So, It Looks Like Hoda Kotb Won't Be Back Before Jenna Bush Hager's Maternity Leave

Korin Miller
Photo credit: NBC - Getty Images
Photo credit: NBC - Getty Images

From Women's Health

  • Jenna Bush Hager announced that she was leaving Today on Friday.

  • The co-host is going on maternity, and her third baby is estimated to be due in August.

  • Jenna's co-host, Hoda Kotb, is also currently on maternity leave, and it's unknown who will fill in for them.

Huge news for Today fans: Jenna Bush Hager is leaving. Don't worry, folks, she won't be gone forever—the host's simply going on maternity leave.

"Today is my last day!" Jenna, who is expecting her third child with husband Henry Hager, said on the show Friday. "I want to thank all of you guys for the last four months. I can’t believe it’s been four months, but to share this joy with all of you, with you Willie Geist, with everybody that’s filled in… all of you that have cheered us on as a show and cheered me on personally, it means the world."

"I feel so grateful to work in a place with people that lift me up every day," she concluded.

But Jenna’s not the only one taking some much-deserved time off. Her co-host Hoda Kotb is still on maternity leave after welcoming her second daughter, who she adopted and named Hope.

Even though she’s on maternity leave, Hoda actually came on the show Friday via satellite to talk about her new book and give viewers an update on her life. She also had a sweet message for Jenna.

"JBH, I hope you have the best maternity leave," she said. "You are going to have so much fun playing with your babies and enjoying your time. I hope you treasure every single second of it. You know I’ve been treasuring every single second of it."

Then, Hoda continued, "I can’t wait to come back to work and hang with you on the set, but for this moment, you spend time with your children, you live in this moment."

While this kinda puts Today producers in a tight spot, Jenna said it feels really special that she and Hoda are having babies around the same time. "To be able to do it with Hoda, to have this special moment together, to create this baby, our show, and then these babies, has been a really beautiful moment in our lives," Jenna said. "We appreciate all of you who have supported us through it all."

"I just feel overcome with gratitude that we get to expand our family. I’m obviously a little hormonal," she added with a laugh as she teared up. "But it’s a beautiful time in my life, it’s a beautiful time in Hoda’s life."

As for who will be filling in for Jenna and Hoda, Today has been mum on the topic. But, considering how they've handled Hoda's absence, it likely wouldn't surprise viewers if a few of the show's other hosts, such as Savannah Guthrie, Al Roker, Dylan Dreyer, Carson Daly, Sheinelle Jones, and Willie Geist, fill in for the duo.

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