Jenna Bush Hager makes career pivot after 16 years on ‘Today’ show

After 16 years on the “Today” show, Jenna Bush Hager is dipping her toe into scripted television.

The talkshow icon announced Tuesday that she will be the executive producer of the upcoming NBC drama “Protection.”

Bush Hager — who joined “Today” in 2009 — celebrated the career milestone via Instagram Stories by sharing a screenshot of Deadline’s report.

“What a day!!!” she wrote atop the screenshot, also tagging the show’s creator, Josh Safran, whom she will be working closely with.

The NBC series will follow the story about a missing U.S. Marshal, per Deadline.

The project falls under the first-look deal Bush Hager has with Universal Studio Group for her Thousand Voices production company, which she launched last year.

The journalist announced her career pivot just as a new era began for her on “Today,” with Sheinelle Jones joining as her permanent co-host during the broadcast’s fourth hour.

The “Today” show announced the news via social media on Dec. 9, and Jones officially began the position on Monday.

Jones replaced Hoda Kotb, who announced her departure from NBC after 26 years in September 2024.

Bush Hager and Kotb were co-anchors for “Today with Hoda & Jenna” for over five years, as the latter’s departure was very emotional for the “Sisters First” author.

Despite the shakeup, Bush Hager has also been extremely vocal about how excited she is for Jones to be joining her.

“Over the last year, you guys, I’ve had the privilege of co-hosting this show with 60 incredible friends — I didn’t think I was going to cry before we even started — who’ve opened up to me, who inspired me … ” Bush Hager shared during the Dec. 9 show.

“Today, I’m so thrilled to announce that I’ve found my forever friend and we are going to start a brand new journey in January.

“I couldn’t be more excited to share this person with you all. You all know her; she’s an extraordinary broadcaster but more importantly, she exemplifies what this show is all about.”

“‘Today with Jenna & Sheinelle’ has a nice ring to it,” she gushed.

During the episode, Jones also revealed the close bond they already share because of how Bush Hager supported her through the tragic death of her husband, Uche Ojeh, in May.

“The country hasn’t seen a Jenna and Sheinelle, I see a higher purpose in it. I feel like it’s divine, but I actually feel a responsibility in it where we can bring joy, we can bring hope, I think we can bring comfort,” Jones said.

“So just as healing as it is for me, I hope we can bring that for people at home.”