Jenna Bush Hager Will Have ‘Some Input’ in Who Replaces Hoda Kotb in Today’s 4th Hour

Jenna Bush Hager is on the hunt for a new cohost for Today’s fourth hour, and fans are at the edge of their seats waiting to see what happens.

“The big decision everyone is anxious about is who will replace Hoda as Jenna’s official cohost,” an insider exclusively tells Closer as Hoda Kotb’s Today departure looms. “That’s what everyone’s buzzing about now.”

On Thursday, November 14, it was announced that Craig Melvin would be officially replacing Hoda, 60, in the show’s early morning hours.

NBC has not yet chosen a cohost for the show’s fourth hour, which is currently titled Today With Hoda & Jenna. Instead, Jenna, 42, will be hosting a new version of the show, titled Today With Jenna & Friends, with a rotating panel of guest cohosts until a permanent replacement is chosen.

Hoda will be marking her final episode of Today on January 10. The first episode of the show’s new iteration with Jenna and guest cohosts will air on January 13. There was no time frame given by NBC as to how long the show’s fourth hour would operate with Jenna and guest cohosts.

Currently, there are a lot of names being thrown around as to who NBC has their eye on for Hoda’s fourth hour position.

“Everyone from Sheinelle Jones, who’s already a cohost on the show’s earlier hours, to E’s Justin Sylvester and actress and comedian Heather McMahan have come up,” the source adds. “It may be someone nobody expects, which could be good and shake things up.”

“Fortunately, Jenna will have some input in that choice, but the big bosses will make the final decision,” the insider continues. “At this point, it’s still anyone’s guess.”

Hoda, who is leaving Today to spend more time with her family, is optimistic that Jenna will find the perfect cohost after her exit.

“Whoever gets the privilege of sitting here over the course of the next however long this phase goes on, will be very lucky and privileged to sit next to you for starters,” Hoda told Jenna on Today on Thursday. “And I think the thing is, you have a way … and I watch you, how you talk at parties, and your circle of friends. I remember your 40th birthday; the circle of friends around you is a testament to you.”

“It’s about why people gravitate toward you,” she added. “It’s about why when I walk out on the Plaza, there are Jenna signs all over, why is that? Because you have a way of attracting people into your world. Well, this person in this chair — and there are going to be so many cool people — and everyone is going to be like, ‘She should be the one, she should be the one.’ People are going to be going crazy because they’re all going to seem like they fit because of you, so it’s going to be a fun ride.”