TODAY Show co-host Jenna Bush Hager is taking a detour from her regular hosting gig. She joined the early morning news show in August 2009 as a correspondent and contributor.
Although she will remain at her current job, the new role is a big departure from Jenna’s 16-year morning show career. She announced the news on Tuesday, January 13.
Jenna Bush Hager is giving scripted television a try
Jenna initially announced via an Instagram story screenshot that she is executive producer of the upcoming NBC drama Protection. She wrote on the post, “What a day!!!” tagging the show’s creator, Josh Safran, who also created Quantico. Ben Spector, executive producer for Eva Longoria: Searching for Mexico, also is attached to the project.
Protection is a part of Jenna’s first-look deal with Universal Studio Group for her production company, Thousand Voices. She launched the venture in 2025.
The series is about a missing U.S. Marshal, according to Deadline. “It’s about different levels of law enforcement, some based on Secret Service,” Jenna explained to her new fourth hour co-host Sheinelle Jones. “So, y’all know I know about that,” she added, referring to her time as first daughter when her father, George W. Bush, served as U.S. president.
Jenna told Sheinelle filming is just a few short months away. “So, we’re hopefully going to start shooting this spring, cross your fingers, y’all. I’m so excited,” she said, adding that, excited about the pilot episode’s content, she participated in the pitch process. “I joined all the pitches because every time, to watch these sometimes jaded executives’—not all of you, not all of you—faces drop with the twist. The twist is so good.”
On December 9, it was announced that Sheinelle would replace Hoda Kotb, who revealed she was leaving the show in September 2024 after 26 years.
TELL US – WILL PROTECTION BE A HIT FOR NBC AND JENNA?
