Hoda Kotb and Jenna Bush Hager were visibly overcome with emotion during a recent episode of Today with Hoda and Jenna, which saw them go back in time and revisit their childhoods.
Journalist and Your Mama’s Kitchen podcast host Michele Norris joined the ladies on the Friday, November 10th show, and naturally invited them to close their eyes and think about some of their fondest memories in their childhood kitchens.
Hoda Kotb And Jenna Bush Hager Reflect On Their Childhood Memories
Jenna, 41, went first, and reflected on life with her father, former President George W. Bush – in particular her memories of them doing her math homework on the kitchen table back in Dallas, Texas.
“There were tears because I was not a great math student. But he was patient,” the Read with Jenna book club founder began. “[He] sat there with me and stayed with me even though I would yell at him and sort of take out my frustration.”
Michele had an interesting response to that memory, and said: “That’s not just about math, that was saying ‘I will always be here for you and you can always count on me.'” Jenna then asked, “Are you a therapist?” as she started tearing up.
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Hoda, 59, also got emotional when it was time to reflect on her own childhood, especially when thinking about her late father, who passed away when she was in college. "Our kitchen, I remember the table very clearly and my dad's position at the table," Hoda began, talking about her childhood home in North Virginia.
"He sat at the head of the table and every night at the end he would have an apple and blueberries," the Making Space with Hoda Kotb host recalled, before starting to also tear up. "He passed when I was in college. This is weird, but I remember not knowing how to sit at the table without him because we all had our place," she added, through tears.
"Oh my God. What just happened?" Jenna said, after her friend and co-host had finished her story, to which Michele said: "We need some Kleenex." Jenna then told Michele: "You've hit something so beautiful and meaningful that you asked us one question and we're weeping."
