Full Name | Jenna Welch Bush Hager |
Age | 41 |
Birthday | November 25, 1981 |
Birth Sign | Sagittarius |
Born | United States |
Relationship | Married |
Height | 5′ 8′′ |
Net Worth | $14M |
Social Media |
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Early Life and Upbringing
Born in Dallas, Texas in 1981, Jenna is one of former President George W. Bush‘s fraternal twin daughters, together with her sister Barbara. She grew up with the values of faith, family, and service instilled in her by her parents. Despite growing up in the national spotlight as a president‘s daughter, Jenna has described her childhood as "normal" thanks to her parents‘ efforts. She attended public schools in Dallas before going to the University of Texas at Austin.
After graduating in 2004, Jenna worked as a teacher in inner-city schools in Washington D.C., exposing her to challenges faced by underprivileged students. This experience inspired her later advocacy for education reform. As someone who grew up privileged, Jenna has said teaching in low-income neighborhoods taught her empathy.
Landing a Career in Media
After dabbling in education, Jenna found her true calling in media. She started out as a part-time correspondent for Good Morning America in 2009 while remaining devoted to her teaching work. Over the next few years, Jenna gradually took on more television roles while transitioning out of the classroom.
Her big break came in 2017 when she was appointed co-host of the fourth hour of NBC‘s Today show alongside Hoda Kotb. Her warmth, humor and compassion quickly endeared her to viewers. According to Kotb, "Jenna has one of the biggest hearts in the business."
Now a high-profile journalist at one of America‘s most-watched morning shows, Jenna has had the chance to cover major world events while also sharing lighter lifestyle and human interest stories. She has proven herself to be a versatile and talented TV personality.
Writing Bestselling Books
A lifelong bookworm, Jenna has always had a passion for literary arts. She authored her first book Ana‘s Story: A Journey of Hope in 2007, highlighting the true story of a HIV-positive young single mother in Latin America. Her 2017 memoir Sisters First: Stories from Our Wild and Wonderful Life, co-written with her twin Barbara, gave fans an intimate look at the sisters‘ relationship growing up in the White House. It became a New York Times bestseller.
Jenna‘s 2021 book Everything Beautiful in Its Time discusses her family, faith and growing up as a president‘s child. She also launched a virtual book club in 2021 to engage and uplift female readers. Jenna‘s love of books shines through in her literary works over the years.
Philanthropy and Causes
Inspired by her teaching experiences, Jenna has been involved in education-focused philanthropic work. She served as an ambassador to UNICEF and continues to advocate for childhood literacy and education access. During the pandemic, Jenna donated 100,000 books to students lacking resources through her partnership with Penguin Random House.
Jenna also brought attention to Latin American youth issues through her first book and supports cancer research charities. She has used her position in the public eye to promote causes close to her heart.
Fun Facts About Jenna
- She can read Latin and speak Spanish fluently.
- Jenna is an avid marathon runner and has completed three so far.
- Her Secret Service code name was "Twinkle."
- She had her first kiss at age 7 with a boy in the White House theater.
- Jenna and her sister Barbara were the first twin children of a U.S. President.
What Others Have Said About Her
"Jenna is joyful, thoughtful, intelligent, curious, hilarious, charitable, down to earth, compassionate, well read, caring deeply for family and friends, organized, gracious. There are countless wonderful adjectives to describe Jenna, but at the core, she has a good heart." – Laura Bush, mother
"We‘ve loved watching Jenna and Barbara grow into remarkable, caring women who we know will make a real difference in the world." – George W. Bush, father
"Whether on TV or through her books, you can feel that Jenna is speaking straight from the heart." – Savannah Guthrie, Today co-anchor
After getting to know Jenna through her books, interviews and TV appearances over the years, it‘s clear she is a warm, driven woman devoted to her family and making a positive impact on the world. She represents the best of America‘s values – faith, compassion, optimism and grace. There is surely much more good work to come from Jenna in the years ahead.