Hoda Kotb and Jenna Bush Hager discuss a wide range of topics on Today with Hoda and Jenna, and therefore go through a wide range of emotions in front of the cameras. And on the Wednesday, May 10th episode of Today with Hoda and Jenna, while on the subject of being brutally honest, Jenna became visibly overcome with emotion when discussing how she felt like she wasn’t there for Hoda when her daughter was in the hospital earlier this year.
If you’ll recall, back in March, Hoda and ex-husband Joel Schiffman’s three-year-old daughter Hope Catherine was in the ICU for several days and the hospital for more than a week, leading to Hoda having to take some time off from Today. Hoda returned to Today on March 6th and told viewers that her daughter was back home.
Jenna Recalls Not Knowing How To Support Hoda When Her Daughter Was In Hospital
During their discussion about being brutally honest, the 41-year-old mom-of-three got emotional when she said she didn’t know how to support her co-star while her daughter was in the hospital, confessing: “I just wasn’t there for her the way I wanted to be.”
Jenna first brought up the incident when she said, “There was a time when I was feeling a little sad with you,” before confessing that neither of them actually did anything wrong, but she held in her feelings so much that she just “exploded.” “If you can’t tell the truth, that would be horrible,” Jenna added, to which the Making Space with Hoda Kotb podcast host, 58, replied, “You’re always so honest. I think it’s such a good thing. I mean, I can’t believe you’re bringing up that thing.” Jenna – after receiving her friend’s permission – went into further detail about the “thing” they were referring to, i.e., the time Hope was in the hospital.
"When Hoda's daughter wasn't feeling well, I just wasn't there for her the way I wanted to be, and I didn't know how to be. And I felt terrible about it," Jenna confessed, before tears started forming and streaming down her face. "I said, 'I feel like I haven't been there for you,'" she continued, which then led Hoda to chime in.
"I still remember when you said that to me. First of all, it was one of the most beautiful statements," Hoda told Jenna. "You've had so many beautiful statements, and it touched me deeply. And it meant everything to me that you said that. And I know you inside and out, you know life is like that." Both of them then got visibly emotional and had tears in their eyes, which led Jenna to say: "What is happening? We went from brutally honest to weeping."
Jenna And Hoda Continue To Discuss Honesty And Brutal Honesty
That wasn’t the only thing the friends and co-hosts discussed in reference to honesty and brutal honesty. After Hoda said, "This kind of honesty is beautiful," in reference to the moment she and Jenna just shared, the ladies suggested that people shouldn’t feel the need to be brutally honest when it comes to saying negative things about someone's appearance. This then led to Hoda referencing a time someone told her she shouldn't wear sleeveless clothing on air.
Hoda recalled the person saying, "'I mean, who do you think you are? Michelle Obama?'" adding, "I find that kind of honesty not cool. And I think sometimes when you're grown and mature, you don't have to say all the thoughts in your head." Jenna then told her friend that she does have "great arms" (which we totally agree with!) before saying, "We believe in honesty, but we don't believe in brutal honesty," which Hoda seemingly agreed with by nodding her head.
