Let’s talk about a moment of human error that even Jenna Bush Hager can relate to. The beloved Today co-host opened up about a hilariously relatable slip-up she made at her twin sister Barbara Bush’s wedding. Imagine this: you’re standing in front of a crowd of family and friends, delivering a heartfelt toast, and you accidentally call your brother-in-law by the wrong name. That’s exactly what happened to Jenna, and she’s here to spill all the details.
In a candid moment during a recent segment on Today, Jenna, now 42, shared how she was reminded of her own gaffe after hearing actress Meg Ryan’s story about accidentally calling a man by the wrong name on a date. It was during an interview with Glamour, where Meg’s honesty struck a chord with Jenna, prompting her to reflect on her own embarrassing moment.
How It All Went Down
“Oh gosh… I’ve never done that on a date, but I’ve got to apologize to my brother-in-law for something that happened at Barbara’s wedding,” Jenna confessed with a laugh during the December 4 segment. “I was up there, delivering what I thought was a really heartfelt toast, and my brain just wasn’t firing on all cylinders that day.”
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It turns out that during her speech, Jenna inadvertently referred to Craig Coyne, her brother-in-law, as “Greg.” Now, if you think about it, that’s a pretty significant mix-up, especially when you’re standing in front of close family and friends. Jenna admitted that she didn’t even realize the mistake until later, but the confusion was palpable in the room.
“Half the people there were like, ‘Did she just call him the wrong name?’” Jenna recalled with a chuckle. “I mean, it was one of those moments where you just want to crawl under a rock, but honestly, it made the whole thing even more memorable in a weird way.”
Double Wedding, Double the Toast
Here’s the kicker: Jenna had already delivered the same toast once before at Barbara and Craig’s first wedding ceremony. The couple had a smaller, more intimate ceremony in October 2018, followed by a larger celebration in April 2019. So, when Jenna repeated the toast at the second ceremony, you’d think she’d have it down pat. Nope. Even with the rehearsal under her belt, the name "Greg" slipped out.
“I don’t even know where it came from,” Jenna admitted to cohost Hoda Kotb. “I know Craig very well. They’d already been married once, so it wasn’t like I was meeting him for the first time. It’s one of those things that just happens, and you can’t help but laugh about it afterward.”
Thankfully, Craig, who is also 42, took it all in stride and didn’t seem to hold a grudge. Two years after their second wedding ceremony, Barbara and Craig welcomed their first child together, a daughter named Cora Georgia Coyne. Motherhood has brought immense joy to Barbara’s life.
“I think my favorite milestones are seeing her smile, waking up in the morning to her giggles… She’s just so full of joy,” Barbara gushed about her little one in an April 2022 interview with People. “It’s been absolutely incredible.”
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A Family Affair
Jenna and Barbara’s parents, former President George W. Bush and former First Lady Laura Bush, were overjoyed to welcome Cora into the family. Laura, now 77, was particularly touched by the choice of Cora’s middle name, Georgia, which she sees as a sweet nod to her husband.
“It was really special,” Laura shared during an October 2021 episode of Today. “Cora Georgia. So, she’ll have to be [George’s] favorite.”
