After Jenna Bush Hager headed on a book tour with her twin sister, Barbara Bush, a source says the Today host is feeling very fulfilled by her writing career.
“Jenna absolutely adores doing these books with her sister,” the insider exclusively tells Closer. “It feeds her soul and the wonderful thing is this something she can do forever.”
Jenna and Barbara, both 43, released the children’s book I Loved You First on March 25. After the book’s release, they went on a tour across the U.S., visiting Connecticut, New Jersey, South Carolina, Florida and Texas.
“Having this second career as a children’s book author is a double blessing,” the source adds. “Not only does it give her this creative outlet and project with her sister, it also gives her this secondary career. And one that can potentially last for years into the future.”
But the source is confident that Jenna is still content with her role on Today alongside her ventures as an author.
“She has no plans to leave the Today show now or anytime soon, she’s very happy with this side of her career being something she does on her time off, but she does love having a plan for the future,” the insider reveals.
Jenna has been cohosting Today With Jenna & Friends with guest cohosts since Hoda Kotb left the show in January. Barbara was brought in as a guest cohost for episodes of the show on March 24 and March 25.
Fans were loving seeing the sisters cohosting the show together as Jenna’s quest for a permanent cohost continues. The former first daughter shared an update on whether or not she is any closer to locking down a permanent fourth-hour cohost.
“We are totally enjoying having this rotation, but we will get a permanent host because we want the audience to feel that connection that Hoda and I had,” she said during an interview with DailyMail.com on Tuesday, April 1.
“I think this has been really fun and it’s been a challenge for me, it’s been a challenge for our producing team — who are incredible — but I think at some point we will have a permanent host because I think the audience wants that connection,” Jenna told the outlet. “Maybe I’m wrong, but I want that … to fall in love with one person. It’s so fun to date right now, but eventually I want it to be one person.”
Jenna’s husband, Henry Hager, also took a turn at cohosting the show last month with his wife.
“First of all, a star was born! None of us knew [but] that is not his cup of tea,” she said of Henry, 46, guest cohosting the show.
“My sister’s the same way. I’m like, ‘Would you ever do this forever?’ and she’s like, ‘No!’ But I mean, it made me so happy,” Jenna revealed. “The difference with family week is that I love these people, so of course if they’re nervous, I feel their nerves, as opposed to an actor that I’m meeting for the first time, I don’t know them as well.”
“Of course, I want them to succeed and I will be there to do whatever I can to make them shine, that’s my job and I take it very seriously, but I didn’t expect the pressure when it’s your family,” the mom of three said about bringing her family into the fold. “There’s a different thing there because you love them.”
