Jenna Bush Hager, 43, Debuts New Short Hair, Igniting Buzz

The familiar television figure made waves this week by changing her trademark length for a sharp new cut, sparking excitement and debate in equal measure.

On June 17, 2025, Jenna Bush Hager unveiled a sleek new bob haircut during a live broadcast of "Today with Jenna & Friends," inspired by Leslie Bibb's striking style in "The White Lotus" and created by celebrity stylist Chris McMillan. The reveal, which had been teased a day earlier on air and social media, quickly became a trending moment, captivating fans and sparking mixed reactions online.

The shift began on June 16, when the show's Instagram page posted a teaser clip, first showing Jenna discussing her haircut with the stylist. Then, the footage turned to a part that had aired live that day, showing the television host mid-transition with Chris and Leslie by her side.

The caption shared that Jenna had promised back in March to try a bob and was now following through with help from the stylist, who is known for creating Jennifer Aniston's famous "Rachel" cut. Leslie voiced support on set, calling Jenna's hair "so pretty" and clapping.

By the next day, the final look was revealed live with Leslie co-hosting, drawing cheers and prompting enthusiastic posts from the show's account, including one that read, "WE LOVEEEE THE BOB, @jennabhager!! 😍 THANK YOU @mrchrismcmillan! 💇‍♀️"

Additional content online showed the duo playfully flaunting their matching hairstyles—bobbing their heads to B.o.B. and Nicki Minaj's "Out of My Mind," alongside Chris, and sitting together at the host table with their blonde bobs.

Another post showed only pictures, and the caption summed up the excitement, "The way this is convincing me I need to get a bob ... We can't get over JBH's new do!"

However, the reaction from viewers wasn't all positive. Some fans were unimpressed, making their critiques public on social media. One person commented, "The Bob isn't bobbing on her. It's down right [sic] boring. It needs layers. 👀"

Another added, "Ooof! This cut aged her and makes her face look, well, chubby. Haircut isn't one-size fits all, Jenna 🤦🏻‍♀️ [sic]." One viewer simply declared, "That's outdated." Others wrote, "Ages her🤷‍♀️," and shared, "Sorry not a good look on someone with a round face."

However, not all feedback was critical. Some fans praised the new look, with one person exclaiming, "You look ten years younger!!!!"

Another wrote, "10000000% times better! Much more modern instead of dated. Keep up with it please [sic]!" A third commented, "She looks amazing. Younger, fresh & stylish. No more longer hair just dragging you down [sic]."

Meanwhile, the reactions from the Hager family were just as interesting. In a home video aired on the show, Jenna presented the new haircut to her children — Mila, 12, Poppy, 9, and Hal, 5 — who appeared shocked.

"What are you doing?" Poppy asked, visibly alarmed. "I don't like it," said Mila, while Poppy dramatically walked away, asking, "Why would you do that?"

Co-host Leslie joked about the intensity of their response, "Your children are monsters. They're monsters! They started crying." Jenna laughed, admitting it was "sort of fake crying" and calling it their family's "love language."

Additionally, her husband, Henry Hager, had a much different opinion. Jenna shared that he told her, "Damn, that's hot," and chalked up Poppy's reaction to a lack of style know-how, quipping, "She don't [sic] know fashion. She's 9."

As the episode continued, Jenna Bush Hager and Leslie delved deeper into the emotional side of the makeover. They spoke about how people often associate long hair with fairy tales and "princess" imagery, a notion the actress dismissed, saying those stories aren't real.

The two also reflected on the vulnerability that comes with a dramatic change. Jenna said she felt slightly "embarrassed" by the attention, but Leslie countered with, "It's vulnerable, which I think is a way more exciting thing to be."

This isn't the first time that netizens have reacted to something Jenna shared on her show. As previously reported, in January 2024, the talk show host delved into a prevalent trend among tweens that affected her daughter.

Jenna Bush Hager shared that Mila had recently made an innocent trip to Target for skincare items, which sparked the conversation about tweens and wellness routines; the topic swiftly ignited a dialogue among her followers.

A juxtaposition of opinions emerged, with some labeling the trend "ridiculous" and calling on parents to "be strong mamas and put your foot down over this nonsense."

Others told Jenna she should be happy her daughter wanted to care for her skin. The TV personality speculated that TikTok was influencing children to have skincare routines far too young.

Jenna also shared that her daughter was upset because she never showed much interest in her skincare purchases. But Jenna explained that it wasn’t out of indifference — she simply believed her daughter didn’t need any skincare because her skin was already beautiful.

This situation came after an event two months prior when Jenna's daughter requested a Green Light Card. In an effort to display her maturity, the young girl crafted a persuasive PowerPoint presentation to advocate for her financial independence, a move that ultimately won her father's approval.

Yet, when it comes to technology, Jenna maintains a different stance. She's resolute that her daughter will not receive a phone, prioritizing physical engagement with the world around her over digital immersion.

However, the TV personality knows that her daughter can access her friends' phones and social media accounts even though she doesn't have her own.