Carson Daly issues update on future of Jenna Bush Hager on Today
Carson Daly has revealed a huge update on the future of Jenna Bush Hager 's segment on the TODAY show, just months after Hoda Kotb left her post as co-host. In January, Kotb left Today With Hoda and Jenna after five years. Instead of finding a replacement right away, Bush Hager has been rotating through various co-hosts, including actress Scarlett Johansson and E! anchor Justin Sylvester.
But during a new interview with Us Weekly, Daly shared some insights into the future of the show. 'I ask all the time,' Daly admitted to Us Weekly , when asked who will replace Hoda as a full-time co-host. 'I think they want to keep this rotating thing going.' The Voice host also revealed some of his favorite co-hosts that Bush Hager has had on the show so far.
'I’ve loved a lot [of the co-hosts],' he told the outlet. 'I loved Dwayne Wade. I thought he was awesome. Every time Erin Andrews is on, I’m like, "She’s amazing,"’ he said. And while one of the fan-favorites so far has been Johansson, Daly said he doesn't think the network would be able to hire her.
'Scarlett Johansson is everybody’s favorite, but she happens to be Hollywood’s most expensive actor. We can’t afford her, but she loves doing it,' he explained. However, he admitted that as a viewer, he's really been enjoying the rotating guests. 'Jenna’s had a lot of really good people,' Daly shared. 'I kind of like the rotating cast. It keeps things fresh,' he added.
Daly's comments come just days after Bush Hager admitted on-air that she had been thinking about her 'next chapter ' when her time on the morning show comes to a close. The acclaimed anchor confessed that she has a 'dream' of leaving New York and moving back to Austin, Texas, where she grew up, with her husband, Henry Hager, and three kids after she leaves Today.
And while she didn't specify when that would be, she hinted that it may be sooner than later since she said she wanted her children Mila, 12, Poppy, nine, and Hal, six, to go to a 'big public high school' like she did as a kid.
Her eldest, Mila, is just a few years away from starting high school. 'I think everybody should have chapters in their lives. I have a dream - I don't know how realistic it is - but when the Jenna & Friends chapter comes to a close…' she said before an alarmed co-host Matt Rogers cut her off.
'Well, why would that ever happen?' he asked. 'Well... linear television, baby! Who knows?' Jenna responded with a laugh. 'But when I'm ready to go to my next chapter, I think it would be so nice to move back to Texas and let my kids - I went to a big public high school - have a different life.'
