NEED TO KNOW
- Jenna Bush Hager left Al Roker confused on the Tuesday, June 10 episode of the Today show, saying he “made out” with her late grandmother Barbara Bush
- Bush Hager mixed up Roker with late Today weatherman Willard Scott
- Scott and Bush shared a sweet moment at the 1989 Inaugural Parade when Bush ran over to Scott and planted a kiss on his lips
Al Roker was left thoroughly confused by co-anchor Jenna Bush Hager on the Tuesday, June 10 episode of the Today show.
The funny moment happened when the 70-year-old weatherman was sitting alongside Craig Melvin, Savannah Guthrie, Carson Daly and Bush Hager, 43, for the daily Jenna’s Morning Boost segment.
For the Boost, Bush Hager shared the news that her late grandmother, former First Lady Barbara Bush, was being honored with a commemorative stamp. While reflecting on her grandmother, Bush Hager turned to Roker, asking, “Remember when you made out with her, Al?”
Roker, who is married to journalist Deborah Roberts, sat there, seemingly stunned, as Bush Hager pressed, “Didn’t you kiss her?” She then corrected herself, saying, “That was Willard.”
“That was Willard, other bald weather guy,” Roker confirmed, referencing former Today weatherman Willard Scott.
Bush Hager apologized for confusing Roker, who replied, “It was awkward on so many levels, so many levels. I’m thinking, did I make out with her grandmother?”
He went on to jokingly add, “Not that I wouldn’t have!”
The moment Bush Hager was referencing happened during the 1989 Inaugural Parade when then-President George H.W. Bush waved and walked past Scott only for his wife, Barbara, to rush over to Scott and plant a quick kiss on the weatherman’s lips.
“How ‘bout that? I’ve been kissed by the best!” Scott said of the impromptu moment.
Bush Hager has talked about the kiss on Today before, referencing the moment after Scott’s death in 2021, saying, “I think it was one of her life highlights.”
“That was on the lips. My grandpa might’ve been jealous,” Bush Hager joked before seeing the video featuring her grandfather’s reaction. “See, he was jealous!”
“I emailed somebody that worked with her and she said, ‘You know, they just really liked each other,’ ” Bush Hager said of her grandmother, who died in 2018, at the time. “They said there was some sort of chemistry there where she said, ‘I feel like they were flirting,’ and obviously we have the proof.”
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It’s been a week of confusion surrounding Bush Hager on Today. On Monday, several of her co-anchors mistakenly thought she was making a pregnancy announcement after Guthrie teased, “Jenna’s got a little something in the oven for the Boost.”
“Did you say Jenna’s pregnant?” Roker asked, with Daly questioning, “Are you making an announcement?”
The mother of three shook her head, noting of Guthrie, “You guys, I understood what she said.”
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