Let’s be real for a moment. Jenna Bush Hager, the former first daughter and now a beloved figure on NBC, recently revealed that getting her footing in the world of broadcasting wasn’t as smooth as it might seem. In fact, it was downright challenging at times. In a candid moment, Jenna shared how she felt like she had to suppress her true self to fit into the mold expected of her by the network.
One particular example stood out: Jenna was practically told to stop using the word "y’all" while on air. Can you imagine being asked to tone down a part of who you are just to fit in? Jenna described the awkwardness of this request during an episode of her show on Monday, December 2, saying, "They were like, 'Hey, y’all isn’t for the whole country.' And I was like, 'But it’s who I am.' It felt so strange, like pretending to be someone else. This happens in life, too. If you have friends and then suddenly you’re acting not like yourself, something in your gut feels off."
Authenticity vs. Professionalism: Jenna’s Battle with Identity
Jenna continued, emphasizing the internal conflict she faced. "When they said, 'You can’t say y’all,' in my gut, I was like, 'But why? Do we have to pretend to be news people?' Because whenever you pretend to be a news person, I felt like I was acting. And we all know from our Titanic Halloween skit, I’m not a great actor. Trying to pretend you’re someone else is exhausting and feels so unnatural."
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Hoda Kotb Weighs In: Staying True to Yourself in the Workplace
Hoda Kotb, Jenna’s cohost and a long-time friend, chimed in with her own experiences and advice. "If you don’t fit, they want you to wear something a certain way, cut your hair a certain way, speak a certain way," she said. "Jenna, I know when you came to the network, it was like, 'Welcome in, but you have to change.' It’s a tough pill to swallow." Hoda admitted that it took her a long time to adjust to her role in the broadcasting world, and she realized how important it was to stay true to herself.
Hoda emphasized the importance of authenticity. "It can feel like you’re losing who you are when you’re asked to change so much. It took me longer than I think it took you to figure it all out," she told Jenna.
Jenna’s Future at NBC: Exciting Times Ahead
Despite the early challenges, Jenna has clearly proven her worth at NBC. When Hoda steps down from Today in January 2025, the show’s fourth hour will be renamed Today With Jenna & Friends. Jenna will welcome a rotating panel of guest cohosts as she searches for a permanent replacement for Hoda. "They want Jenna to stick around long-term and to have a cohost that she enjoys working with, so they’re going to give her a lot of say in who they hire," an insider told Closer in November. "But of course, the most important thing is going to be pleasing the viewers, that’s why they’ve opted to start off by testing out different cohosts for her. They want to see the chemistry and the ratings, that’s going to really be the deciding factor."
And it seems some frontrunners have already emerged as the show prepares for this big transition. "Willie Geist is a name that keeps getting mentioned, he and Jenna get along great, he has a proven track record and the fans seem to love him," the source said. "Michelle Buteau is another person that the bosses are very keen on giving a chance to, and the word is she’ll be getting a chance to cohost and show her stuff, as well as Justin Sylvester and Michelle Collins."
