Jenna Bush Hager’s Today Show Guest Hosts: Taraji P. Henson and More

Jenna Bush Hager is starting a new era of the Today show’s fourth hour.

Following Hoda Kotb’s final episode on January 10, Today With Hoda & Jenna relaunched under the new title Today With Jenna & Friends. Bush Hager, 43, will appear alongside a rotating panel of celebrity guest hosts until Kotb’s official replacement is selected.

“Whoever sits in this seat is going to have the easiest job in the world ‘cause they’re sitting next to you,” Kotb, 60, said on a September 2024 episode of Hoda & Jenna after announcing her Today exit. “I mean, the only thing they have to do is not laugh so hard they pee their pants. That’s it. They just have to hang on. You are this bright light, you always have been, and it’s your turn.”

At the time, Bush Hager replied: “If I’m bright, it’s because I’m sitting in your glow.”

Related: Jenna Bush Hager Compares Hoda Kotb’s ‘Today’ Exit to Being Dumped

Hoda Kotb’s upcoming Today exit is hitting Jenna Bush Hager right in the feels. “To be totally honest, I was shocked, shocked,” Bush Hager, 43, admitted while chatting with Matt Rogers about Kotb’s departure on the Thursday, December 5, episode of her “Open Book with Jenna” podcast. “I mean, I was surprised.” Bush Hager explained […]

Kotb helped Bush Hager announce her first lineup of guest hosts during her final week of Today, describing her first three picks as “heavy-hitter, homerun [and] wow” on the January 6 episode of Hoda & Jenna.

After hearing the brand-new Jenna & Friends theme song, Kotb tearfully told her TV partner: “I was picturing you and how proud I’m gonna be of you walking right here from that wall to this desk with that song. It’s gonna be awesome. It’s gonna be amazing.”

Scroll down to see which celebs will be sitting next to Bush Hager on Today With Jenna & Friends:

Taraji P. Henson

Hosting dates: January 13 and January 17

Eva Longoria

Hosting dates: January 14

Keke Palmer

Hosting dates: January 15

Michelle Buteau

Hosting dates: January 16

Scarlett Johansson

Hosting dates: January 21 through January 24

Kelsea Ballerini

Hosting dates: Week of January 27

Jordin Sparks

Hosting dates: Week of January 27

Ciara

Hosting dates: Week of January 27

Wynonna Judd

Hosting dates: Week of January 27