Jenna Bush Hager Reveals Hoda Kotb Is Her Daughter Poppy's Godmother as She Reflects on Their Sweet Bond

Jenna Bush Hager and Hoda Kotb's friendship extends far beyond their years together on the Today show.

Bush Hager, 44, recently revealed that her former co-host has an extra-special role in her family: Kotb, 62, is the godmother of her 11-year-old daughter, Poppy.

The revelation came during Kotb's August 21 appearance on Today with Jenna & Sheinelle.

Toward the end of the segment, Poppy unexpectedly appeared on camera, prompting an excited Bush Hager to point out the connection between her daughter and longtime friend.

"Poppy Hager! Poppy, remember Hoda?" she exclaimed. "Your godmother, Hoda?"

Poppy immediately walked over to Kotb and wrapped her in a hug before joining her on the couch.

"Poppy, you're all grown up!" Kotb told her. "Poppy, I love you, I miss you."

Bush Hager and Kotb spent years side-by-side before Kotb stepped away from Today in January 2025.

The pair began co-hosting the show's fourth hour together in 2019, developing a close friendship that continued away from the cameras.

Their families have become intertwined, too. Bush Hager previously revealed that fellow Today personality Savannah Guthrie is godmother to her son, Hal, while Bush Hager serves as godmother to Guthrie's daughter Vale.

Bush Hager's sweet revelation comes shortly after she became emotional while discussing a special mother-daughter outing with Poppy.

The TV personality took her middle child to see Olivia Dean at Madison Square Garden as a birthday present on August 18.

"I took Poppy, just the two of us," Bush Hager recalled. "What I've realized about that child, she's the most fun human being in the entire world."

The mom-of-three even became emotional remembering Poppy's reaction when she offered to change her outfit so the pair wouldn't be wearing matching polka dots.

"Why wouldn't I want you to match me?" Poppy asked her mom.

Poppy's response clearly struck a chord with Bush Hager.

"She's not embarrassed by me. She's so fun," she said while wiping away tears.

Bush Hager recalled the pair having a "dance party" at the concert and marveled at her daughter's confidence.

"She's just so sure of who she is as a human that even her annoying mother can't dim her brightness," she gushed.

The experience was particularly meaningful because Bush Hager grew up sharing similar moments with her own mother, former first lady Laura Bush.

She recalled her mom taking her to concerts by artists including Bob Dylan, Paul Simon and Jimmy Cliff while growing up in Texas.

Bush Hager shares Poppy, daughter Mila, 13, and son Hal, 7, with husband Henry Hager, whom she married in 2008.

She recently celebrated Poppy's 11th birthday with a heartfelt Instagram tribute, describing her daughter as "vibrant and effervescent" and "the funniest in any room."

Kotb is also a mom, sharing daughters Haley Joy, 9, and Hope Catherine, 7, with ex- fiancé Joel Schiffman.

The former Today anchor has spoken openly about how much becoming a mother later in life changed her, saying earlier this year that Haley and Hope are the two things that "really count" when she considers what has gone right in her life.