Let’s talk about Jenna Bush Hager’s little guy, Henry Harold “Hal” Hager. This kid is growing up faster than we can blink, and he’s starting to have some strong opinions. At just five years old, Hal is showing that he’s got a mind of his own, especially when it comes to bedtime stories.
Hal’s Bedtime Preferences Are Changing
During a lively chat with actor Ben Falcone, who was discussing his new children’s book What’s Scarier Than Thunder?, Jenna revealed something pretty funny about her bedtime routine. You see, Jenna has this habit of giving her full performance when reading to Hal, complete with funny voices and exaggerated tones. But Hal? He’s not having it anymore.
“When I read to my little one, he goes, ‘Regular regular.’ And I’m like, ‘What do you mean?’ And he’s all, ‘Mom, you don’t need to perform with everything,’” Jenna shared with a laugh. “I used to do all these voices, and now he’s telling me to tone it down. Geez, I guess I’m just too much sometimes!”
Read also:Candice Bergen Mourns The Loss Of Beloved Husband Marshall Rose
Jenna and Ben’s Bookish Banter
Ben, who’s no stranger to humor himself, wondered if Hal would go for “regular voices” if Jenna read his book to him. Jenna playfully responded that she’d be sure to use the silliest voices possible just to get Hal to say, “Regular, regular!”
“I’m going to make it so over-the-top that he’ll have no choice but to tell me to chill,” Jenna joked. “It’s kind of fun to see how he’s growing up and starting to have his own ideas about things.”
Hal’s Heartbreak Story
But Hal’s growing-up moments don’t stop there. Back in July 2024, Jenna shared a story on her show that left everyone laughing and a little surprised. It turns out Hal had quite the romantic encounter with country singer Lainey Wilson.
Jenna explained that Hal had mentioned something about being Lainey’s boyfriend. “He said, ‘She asked me to be her boyfriend — and now I’m her boyfriend,’” Jenna recounted, clearly amused by her son’s boldness.
But as it turns out, Hal’s whirlwind romance didn’t last long. Jenna revealed that Hal had already moved on, telling her, “Well, I called and broke up with her.”
“So, Lainey, you have an admirer named Hal Hager, who created a whole story about how y’all once dated,” Jenna joked. “I guess love is fleeting when you’re five!”
Read also:Lester Holt Exits Nbc Nightly News For A New Chapter At Dateline
A Family of Four
In addition to Hal, Jenna shares daughters Mila, 11, and Poppy, 9, with her husband, Henry Hager, whom she married in 2008. They’ve built a beautiful family together, and it’s clear Jenna loves being a mom.
Is Another Baby in the Future?
During a recent episode of Today With Jenna & Friends, Jenna opened up about the possibility of adding another baby to the family. When Savannah Guthrie mentioned a dream she had about Jenna being pregnant with a fourth child, Jenna laughed and said, “I have nothing to announce.”
“I’ve come to terms that three, even though it’s an imperfect number, is the perfect number for our house,” Jenna shared. “Three kids are plenty, and I think we’re all good where we are.”
Savannah, who’s a mom herself, admitted that it’s totally normal to feel “broody” for another child. “You know, I would have had a third in a heartbeat, but sometimes life just doesn’t work out that way,” Savannah said.
Teaching Kids About Failure
Jenna also had a heartfelt discussion with guest Monica Lewinsky about the importance of teaching kids that failure is okay. Jenna believes that failure is an essential part of life and something that can help kids grow into strong, resilient adults.
“It’s actually my biggest concern as a mom—I don’t think our kids are allowed to fail,” Jenna said. “And I failed publicly, and it’s actually what makes me feel brave. We need to teach kids that they can come out of things stronger.”
