In a hilarious and candid revelation, television presenter Jenna Bush Hager has shared the extraordinary demand she made while in the midst of giving birth to one of her three children – a request that even shocked her husband, Henry Hager.
A Musical Interlude in the Operating Theatre
The 44-year-old media personality recounted the story during the December 22 episode of TODAY With Jenna and Friends, which she co-hosted with her close friend and fellow anchor Savannah Guthrie. Bush Hager explained that she had meticulously prepared a 'birthing playlist' to set the mood for her delivery. However, the situation took an unexpected turn as she was scheduled for a Caesarean section.
'I made a birthing playlist,' Bush Hager announced on the show. 'And the craziest thing is, I was having a C-section.' She described the moment vividly: 'I'm there waiting, and then I'm like, "Sir!" you know, spinal tap in, "Can we put on my playlist?!"'
The surgeon's response was less than enthusiastic, reminding her that she was about to undergo major surgery and music wasn't a necessity. Yet, the determined mother-to-be was not ready to back down.
Husband's Shock and a Persistent Request
'I'm like, "But you know I made a whole playlist," you know?' she continued. Her husband Henry attempted to gently dissuade her, suggesting they let the idea go. Bush Hager recalled, 'And Henry's like, "Honey, I think we could just let the playlist go," and I'm like, "No, no, I'd love to have the playlist!"'
The story reached its peak of comedy when, already on the operating table, Bush Hager began to critique the musical selection. 'I’m on the thing, and I’m like, "Honey, change that song please! Change the song to the next?"' she remembered. Her husband was utterly stunned, replying, '"Are you kidding? Your stomach is completely cut open."' Bush Hager joked that she simply wanted the atmosphere to be 'a little more relaxing.'
In response, co-host Savannah Guthrie quipped that focusing on the playlist was probably preferable to dwelling on the surgical procedure. 'Yeah, like my organ being taken out!' Bush Hager laughed in agreement.
New Beginnings on the TODAY Show
Bush Hager, who shares daughters Mila, 12, and Poppy, 10, as well as son Hal, 6, with Henry, shared this personal anecdote just a month after announcing a significant professional change. She revealed that her new permanent co-host on the TODAY show would be Sheinelle Jones, who replaces longtime host Hoda Kotb after she stepped down in January.
During the emotional announcement, Jones shared that Kotb, 61, had called her with words of wisdom. 'She gave me 45 seconds of just wisdom that changed me,' Jones said. Kotb told her to remember the moment as a career-defining one and assured her that 'working with Jenna is going to be better than you could ever imagine.'
Jones's promotion comes seven months after the tragic death of her husband, Uche Ojeh, from glioblastoma, an aggressive form of brain cancer.
