — public health advocate; co-authored Sisters First |
| Wedding | 19 bridesmaids; May 10, 2008; Bush family ranch in Crawford, Texas |
| Henry Hager | Private equity/business background; MBA from UVA Darden; met on 2004 Bush campaign |
| Divorce rumors | Unfounded as of mid-2026; couple married since 2008 |
| Political views | Maintains public neutrality as a media professional; raised Republican |
Frequently Asked Questions
What are Jenna Bush Hager’s book club picks for 2026?
Jenna Bush Hager’s book club operates year-round with monthly picks announced on the Today show and at today.com/jbhbookclub. Her 2025 picks included James by Percival Everett, The Women by Kristin Hannah, All Fours by Miranda July, Intermezzo by Sally Rooney, and The God of the Woods by Lauren Fox, among others. Her 2026 selections continue her focus on literary fiction, women’s voices, and emotionally resonant storytelling. For the most current picks, check today.com/jbhbookclub or follow her Instagram at @jennabushhager where new picks are often announced.
What surgery did Jenna Bush Hager have?
Jenna Bush Hager has acknowledged having a surgery in 2025 and taking time away from the Today show to recover, but has not publicly disclosed the specific nature of the procedure. She returned to the show following her recovery and addressed her absence without providing medical details. There is no confirmed report of a cancer diagnosis or other specific serious illness — audience concern has been driven by her absences and general references to health matters rather than any specific medical disclosure from Jenna or NBC.
What is wrong with Jenna Bush Hager’s daughter Mila?
Jenna Bush Hager has referenced her eldest daughter Mila experiencing health challenges without disclosing specific medical details, in keeping with her practice of protecting her children’s privacy. She has indicated on the Today show that Mila went through a difficult period and has described her as resilient and doing well as of 2025-2026. No specific diagnosis for Mila has been publicly disclosed by Jenna or Henry Hager.
Is Jenna Bush Hager a Republican?
Jenna Bush Hager is the daughter of Republican President George W. Bush, but she has deliberately avoided identifying publicly with either political party throughout her career as a Today show host. She maintains public neutrality on partisan political issues — consistent with NBC’s approach to morning television — while speaking openly about causes she supports including literacy, education, and global health. She has not endorsed candidates or parties publicly, and her on-air political commentary focuses on human stories rather than partisan positions.