Jenna Bush Hager Breaks Down in Tears After Hoda Kotb Friendship Confession

Jenna Bush Hager couldn't be more grateful for her special bond with co-host Hoda Kotb.

On Today with Hoda & Jenna, Hager got emotional speaking about a time when she felt she had failed her friend and coworker. The co-hosts talked about the term "brutally honest," which Hager said carried negative implications because of the word "brutally." However, she showed how being "brutally honest" can be positive.

"If you don't tell the truth…there was a time where I was feeling a little bit…remember I was feeling a little sad with you—and not because you'd done anything, but [it was because] I didn't do anything, and I was holding it and holding it until I exploded," said Hager.

She continued, "So if you can't tell the truth, that would be horrible. But here's the thing—to be brutal about it…"

Kotb, 58, commended Hager, 41, on her honesty but joked that she couldn't believe her co-host was bringing up that private incident. With Kotb's permission, Hager explained the situation to the audience.

"When Hoda's daughter wasn't feeling well, I just wasn't there for her the way I wanted to be, and I didn't know how to be, and I felt terrible about it," explained Hager. "But I didn't know what to do, so I just said it. I said, 'I feel like I haven't been there for you.'"

"I still remember when you said that to me, and first of all, it was one of the most beautiful statements—you've had so many beautiful statements. And it touched me deeply, and it meant everything to me that you said that," said Kotb.

Kobt's words moved Hager to tears, showing how deep their bond beyond being coworkers is. When she saw her co-host crying, Kobt also began to tear up.

When Kotb returned to the show after a nearly month-long absence while caring for her four-year-old daughter Hope, Hager spoke to Entertainment Tonight about how much her friendship and working relationship with Kobt means to her.

"Hoda makes my life full," shared Hager. "It's so interesting, but you don't really know until somebody's kind of gone, unexpectedly, how much you depend on them." She added, "I mean, I knew I adored her, but I wrote her when she came back and I said, 'I don't even know if you know, how much you impact my life.'"

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