Jenna Bush Hager Reacts to Hoda Kotb's Secret Shout-Out to Her During the Macy's Day Parade Live Coverage

Mar. 15, 2025

Jenna Hager Bush and Hoda Kotb.Photo:Astrid Stawiarz/Getty; John Nacion/Getty

Astrid Stawiarz/Getty; John Nacion/Getty

Hoda KotbsentJenna Bush Hagera secret shout-out during the2024 Macy’s Thanksgiving Day Parade, and Bush Hager shared the exact moment it happened on Instagram.

“Only one person does this. Poppy, what’s about to happen?” Bush Hager can be heard saying excitedly to her daughter Poppy, 9, in her Thursday, Nov. 28 post.

On the Wednesday, Nov. 27, episode ofToday, Kotb, 60, revealed that she planned to send her friend and co-anchor, 43,a secret shout-outwhile hosting the iconic live event on NBC this year.

And as for what that secret shout-out would be?

“I’ve been thinking a lot about the symbol,” Kotb said. “I’ve been thinking like, what could it possibly be? And there’s only one thing It could be. So, I don’t know if you guys remember, but there’s a song called ‘RockaFellaCenta’ thatMatt Rogersdoes withBowen Yang, and there’s a part of it where he says, ‘I’m waiting outside and I’m looking for Jenna Bush Hager, Jenna Bush Hager.’ Whenever I see Jenna, I go like this.”

She then proceeded to put up two fists and shake them towards herself. “It’s sort of our call sign,” Bush Hager explained, with Kotb adding, “Watch for it!”

This is the second year in a row that theKathie Lee & Hodaalum gave a secret shout-out to her friend.

“Last year, Hoda and I came up with this secret symbol, which was Hoda brushing her teeth with a finger, remember?” Bush Hager said on theTodayepisode.

“That was the indicator that I was thinking about Jenna,” Kotb added.

While Bush Hager revealed that she missed the moment live last year because her “Christmas tree fell down,” she shared that fans flocked to social media to let her know about it, noting that it “made my whole Thanksgiving.”

Hoda Kotb and Jenna Bush Hager on the Today Show on Monday, November 1, 2021.Nathan Congleton/NBC/NBCU Photo Bank via Getty

Nathan Congleton/NBC/NBCU Photo Bank via Getty

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Kotb announced thatshe would be leavingTodayback in September, revealing that her last show would be in early 2025.

She and Bush Hager discussed the decision live on air during the Sept. 26 episode, with both women getting emotional.

“You are who I come to. You are who believed in me first,” Bush Hager said. “On October 28, 2013 — I looked it up — you said, ‘Hey, wanna come sit next to me? There’s room.’ "

“Looking at you and seeing magic was one of the easiest things,” Kotb replied, adding, “It’s your turn. “Whoever sits in this seat is going to have the easiest job in the world because they’re sitting next to you.”

source: people.com