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Hoda Kotb and Jenna Bush Hager © NBC

Today's Jenna Bush Hager makes brutally honest confession about past plans to transform appearance - leaving Hoda Kotb shocked

The NBC daytime show's Fourth Hour is hosted by Hoda Kotb and Jenna Bush Hager

Hanna Fillingham
US Managing Editor
September 24, 2023
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Jenna Bush Hager is known for being an open book and often shares personal stories with her co-stars on the Today Show

What's more, the Fourth Hour co-host got incredibly candid in a hilarious close-call tale last week, as she confessed to Hoda Kotb that she very nearly got a very bold tattoo after a difficult break up. 

In the footage below, Jenna explains exactly what kind of tattoo she was planning on getting, and admitted that it only didn't go ahead because the tattoo parlour was fortunately closed. 

VIDEO: Jenna Bush Hager made a surprise confession about a tattoo

Hoda's reaction was priceless as she listened to her friend and co-star go into detail about the tattoo idea, and after the clip was shared on social media, fans of the show also chimed in to have their say. 

"I love that Jenna is part of the tramp stamp generation," one wrote, while another commented: "Hoda and Jenna have the best conversations! They're like 2 good girlfriends just chatting and we happen to just listen in. LOL." A third added: "Jenna is such a gem. Real stuff. Real funny. Love her." A fourth added: "I would have loved to see GWBs reaction to that!!!!!" 

Jenna Bush Hager smiling at the camera on a red carpet© Getty Images
Jenna Bush Hager nearly got a 'survivor' tattoo after a bad breakup

Jenna had an incredibly unique upbringing, with both her grandfather, George H. W. Bush, and father, George W. Bush, becoming President of the United States during her childhood and later, teenage years. 

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Jenna knows the White House extremely well as a result, and has opened up about her experiences spending time there with her famous family on a number of occasions. She even confessed that it was haunted during a Q&A with US Weekly back in 2022.

today hoda kotb and jenna bush hager
Jenna Bush Hager often shares relatable family stories on Today

"The White House is haunted; my sister and I heard a ghost playing classical piano, but she seemed friendly," Jenna revealed. Meanwhile, in 2021 ahead of President Joe Biden's inauguration, Jenna reflected on the unique period of her life when she lived in the White House. 

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The TV anchor opened up about the close bond first families share with White House staff, sharing an anecdote about when she and her twin sister Barbara met an employee, florist Nancy Clarke. 

jenna bush hager family© Instagram
Jenna Bush Hager with her husband Henry and their three children

Writing in Maria Shriver's newsletter, The Sunday Paper, Jenna recalled: "We met an incredible woman named Nancy Clarke, who was a florist, and she took us down to the floral shop and we made bouquets for our grandparents' bedside. 

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"Years later she did the flowers for my wedding when I married my husband, Henry. Everyone asks what makes the White House feel like home and it's the people — many of whom are lifetime employees — who fill it with this beautiful spirit of family." 

Hoda Kotb, Jenna Bush Hager, George W Bush and Laura Bush on Tuesday, April 20, 2019 at the Today Show© Getty
Jenna with her parents George W. Bush and Laura Bush on the Today Show

Jenna is very close to her parents, George W. Bush and Laura Bush, and her twin sister Barbara Bush. She previously opened up about her family life while talking to HELLO!, where she gave an insight into what kind of grandparents her mom and dad are. 

Recalling a recent story where her oldest, Mila, went to spend time with her grandparents, she said: "Mila got to go and spend time with her grandmother this weekend. And she sent her the sweetest text message. 

jenna bush hager henry hager red carpet© Getty Images
Jenna with her husband Henry

She was like 'Dear Grammy, I had no idea we had so much in common.' Having that one-on-one time, she hasn't really had that much time recently with her grandmother so she was totally delighted. Mila said that at the exact same time they said 'No more food,' it was so cute to see that uninterrupted time." 

Jenna lives with her family in New York, close to the Today studios. The star is incredibly close to her co-anchors, who all have young children around the same ages as hers, and they often meet up outside of work.

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