Where Is Jenna Bush Hager? Hoda Kotb’s Possible Replacement Laura Jarrett Fills In On ‘Hoda & Jenna’

There must beryllium respective group circling Hoda Kotb‘s occupation connected The Today Show up of her exit successful 2025. But there’s only 1 personification successful peculiar who has precocious hosted some The Today Show and Today With Hoda & Jenna, starring america to judge she whitethorn really beryllium trying retired for nan role: Saturday TODAY anchor Laura Jarrett.

Jarrett filled successful this greeting for Jenna Bush Hager, who was sadly missing from nan Monday broadcast. The ineligible analogous ever matches Kotb’s peppy power arsenic a regular stand-in for Bush Hager whenever she fills successful connected Today With Hoda & Jenna.

Kotb told viewers that her co-host had yet caught nan bug that was spreading successful her home. “Jenna is simply a small nether nan weather. All of her kids sewage sick, she was describing immoderate of it past week. She yet sewage it,” Kotb explained. “You cannot flight nan germs, they’re successful nan house. So, she’s taking a small break.”

The Today anchors did not mention Kotb’s imminent retirement. But 1 caller study speculates that Jarrett whitethorn beryllium successful nan moving for 1 of Kotb’s soon-to-be quiet roles erstwhile she retires successful 2025.

A web insider told Us Weekly that Jarrett is “the large contender who everyone astatine nan web is talking about.”

“She has a really beardown chance. She’s nan anchor of Weekend Today; she is simply a lawyer for illustration Savannah. She’s a darling astatine nan Today Show who has risen up very quickly,” they said.

The NBC insider besides noted that nan web could spell different route. “The different action is they could move astir anchors. They could put Craig [Melvin] pinch Savannah [Guthrie], aliases they could put Sheinelle [Jones] pinch Savannah,” they said.

And this isn’t nan first clip Jarrett has precocious filled successful for 1 of nan weekday Today anchors.

Photo: Nathan Congleton/NBC

Jarrett and Willie Geist precocious hosted nan 2nd hr of Today connected Oct. 18 amid Kotb and Guthrie’s absences, which may person been a trial to spot which anchor could make a bully fresh to switch Kotb. Jarrett besides filled successful for Craig Melvin during nan 3rd hr of Today that morning.

Fans astatine location appeared to beryllium impressed by Jarrett and Geist’s hosting skills.

“Willie and Laura are nan Dream Team I wish we had each day. So overmuch amended than Savannah and Hoda,” 1 spectator wrote connected X. “Real news people. Smart and truthful overmuch easier to watch.”

Viewers astatine location were besides praising Jarrett’s hosting skills aft she filled successful for Bush Hager Monday morning.

“This pairing coming is perfection,” different spectator wrote connected X of Kotb and Jarrett. “Laura Jarrett, ineligible clever clever and each astir superb badass female is nan cleanable fit. I cognize she’s qualified for eminently much illustrious assignments, but she’s nan one.”

Jarrett has been pinch NBC News since 2023. She joined arsenic a elder ineligible analogous earlier soon being named co-anchor connected Saturday TODAY, which she co-hosts pinch Peter Alexander.

Kotb did not stock erstwhile Bush Hager will beryllium backmost connected nan show, but location is ever a chance we will get to spot Jarrett again during nan week.

Today pinch Hoda & Jenna airs connected weekdays astatine 10/9c connected NBC.