Jenna Bush Hager isn't exactly known for keeping secrets, but she managed to sit on some massive news for a while. Honestly, if you’ve been watching the fourth hour of Today lately, you might have noticed a shift in the energy. There’s a reason for that.
On Tuesday, January 13, 2026, Jenna finally let the cat out of the bag. She’s officially stepping behind the camera as an executive producer for a brand-new NBC drama called Protection. This isn't just a side project or a vanity credit. It’s a full-blown career pivot that has people wondering if her days on the plaza are numbered.
The big pivot to scripted television
The latest news on Jenna Bush centers on her production company, Thousand Voices, which she actually launched back in 2025. She’s been working quietly in the background, but Protection is the first major scripted series to get the green light under her "first-look" deal with Universal Studio Group.
So, what is it? Think high-stakes espionage and family drama. The show, created by Josh Safran (the mind behind Quantico and Gossip Girl), follows a U.S. Marshal whose "cut-and-dry" case turns into a lethal conspiracy. Jenna isn't just writing checks; she’s pulling from her own life.
"It's about different levels of law enforcement, some based on Secret Service," Jenna explained to her co-host Sheinelle Jones. "So, y'all know I know about that."
Growing up as a First Daughter gives you a perspective on security that most people only see in movies. Jenna mentioned that she participated in all the pitch meetings with NBC executives. She loved watching their "jaded" faces drop when they heard the twist in the pilot. Apparently, the twist is "so good" it's the reason the show got fast-tracked for a spring shoot.
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A new era for the fourth hour
While Jenna is going "Hollywood," she isn't leaving her morning seat just yet. However, the seat next to her looks different now. For a year, we watched a rotating door of guest hosts—about 60 of them, actually—fill the void left by Hoda Kotb’s retirement.
As of January 12, 2026, Sheinelle Jones is the official permanent co-host. The show has been rebranded to Today with Jenna & Sheinelle.
It’s been an emotional transition. Sheinelle is returning to a full-time role after a devastating 2025, where she lost her husband, Uche Ojeh, to brain cancer. Jenna and Sheinelle have a real-deal chemistry that feels less like "coworkers" and more like "friends who know where the bodies are buried." This week, they’ve been celebrating Sheinelle’s recent People magazine cover while balancing the excitement of Jenna’s producer debut.
What’s happening with Read with Jenna?
Even with a TV show in production and a daily morning broadcast, the book club isn't slowing down. Jenna’s January 2026 pick is already making waves. She selected Homeschooled by Stefan Merrill Block.
It’s a memoir, which is a bit of a departure from her usual fiction heavy-hitters. The book follows Block’s experience being pulled out of a traditional Texas school at age nine and raised in a chaotic, unstructured home environment. Jenna compared it to Educated by Tara Westover.
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- The Vibe: Heartbreaking but funny.
- The Core: A mother-son love story about forgiveness.
- The "Jenna" Factor: She called it the "perfect book for the first month of the year" because of its raw honesty.
If you’re trying to keep up with her reading list, this one is already climbing the bestseller charts. It’s classic Jenna—finding a story that feels "very American" and a little bit messy.
Balancing the "Texas Dream" and NYC Reality
There’s been some talk about Jenna wanting to move back to Texas. Last August, she admitted on air that she has a "dream" of raising her kids—Mila, Poppy, and Hal—in a big public high school in Austin, just like she had.
But for now, New York is home. She just celebrated her 44th birthday (which she dubbed her "Sagittarius celebrations") with a four-course cheese meal. Her daughter Mila acted as the "creative director" for the party.
Jenna’s been pretty candid about the aging process lately. She joked on the show that a four-course cheese meal at 44 "doesn't hit the way it did at 22." Relatable? Totally.
Why this matters for the "Today" brand
NBC is clearly betting big on Jenna. By giving her a production deal and a permanent partner in Sheinelle, they are anchoring the 10:00 AM hour around her personality for the long haul. The move into scripted TV is a safety net. If linear television continues to struggle, she’s already established herself as a creator who can sell a pilot to a streaming service or a major network.
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Actionable insights for fans and followers
If you want to stay ahead of the latest news on Jenna Bush, here is how to track her next moves:
Watch the pilot cycle: Protection is slated to begin filming this spring. Keep an eye on casting announcements in February and March. If the pilot is picked up for a full season, expect a series premiere in late 2026 or early 2027.
Join the January read: Grab a copy of Homeschooled by Stefan Merrill Block. The book club discussions usually peak toward the end of the month on Instagram, and the author often does live Q&A sessions with the Read with Jenna community.
Update your DVR: If you still have "Hoda & Jenna" programmed, make sure your settings are updated for Today with Jenna & Sheinelle. The format is shifting to include more "behind the scenes" glimpses of their lives, especially as Jenna starts spending more time on production sets.
Follow the Thousand Voices account: Jenna’s production company is where the "real" business news happens. While her personal Instagram is for family photos and book picks, the company’s updates will signal whether she’s looking to produce more documentaries or scripted films soon.
Jenna is currently in a "showing up" phase. She told viewers this week that even when she feels like she's "swimming through mud," the lesson is to just do the hard thing. Between Hollywood production and morning news, she's definitely doing the most right now.