When Jenna Bush Hager Learned About Donnie Wahlberg's Blue Bloods Keepsake
You know those moments when you hear something and you just can't believe it? That's exactly what happened to Jenna Bush Hager on Today With Hoda & Jenna. She was left completely stunned after learning an intriguing fact about Blue Bloods star Donnie Wahlberg. Now, if you're like Jenna, you might not know that Donnie Wahlberg has been taking more than just memories from the set of Blue Bloods.
Jenna, who is 43 years old, was chatting with her cohost Hoda Kotb about the hit show Blue Bloods. They were discussing how Donnie Wahlberg, who is 55, recently admitted that he took some props from the set after filming the final season wrapped up. You might think that sounds sneaky, but Donnie had a pretty cool reason for it.
Donnie Wahlberg's Blue Suit and Dinner Table
Donnie Wahlberg, who's also the lead singer of New Kids on the Block, told People in an interview on November 30, "I took my two Danny Reagan costumes — my blue suit and my dress blues. I put them on mannequins and put them in a Wahlburgers." Can you picture it? Danny Reagan's iconic costumes on display in a restaurant? That’s a fan moment right there.
Read also:Hugh Jackman And Sutton Foster Love In The Spotlight
But that's not all. Donnie also shared, “I really had no intention of taking anything from the set until I learned that that table and chairs was just sitting in a warehouse somewhere.” This was no ordinary table—it was the Reagan family dinner table, a crucial piece of the show that fans have grown to love. Donnie didn't want it to just sit in storage, so he decided to take it and give it a new home.
Hoda Kotb's Revelation About Wahlburgers
Hoda Kotb, 60, couldn't help but share the news with Jenna about Donnie's big move. She told Jenna, “He took the Reagan family dinner table. He took the whole table. He said he’s going to put it in one of his restaurants. He has restaurants called Wahlburgers.”
Now, here’s where Jenna’s reaction was pure gold. She was visibly surprised, replying, “No he does not.” Jenna then asked, “Donnie Wahlberg has a restaurant called the Wahlburgers?” Hoda confirmed with a resounding yes, explaining, “Yes he does! His Wahlburger restaurants.”
But Jenna wasn’t the only one who didn’t know about this. She asked Hoda, “Does everybody know?” To which Hoda admitted, “I actually did not know. Everybody is nodding but not you, we didn’t know.” It was one of those moments where you realize even the stars have their blind spots.
Donnie Wahlberg’s Restaurant Empire and Philanthropy Plans
Donnie Wahlberg didn’t just start a burger chain for fun; he co-owns Wahlburgers with his brothers Paul and Mark Wahlberg. They opened their first restaurant in 2011, and since then, Wahlburgers has expanded to locations across the U.S., Canada, Australia, and New Zealand. Donnie has big plans for the table he took from the Blue Bloods set, and it’s not just for decoration.
“I’ll set it up where fans can sit at the table and take pictures,” Donnie explained. “And then I’m going to raffle it probably for charity for the DEA, the Detectives Endowment Association, for the Widows and Children’s Fund.” That’s quite the legacy for a piece of furniture, isn’t it?
Read also:George Clooney Talks Broadway Family Life In Nyc And Balancing It All
Maybe Jenna will visit one of the Wahlburgers locations to see the famous table herself. But for now, she’s got her own big changes on the horizon. Not knowing about the Wahlberg brothers’ restaurant empire wasn’t the most outlandish admission Jenna has made on Today. As Hoda prepares to leave the morning show, Jenna compared her search for a new cohost to dating.
Jenna Bush Hager’s Quest for a New Co-Host
“Here’s the thing, Hoda, you know this, I’m a serial monogamist. I met Henry Hager 20 years ago and that was it, right, I haven’t dated in 20 years,” Jenna said during a November 14 episode of Today. “I met Hoda, I fell so madly in love with you so quickly and we’ve had these years together, which have been some of the best of my entire life, OK?”
“But here’s the thing, it’s time for me to get out there guys! Y’all know the new trend roster dating? That’s what I’m going to be doing,” she continued. “I’m single, not at home, but in this work life I am single and I am ready to mingle!”
The show will be renamed Today With Jenna & Friends after Hoda’s official departure on January 10. Jenna will be welcoming a rotating panel of cohosts on the program until finding her permanent replacement. “So this show is going to be all about friendship,” she said. “We have so many amazing guests and friends and family that are part of this DNA of this show, and they are going to be coming along for the ride, so we cannot wait.”
